MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Board of Education Wednesday moved ahead with a proposal to allow high school athletes to earn money for their personal brands.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for high school athletes allows those students to get endorsements by promoting products.
It will allow student athletes to benefit from endorsements, similar to the opportunities now seen in college athletics.
"Parents are always looking for opportunities for their sons and daughters, which we understand,” said Ed Geiger.
Geiger is the longtime athletic director at South Fork High School in Martin County and also oversees the other county high school athletic directors. He was following along as the Florida Board of Education approved an NIL plan, that was passed by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) back in June.
“As we learn more about NIL, we’ll share that with our parents, because the last thing we want to do is allow our students to be exploited by bad actors," said Craig Damon, the executive director of the FHSAA.
There are restrictions, however. For example, students wouldn’t be able to use logos or uniforms without permission.
State Education Board Chairman Ben Gibson said his number one concern is that a student athlete does not get exploited, and agrees with the rule that any NIL deal signed in high school could not extend past that athlete’s graduation date.
“They’re also not allowed to engage in NIL activities during the actual competition,” he said.
Students will be prohibited from endorsing alcohol, tobacco, vaping and cannabis products, as well as gambling and sports betting sites.
Another rule states that transfer students, under most circumstances, will not be able to earn any NIL money in that first year.
There was also discussion about creating a registry of students involved in NIL activities.
Geiger feels it will be his job to help navigate the new rules.
"To help our coaches. We don’t want to get any of our coaches in trouble, and once again none of our student athletes," he said. "The worst thing, my nightmare would be advising somebody incorrectly where it might hurt their eligibility."
Penalties involve a warning for a first offense, and a one year athletic ban for a second offense.
A third offense would prevent the student-athlete from competing in any interscholastic sports for the duration of their high school career.
Previous coverage on NIL deals and high school athletes:
High School
What high school coaches, marketers are saying about NIL in Florida
High School
NIL high school deals approved in Florida; will it be game changer?
Sports
