FHSAA board to discuss adding NIL to bylaws

Name, image and likeness policy is inching closer to being a reality in Florida.

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s board of directors is meeting Tuesday to discuss name, image and likeness.

NIL is the lone discussion item on the agenda and no vote is scheduled to happen.

According to the agenda, the board will discuss adding language to FHSAA Policy 9.9, which would allow high school athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness while maintaining their eligibility.

Students-athletes would be required to negotiate NIL deals independently of their school, school district or the FHSAA.

Student-athletes also would be prohibited from monetizing their name, image and likeness with the use of their school’s uniform, equipment, logo, name, proprietary patents, products and/or copyrights associated with an FHSAA member school and/or school district, either in public, print or social media platforms.

The revised bylaw encourages student-athletes and their families to make sure they won’t jeopardize their college status as well as seek legal and tax advice before entering an NIL agreement.

The bylaw includes many of the same provisions as the initial draft, which was released in February.

Student-athletes would be prohibited from NIL deals with adult entertainment products or services, alcohol, tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products, cannabis products, controlled substances, prescription pharmaceuticals, gambling (including sports betting, the lottery and betting in connection with video games, online games and mobile devices), weapons, firearms and ammunition.

The FHSAA proposal also states that school employees, staff members or representatives of a school’s athletic interests cannot “form, direct, offer, provide, or otherwise engage” in NIL agreements with student-athletes and that NIL activities should not be used as a disguise for legitimate athletic recruiting.

Thirty states, as well as the District of Columbia, allow high school students to profit from NIL.

The Georgia High School Association approved a bylaw to allow NIL in October.

The next FHSAA board meeting is scheduled for June 3-4.