- High school athletes were denied the opportunity to profit from name, image, and likeness (NIL).
- WIAA member athletic directors vote against NIL profits.
- Vote result: 170 in favor, 219 against NIL profits.
- 33 states in U.S. allow high school athletes to earn from endorsements.
Wednesday morning at its annual meeting in Stevens Point, WIAA member athletic directors voted against athletes profiting from NIL.
Of the schools represented at the WIAA meeting 170 voted in favor, and 219 voted against the amendment.
33 other states in the U.S. currently allow high school athletes to make money off endorsements.
St. Croix Falls Athletic Director, Tara Rose spoke at the WIAA meeting in favor of the proposal but pleaded for more answers before it can be passed.
" I think there's a lot of unanswered questions still for me, and to be able to help my student-athletes and my parents by me. I don't feel ready and equipped..." she said. "I do not feel equipped as an athletic director to help my students, my student-athletes and my parents navigate this rule accurately. So I guess my question to the WIAA is, when are we going to have clarity on this rule?"
Had the amendment passed, there would have been restrictions.
Athletes would not have been allowed to wear school uniforms while appearing in endorsements or do it during school time. Athletes would not have been allowed to promote things like alcohol, tobacco, or gambling.
Voting down the amendment buys the WIAA more time to bring clarity to schools across the state. The proposal will likely to be voted on again at next year's annual WIAA meeting.
