The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) just approved a rule that lets high school athletes make money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This was sparked by a lawsuit and, honestly, it’s a pretty big deal—though the opportunities for most kids are likely to be modest.
Sure, it could kick off a little local economy around high school sports. But it’s also raising a bunch of questions for schools, families, and businesses. What’s this actually going to look like?
Understanding the New NIL Rule
Everything moved fast after the family of athlete Jamier Brown filed a lawsuit challenging the old ban on NIL. That legal pressure triggered an emergency vote, and suddenly the rule was in place.
Now, high school athletes in Ohio can take on small marketing gigs—think social media posts or signing a few autographs. Don’t expect a tidal wave of cash, though.
Projected Financial Impact
Out of Ohio’s 400,000 high school athletes, only a tiny slice will probably land NIL deals. Sports-law attorney Robert Boland guesses most deals will be worth a few hundred bucks, maybe a couple thousand at best.
That’s more like a side hustle than a windfall. Most of the action will stay close to home, with local businesses getting involved instead of big-name brands.
Local Businesses and NIL Opportunities
It’s easy to imagine car dealerships, restaurants, or other neighborhood spots sponsoring local athletes. B. David Ridpath calls these opportunities “low-hanging fruit” because hometown stars are already well-known in their communities.
Still, some business leaders are hesitant. Lou Vitantonio from the Greater Cleveland Auto Dealers’ Association doesn’t see much value in individual athlete endorsements, saying it’s probably not worth it compared to sponsoring entire teams.
Benefits for Female Athletes
This new NIL setup could be a real win for female athletes. Robert Boland points out that female athletes often have more loyal and engaged fan bases, which makes them appealing as influencers for all sorts of products.
B. David Ridpath also notes that women’s sports are more popular than ever, so high school girls could see a boost in their marketability. He even called NIL “one of the best things to happen for female sports overall.”
Legal Complexities and Due Diligence
Since most high school athletes are minors, every NIL deal comes with legal strings attached. Darren Heitner, a legal expert, says businesses should always get parental or guardian consent before moving forward.
If the deal is worth more, he recommends getting court approval too, just to make sure everything’s enforceable and nobody’s left arguing later. It’s not as simple as just signing a contract—there’s a lot of extra homework for companies here.
Political Opposition and Future Challenges
Not everyone’s on board with the new rule. Republican State Rep. Adam Bird says he plans to introduce a bill to overturn it, arguing that NIL money goes against what high school sports should be about.
All this leaves the future of NIL for Ohio’s high school athletes a bit up in the air. Will the rule stick around? Hard to say right now.
Conclusion
Ohio’s new NIL rule for high school athletes is shaking things up in amateur sports. It’s a big change, honestly.
There’s hope that it opens up local opportunities, especially for female athletes. But, let’s be real—it’s also bringing some tricky legal and practical issues along for the ride.
Everyone—schools, families, businesses—is just trying to figure it out as they go. Nobody really knows how this will all play out yet.
If you’re curious and want the nitty-gritty details, check out the original article on Cleveland.com.
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