The member schools of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association approved “Name, Image and Likeness” changes that allow student athletes to enter into business agreements and profit from endorsements or promoting products.
“With today’s vote, member schools have opted to join a growing list of states that allow student athletes to capitalize on their athletic talents in a way that is similar to students with other valued talents and skills,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said in a statement. “At its core, the WIAA is charged with promoting fairness and sportsmanship while protecting the integrity of the game – something I believe this NIL language preserves.”
High school athletes in at least 40 other states already can profit from NIL agreements.
Under the rules:
- The student shall not appear in the uniform of the student’s school and does not utilize the marks, logos, etc. of the school team, school, Conference, or WIAA as part of any endorsement.
- The student shall not promote activities nor products associated with the following:
- Gaming/gambling
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco
- Cannabis or related products
- Banned or illegal substances
- Adult entertainment products or services
- Weapons (i.e., firearms).
- The compensation is not contingent on specific athletic performance or achievement (i.e., financial incentives based on points scored).
- The compensation is not provided by the school or persons associated with the school as an inducement to attend a particular school (“recruiting”) or to remain enrolled at a particular school.
- Definition of Persons Associated With School include, but are not limited to; current or former coaches, current or former athletes, parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver of current or former student/athletes (exception of one’s own parent) , booster club members, alumni, spouses or relatives of coaches, teachers and other employees, coaches who become employed, active applicants for coaching positions, and persons who are employed by companies or organizations that have donated monetarily, athletic supplies, equipment or apparel to that school.
- The NIL activities do not interfere with a student-athlete’s academic obligations.
- A student does not miss athletic practice, competition, travel, or other team obligations in order to participate in NIL opportunities.
- A student can not utilize representation or contract an agent. High schools or its employees are not allowed to help facilitate deals for student-athletes.
The other changes approved by the WIAA last week expands the opportunities for summer coaching contact in all WIAA-sponsored sports; allows ninth-grade teams to play the same number of contests as allowed in the season regulations for junior varsity and varsity teams, requires ejected spectators to complete the free online NFHS Sportsmanship Course available on the NFHSLearn.com website.
