STEVENS POINT, WI (WAOW -WSAU) — Name, image and likeness (NIL) could soon make its way to the high school level. This is a topic the WIAA has been discussing for three years, and one that 31 state associations across the country have already implemented.
“We’ve finally got to the point where the scale has tipped, a majority of athletic directors in schools would like to carry on that conversation,” stated WIAA’s Executive Director, Stephanie Hauser.
Now, ADs will have the chance to make their voice heard, with all 518 member schools invited to vote on the topic at the WIAA’s annual meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th.
“There are numerous eligibility requirement’s that high school student-athletes need to be aware of… this would would just be an additional thing that high schoolers would need aware of,” said Hauser. “(if passed) There will be some allowances to use their own name, their own image, and their own likeness to make financial gains, which is something that has not been allowed in the past.”
When you hear the term “NIL”, many assume it comes with the “pay-to-play” framework. But the WIAA says this proposal is nothing similar.
“We are looking at national statistics, and the reality is that the high school NIL is so different than the collegiate level. Collectives will not be allowed at the high school level, undo influence is protected in the guidelines, you will not be able to recruit a student athlete to come to your school,” said Hauser.
Neighboring states Minnesota and Illinois both recently adopted NIL, but the number of student athletes actually impacted is a very small margin.
“It is very, very few and far between that a high school athlete is at the level that someone will actually pay them for their image and use of their name,” added Hauser. “Really it will be something very small, maybe to be a social media influencer for a product the athlete is using, or to be someone to advertise an amazing comeback from and ACL injury at a local clinic.
The WIAA has worked with alongside athletic directors and other state associations across the country for the past three years, finalizing a plan.
“I think if you talk to most ADs, they haven’t made a decision on how they will vote yet,” stated one area athletic director. “We are continuing to gather more information on how the process would work, and what the responsibility will be to communicate changes with athletes/parents/guardians.”
A decision is expected at the WIAA’s annual meeting next Wednesday, April 24th.
If it is not passed, Hauser says the issue won’t immediately come off the table.
“It’s not going away, the conversation is not going to stop,” stated Hauser. “It is sweeping the nation right now at the high school level. We will get right back to the drawing board and ask ourselves is there some different language, or certain points ADs are concerned about. We will get that feedback and start right away again at the area meetings next fall, looking at some new constituently amendments for next April.
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