High school athletes in Indiana could cash in on their name and athletic notoriety if the I9-member Indiana High School Athletic Association board of directors approves a proposal Monday in Indianapolis allowing “personal branding activity,” the IHSAA’s version of name, image and likeness.
The door opened for college athletes to profit from NIL in 2020 after a pair of lawsuits favored Division 1 athletes and the NCAA began regulating it.
Now, it’s filtered down to high schools.
The first states approved its use in 2022 for high schools. That year, two California soccer-playing sisters signed the first deals with NIKE. Both now play professional soccer.
Since then, nearly every state has created an NIL program. Indiana has been a holdout. If approved Monday, Indiana would become the 47th state to permit athletes to make money off their name. Michigan sanctioned the branding policy earlier this year.
Although it hasn’t been formalized in its bylaws, IHSAA Commissioner Phil Neidig said its amateur rule has allowed athletes to use their name to promote activities like basketball camps or product promotion on social media.
“There are a lot of things we’ve allowed through our amateur rule that fall within what the states with NIL have,” he said.
The outcome of Monday’s vote is uncertain. The meeting is closed to the public, and the vote outcome will be posted on the IHSAA website later on Monday.
“There’s still a significant number of people on our board that don’t believe we should be in that business,” Neidig said.
The board is composed of athletic directors, principals, and superintendents. Locally, four athletic directors serve on the board – Stacy Adams of Valparaiso; Jeff Hamstra, Chesterton; Ryan Harrington, Highland; and Patti McCormack, Lowell.
Neidig said he won’t make a recommendation but will share the results of straw polls he took after eight meetings with schools across the state.
The branding policy would come with several caveats that are mostly in lockstep with other states.
An athlete would be prevented from depicting their high school or using its facilities or property in their NIL. Using school nicknames, mascots, and logos would also be banned.
Athletes must notify their high school athletic director in writing within 48 hours of signing a personal branding agreement, and they can’t sign deals promoting tobacco, alcohol, gambling, performance-enhancing substances, sexually explicit materials or weapons.
Violations would result in ineligibility not to exceed 365 days.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
