WIAA Passes NIL for Student Athletes

STEVENS POINT – By a vote of 293-108 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association schools approved name, image, and likeness activities for high school student/athletes. The approval means that high school student/athletes can profit from, or have their name, image, or likeness used without penalty. Student/athletes are not allowed to wear their school uniform, school logo, or WIAA logo while promoting the activity. They are also not allowed to promote alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or weapons.

Other provisions in the vote include NIL deals not being tied to on-field performance along with persons associated with a school as a means of recruitment is also not allowed.

The NIL change will take effect in May as Wisconsin becomes the 40th state in the country to allow NIL approved activities via legislation or athletic association sign off. Wisconsin state legislators were preparing to introduce a bill to allow NIL should today’s vote have failed.

A year ago, the same measure failed to pass with 219 member schools voting no. Many schools at the time said they needed more information to proceed.