FHSAA to discuss name, image and likeness for high school athletes.
Monday. May 13, 2024
Gainesville, Fla. — The Florida High School Athletic Association will discuss the bylaws pertaining to Name, Image & Likeness for high school athletes in a board of directors meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14th, at 9am central time.
On July 1, 2021, Florida Statute 1006.74 went into effect which provided intercollegiate student-athletes attending a postsecondary institution an opportunity to earn compensation for his or her NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) in amounts that are “commensurate with the market value” for the authorized use of their NIL.
On July 8, 2021, the FHSAA issued this statement, “As we prepare for the upcoming school year(2021-22), please be reminded that there has been no change to the FHSAA Bylaw regarding amateur status. A student participating for a FHSAA member school who capitalizes on his/her athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of a monetary nature will forfeit his/her amateur status and eligibility in a sport for one year.” (FHSAA Bylaw 9.9.2(c))
With the FHSAA recognizing the importance of maintaining amateurism in high school athletics and compliance with the current bylaw does not ensure maintenance of eligibility under the eligibility standards of other athletic organizations, such as, but not limited to, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of lntercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), or the governing body for a particular sport.
Student-athletes are encouraged to communicate with those organizations to ensure any activity associated with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) complies with eligibility standards. Student-athletes and their families are encouraged to seek legal counsel and tax advice when considering NIL activity.
As of October 4, 2023, thirty (30) states and the District of Columbia allow high school student-athletes who compete in interscholastic athletics to receive NIL compensation.
Under the previous bylaws of the FHSAA a student-athletes amateur status would have been forfeited for any of the following:
- Competing for money or other monetary compensations
- Receiving any award or prize of monetary value which has not been approved by the FHSAA
- Capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of a monetary nature
- Signing a professional playing contract in any sport or hiring an agent to manage his/her athletic career
- Competing under an assumed name
The new language in FHSAA Policy 9.9, allows high school student-athletes in the state of Florida to monetize their NIL while maintaining their eligibility. Student-athletes and their parents/guardians will be required to negotiate any NIL activities independent of their school, school district, or the FHSAA. Student-athletes will 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.
Click here to view the full agenda which includes provisions that will determine the eligibility of students who participate in interscholastic athletics for FHSAA member schools.
The virtual workshop meeting for the FHSAA Board of Directors will be held at 9am central time Tuesday morning and will be viewable to the general public on the FHSAA’s YouTube channel.