Ohio schools reject proposal to allow NIL for high school student-athletes. Here’s what high school coaches, parents and administrators need to know

Ohio high school leaders have spoken. NIL for student-athletes is a no-go.

On Tuesday morning, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced that a proposal to allow NIL opportunities for high school student-athletes was rejected.

Out of the 817 member schools that could cast a vote, the proposal failed 538-254, with only 25 members choosing not to participate.

This outcome means Ohio high school student-athletes remain unable to sign endorsement deals without losing their amateur status.

“Every year, the referendum voting process shows that our member schools have a voice in this democratic process,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said. “Our office was very pleased with the discussion and insights our schools expressed this spring as we met with them about each of the 14 proposals. If NIL is going to enter the Ohio interscholastic landscape, we want the schools to be the ones to make that determination. Whatever we do moving forward, it will include discussion on this issue with our school administrators, Board of Directors, staff and leaders of other state high school athletic associations.”

Had the proposal passed, the floodgates would have opened for approximately 400,000 Ohio high school athletes to sign endorsement agreements so long as their teams, schools and/or the OHSAA logo were not used, the endorsements did not happen on school property or in school uniform, and provided there were no endorsements with companies that do not support the mission of education-based athletics, such as casinos, gambling, alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

Principals across the state had two weeks to vote on the proposal, which came on the heels of nine other state high school athletic associations permitting NIL at the high school level, including, most recently, Colorado, Louisiana and Kansas.

What do coaches, parents, and administrators need to know?

1. If you are a coach, parent or administrator in Ohio, it is important to communicate with your student-athletes that they cannot sign endorsement opportunities during high school.
2. If the student-athlete plans to pursue opportunities in college, ensure they abide by Ohio’s executive order regarding NIL and the policies and procedures of any college or university they may attend.