IHSAA Board approves ‘personal branding activities’

NIL style deals approved by IHSAA; no shot clock for basketball

INDIANAPOLIS — The IHSAA Board of Directors voted 13-5 to approve Personal Branding Activities or PBA to allow athletes to benefit while retaining their amateur status.
The term PBA was used to distinguish the high school model from the college version, Name Image Likeness or NIL. For PBA, the athlete will not be allowed to use their school affiliation or appear in uniform during the activities.
“Unlike the current college system, where the schools often play a direct role in NIL compensation, the new rule keeps high schools out of arranging or funding deals for student athletes,” said IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig. “Instead, it allows students to benefit independently from their school without using school branding or representing school-sponsored endorsements. It creates a clear distinction between the college model and the educational mission of high school athletics.”
Allowable activities would include:
•Non-School, Non-Athletic PBA activities: Students may engage in PBA activities provided they do not represent the member school and do not perform athletic services.
•Personal Brand Development: Students may develop and monetize their personal brand through social media, personal appearances, and endorsements unrelated to their school athletic participation.
•Skills-Based Services: Students may provide non-athletic services such as tutoring, personal training, instruction, or coaching youth sports for reasonable compensation.
Prohibited activities that would result in ineligibility:
•School Representation: Any PBA activity that represents or references a member school unless directly connected to the students’ participation in the school’s interscholastic athletic program and directed by the school.
•Prohibited Activities: The student must not participate in any PBA-related products, services, individuals, companies, or industries that promote gaming or gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, illegal or banned substances (including performance-enhancing substances), sexually explicit material, or firearms or weapons.
•Athletic Services: PBA Activities that involve utilizing athletic skills or participation in interschool athletic contests or demonstrations that are organized, sponsored by, or affiliated with a member school. If not associated with the member school, students may provide: Individual or group instruction, lessons, clinics, or camps; appearances and demonstrations not tied to member school competitions or outcomes; Private training or coaching with teams not affiliated with member schools.

In other action the board voted 17-1 against allowing a shot clock for boys and girls varsity basketball games.