NFHS to offer new course focused on NIL education

While states have been revamping laws and high school associations have been sorting through how to move forward, the National Federation of State High School Associations has been somewhat silent on how to navigate the new NIL world.

However, the NFHS is partnering with ADVANCE, powered by Anomaly and TeamAltemus, to launch a new online course that “details the expectations and realities of NIL in the current interscholastic landscape.”

“The NFHS recognized an increasing need for an insightful, thorough education on Name, Image and Likeness for its members across the education-based activities landscape,” Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS, said in a statement.

“Since NIL’s emergence, ADVANCE has been committed to providing individuals with education and strategies to succeed in the world it’s introduced us to. Thanks to that expertise, we are able to develop and offer this much-needed course at a time when NIL is beginning to trickle down to our high school student-athletes.”

The NFHS is the body that suggests and writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the country. NIL was recently the focus of a presentation with leaders of state high school associations across the country at the group’s annual summit. Yet, throughout the first year and a half of NIL, the NFHS has left rulemaking to the local state associations.

After the Oregon School Activities Association voted in mid-October to approve NIL guidelines and Washington officials said it’s acceptable, there are 20 high school activity associations across the country that allow their student-athletes to participate in NIL without losing eligibility. Plus, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Illinois officials are also having serious discussions about revising their current NIL regulations on the high school level.

Education, not rules, is NIL focus for NFHS

The NFHS said its new NIL course suggests ways in which high school student-athletes can leverage NIL to promote their own identity via a brand or business. The course also addresses intellectual property such as shirts, flyers and artwork, which belong to the student-athlete who is promoting his or her own identity.

The NFHS says permitted profit from NIL is absent of promotion of direct competition or performance. In addition to providing other examples of ways to leverage NIL, the course explores differences in NIL and pay-for-play, a forbidden practice that occurs when a student-athlete earns money for enrolling at a particular school or in the recruiting process.

“Although some states currently permit NIL participation for student-athletes, the rules may not be the same in each,” the NFHS said in a statement. “Many states continue to work through NIL legislation and proposals, while others do not permit NIL involvement. NIL participants are encouraged to review the policies of their state, league or school before engaging in any form of NIL compensation.”

ADVANCE leaders are hopeful the new course is exactly what high-school student-athletes need.

“We are excited to partner with the NFHS in delivering this much-needed education to student-athletes, coaches, administrators and families,” ADVANCE Co-Managing Partner Luke Fedlam said in a statement. “This movement toward NIL at the high school level requires an understanding of protective education to ensure families and student-athletes navigate these new business responsibilities effectively.”

For more information and to take the NIL course, visit the NFHS Learning Center.