NIL changes coming: Florida considering NIL to be allowed for high school student-athletes

Florida considers changes to its NIL policy.

New pending rules could mean that Florida student-athletes in high school could soon be able to monetize on their image and likeness.

Introduced on Wednesday by the Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA), the initiative would allow student-athletes to capitalize on their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). The change in policy would allow NIL related activity for compensation in such areas as “commercial endorsements, promotional activities, social media presence, product or service advertisements.”

Up until this point, the FHSAA has always held the stringent view that all high school student-athletes are amateurs and do not get paid for an activity in connection with their athletic pursuits. Under the suggested provisions, student-athletes can’t been wearing a school uniform or logo while engaged in an NIL-related activity.

There are also provisions to safeguard against schools using NIL to recruit athletes. A student-athlete who transfers to a different school or district is not eligible to participate in NIL related activity for that season “unless a Good Cause Exemption is granted by the FHSAA.”

The new policy “allows high school student-athletes in the state of Florida
26 to monetize their NIL while maintaining their eligibility. Student-athletes and their 27 parents/guardians will be required to negotiate any NIL activities independent of their school, 28 school district, or the FHSAA.”