Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals refer to the rights of student-athletes to profit from their personal brand, created through signed endorsements and sponsorships. 

Ohio is one of the six remaining states that prohibit high school-level athletes from engaging in NIL. That long-standing precedent, however, last voted on in 2022 and passed by 538 to 254, is back on the decision table as principals across the state will vote on the emergency bylaw referendum on November 17-21.

Proponents of NIL

Financial Empowerment – NIL helps low-income athletes gain access to more paths toward financial independence. Additionally, athletes begin building their personal brand and learn valuable skills in marketing and negotiation tactics, along with creating critical connections for their athletic careers. 

Incentives for Education – At the collegiate level, athletes wanting to make it to the professional level are often eager to make the jump as soon as possible. Yet, fewer than 2% of these athletes ever play at the professional level. NIL provides these collegiate athletes with a source of pay, a big incentive for athletes to stay in school.

Community Impact – NIL athletes promoting local businesses attract new customers, strengthen community engagement, and put athletes in more capable positions of giving back to their community through charity. 

Critics of NIL

Added Stress and Burnout – Competition for sponsorships and the added burden of maintaining one’s personal brand add significant stress to one’s high school career, decreasing academic and athletic productivity.

Inequality Between Sports and Genders – Male sports often overshadow female ones with far more media coverage and visibility. As a result, NIL deals would be heavily unbalanced: popular sports, including men’s football and basketball, would secure more profitable sponsorships while female teams would struggle for the same opportunities. 

Shift in Focus and Culture – NIL deals would shift the focus from learning valuable skills about personal growth to material gain. When brand endorsements become priorities, athletes would lose focus on the essential parts of sports that motivate them to become better students and athletes. 

This decision comes down to careful implementation: although NIL brings unprecedented financial possibilities for athletes, we must ensure that these opportunities are equitable, educational, and align with the core tenets of the traditional youth sports that shaped millions across the United States.