High school NIL not expected to make much of an impact in Ohio’s rural areas
High school student-athletes in Ohio can now get paid for use of the name, image and likeness, but the prevailing belief is that won’t have much of an impact in places like Tuscarawas County.
This month 55 percent of OHSAA member schools voted in favor of allowing NIL; 30 percent abstained and 15 percent voted against it. Most of the country already allows NIL in high school, and it was inevitable that it would come to Ohio, whether through the OHSAA or the court system.
Indian Valley Athletic Director Zach Golec says the OHSAA’s approval at least gives member schools some control over NIL with the hope that it won’t be abused for recruiting purposes. He says the bigger worry for athletic directors is following all the OHSAA regulations to make sure students who get involved with NIL remain eligible. While traditionalists bemoan the latest infringement on amateur sports, high school athletic directors have no choice but to deal with it.
After listening to OHSAA officials and learning about NIL’s impact in other states, Golec believes it will only impact a small percentage of the state’s student athletes and won’t make a big impact in Tuscarawas County. However, he knows the local sports programs enjoy strong support from their communities. He says he would not be surprised if generous local businesses make offers to area athletes.
High school NIL went into effect immediately after it was approved on Nov. 21.