Skip to main content
    Back to glossary

    Exclusivity Clause

    Reviewed 2026-05-17
    [Reviewed by Darren Heitner OR contracted attorney TBD]

    In plain English

    An exclusivity clause stops you from working with competing brands — usually within a defined category, region, or time window.

    Full definition

    An exclusivity clause restricts the athlete from accepting deals with competing brands during the contract term. The scope is defined along three axes: category (e.g., "non-alcoholic beverages," "athletic footwear"), geography (national, regional, school-only), and time (the term plus a tail period). A poorly drafted exclusivity clause can lock an athlete out of an entire industry vertical for years — for a single small deal. Athletes should push to narrow the category definition (e.g., "electrolyte drinks" instead of "beverages"), exclude existing partnerships, cap the tail period, and reserve charitable / school-related uses. Agents track exclusivity overlaps across a portfolio because two contracts with broad clauses can quietly conflict.

    What it looks like in a contract

    During the Term and for ninety (90) days thereafter, Athlete shall not endorse, promote, or appear in advertising for any product or service competitive with Company's products, including without limitation any electrolyte beverage, sports drink, or hydration product.

    Synthesised from common contract patterns. Not lifted from any specific real contract.

    How RevU helps

    RevU's NIL contract analyzer detects exclusivity clause provisions automatically — flagging the exact triggering language, scoring athlete-vs-brand friendliness, and surfacing negotiation leverage where it exists. See Conflict detection across athlete portfolios for the full product context.

    Check your contract free