High School Status
Permitted
High School Governing Body
Status
What We Discovered
Oklahoma has now permitted Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) through the release of guidelines by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA). The OSSAA states, “The OSSAA does not specifically prohibit students from engaging in certain commercial activities as an individual.” The guidelines outline rules and regulations for maintaining “amateur status” while earning compensation for NIL. These guidelines are detailed in rules 5 and 9.
Summary
College
NIL Law: Senate Bill 48; Senate Bill 840
Abstract | Full Law | Passed: 5/28/2021 | Effective: immediately, no later than 7/1/2023
Oklahoma is among the few states that have provided universities with a timeline to create their own NIL policies by July 1, 2023. The current law allows institutions to prohibit student-athletes from participating in NIL deals which are affiliated with any industries or companies that may bring reputational harm to an institution, such as a company involved with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other such industries. Athletes are also required to report any NIL deals to their university within 72 hours of the contract being signed or prior to their next athletic event, whichever occurs first. Read the full law for more information.
Summary
High School
Oklahoma is now under the status of permitting Name, Image, and Likeness through the release of the OSSAA guidelines. The verbiage used by the OSSAA states that “The OSSAA does not specifically prohibit students from engaging in certain commercial activities as an individual.” The guidelines go on to list the rules and regulations surrounding the “requirements to maintain amateur status” to earn compensation for their NIL. These guidelines are listed under rules 5 and 9.
Bylaws | OSSAA Full Handbook
Excerpt | OSSAA Handbook
. a. This Association endorses the general principle of amateur athletics that prompts an individual to participate in physical activity solely for personal pleasure and satisfaction and for physical, mental, social and moral benefits derived from the activity.
b. In order that students may retain their amateur standings and be eligible to participate in high school, college, national, and international amateur athletics, it shall be the duty of the principal to instruct the students as to how they may avoid jeopardizing their eligibility. A student should be advised not to use his or her knowledge or skill of athletics for financial gain. A student should be advised not to participate in physical activities with professionals or where professionalism is practiced–that is, where individuals are being compensated directly or indirectly for their participation; or where teams or their sponsors are compensated or reimbursed on a win or lose basis; or where cash or merchandise prizes other than medals or trophies are offered, given, or paid to individuals or to teams. A prize is any article that is to be given as an inducement to participate or an article competed for.
c. The exceptions and provisos given in the remaining sections of this rule are to apply only to eligibility for participation as a representative of a member school of this Association.
Excerpt | GUIDELINES REGARDING NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS (NIL)
The OSSAA does not specifically prohibit students from engaging in certain commercial activities as an individual.
These activities, commonly referred to as name, image and likeness (NIL) will not put a student’s amateur status at
risk provided the student meets all the requirements for maintaining amateur status in compliance with Rule 5, and
there is no violation of rules prohibiting influencing a student to attend or remain at a member school. (Rule 9)
A student may earn compensation from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) in compliance with Rule 5,
and Rule 9 provided:
• The compensation is not contingent on specific athletic performance or achievement.
• The compensation is not provided as an incentive to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific school.
• The compensation is not provided by the school or any person acting as an agent for the school.
In seeking compensation for name, image and likeness:
• No “marks” may be used, including but not limited to school logos, school name, school mascot, or any
trademarked OSSAA logo or acronyms.
• No school apparel or equipment shall be worn which includes school name, school logo, school mascot, or
any apparel displaying trademarked OSSAA logos or acronyms.
• No member school facility may be used for the purpose of name, image and likeness compensation.
• No activities in conflict with a member school’s local school district policy may be endorsed. Examples
include but are not limited to tobacco or alcohol products.
• Collegiate level associations should be contacted for any rules regarding name, image and likeness for
students participating beyond the high school level.
“After extensive research and diligence, the OSSAA has selected Eccker Sports as their partner to provide Name,
Image and Likeness (NIL) education, guidance and support to the organization and our stakeholders across the
state. Eccker Sports is the National leader in providing these services and have partnerships with 10 other states
including Texas (Texas High School Coaches Association), Louisiana, New York,
Massachusetts and Mississippi among others. On a statewide basis, Eccker has partnered with the Bedford
Agency, led by Bryan Bedford who is a longtime friend and associate of the OSSAA and someone well known in
sports circles around the state. Bryan will provide a personal touch to the relationship, act as a liaison between the
parties and support the activations of the various NIL and educational programs Eccker provides throughout the
state.”