Last week, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) made a pretty big move. They decided to expand the scope of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals for student-athletes.
This new policy opens the door for high school athletes to do endorsements and promotions, as long as it’s not tied directly to their school or coach. The expanded rules cover things like social media endorsements, personal appearances, photo sessions, and autograph signings.
Some athletic directors and coaches in the Thumb area seem to support the change. Others, though, are a bit uneasy about what it could mean for high school sports.
The Expanded NIL Policy: What It Includes
The MHSAA’s new NIL policy marks a big shift in high school athletics. It’s supposed to give student-athletes more chances to benefit from their own name, image, and likeness.
According to the MHSAA press release, here’s what’s now allowed:
- Social Media Endorsements and Promotions
- Personal Appearances
- Photo Sessions and Autograph Signings
- Modeling and Advertising
- Merchandise, Sports Cards, and Apparel Sales
- Marketing Materials Using a Student’s Name, Image, or Likeness
Mixed Reactions from Athletic Directors and Coaches
Thumb-area athletic directors and coaches are all over the map on this. Some get why the MHSAA did it—there’s pressure from legal changes and other states doing the same thing.
But there’s worry about what this means for smaller, rural schools. The gap between public and private schools could get even wider.
Concerns About Smaller and Rural Schools
Cass City Athletic Director Brett Ross is worried about smaller, rural schools missing out. They just don’t have the same exposure or chances as big-city schools.
He pointed out this could mean more work for athletic departments. They’ll need to track earnings, make sure everyone’s following the rules, answer parent questions, and try to keep team culture intact.
I support free enterprise and giving kids the ability to benefit from their name and brand, Ross said. But I fear high school sports risk shifting from being about education and competition to being about who has the resources or connections.
The Impact on Public vs. Private Schools
There’s also the issue of public versus private schools. Private schools might have more connections and resources to help their athletes land better NIL deals.
Legal and Compliance Challenges
North Huron Athletic Director and girls basketball coach Chad Knoblock thinks the MHSAA acted to avoid legal trouble. With 46 other states already allowing some form of NIL, Michigan was probably going to get there sooner or later.
Knoblock also mentioned that not letting schools contribute is key. It keeps the wealth of a district from directly deciding who gets NIL opportunities.
Potential Benefits and Drawbacks
There are upsides to the new NIL policy, but some definite worries, too. Coaches and athletic directors are concerned that high school sports might start focusing more on money than on actual competition or education.
Support for Free Enterprise
Still, there’s support out there for letting student-athletes profit from their NIL. Some folks say it’s in line with free enterprise and gives young athletes a chance to build their brand and maybe make some money.
Fears of Negative Impact
But not everyone’s convinced it’s a great idea. Deckerville girls basketball coach Doug Kirkpatrick is pretty firmly against the policy, worrying it could ruin high school sports.
Ubly Athletic Director Jim Becker has his doubts, too. Amateur athletics is meant to play and compete for your high school, and not to worry about money, Becker said. However, I’m glad there’s no such thing as a “transfer portal” to go to the highest bidder. Things would be terrible if that happened. Overall, I’m not a fan of it at all.
Looking Ahead: The Future of High School Sports
With the MHSAA’s expanded NIL policy now in effect, nobody’s really sure what’s next. Some believe it won’t change much for most athletes, while others are more anxious about where things could go.
Managing the Transition
Laker football coach Dave LeVasseur said this policy change was probably inevitable, given what’s happening in other states. He doesn’t expect it to affect most athletes all that much, though.
Harbor Beach football coach and Athletic Director Troy Schelke agrees that the rule is different from what’s happening at the college level. He thinks the MHSAA is just trying to get ahead of any big problems.
If they don’t get a hand on this, it may ruin college athletics. But at the high school level, if they keep a handle on it, it might not be a big deal. This will be interesting to see, as to how things are regulated, Schelke said.
Conclusion
The MHSAA’s choice to open up NIL deals for high school athletes is a pretty big shift in amateur sports. It lets student-athletes finally get something back for their name, image, and likeness.
Of course, it stirs up a bunch of questions about what’s next for high school sports. Some folks are excited, others a bit wary—understandable, really.
As this policy rolls out, athletic departments and coaches will need to keep an eye on how things play out. The hope is that education and healthy competition won’t get lost in the shuffle.
Curious for more details? You can check out the full article here.
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