GHSA warns Georgia high school athletes could jeopardize their eligibility by signing NIL deals — Georgia High School Football Daily

Georgia High School Association Warns Against NIL Club ParticipationGeorgia High School Association Warns Against NIL Club Participation The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has issued a warning to schools regarding student-athletes signing up with NIL Club, a platform that allows high school and college athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL). According to GHSA Director Robin Hines, athletes who sign up with NIL Club risk losing their eligibility if boosters pay them for their online content. The GHSA’s NIL policy prohibits boosters from funneling money to student-athletes through corporations or collectives. Hines cited GHSA bylaws that define boosters as alumni, parents, financial donors, or individuals who provide time or effort to the school. Illegal recruiting and amateur status are also prohibited under these bylaws. NIL Club, which has over 200,000 college athletes on its platform, recently opened up to high school students. It allows fans to subscribe to a student’s club for a monthly fee, giving them exclusive access to digital content. The students would benefit from the subscription costs. Hines emphasized that Georgia’s NIL policy differs from college NIL agreements, which allow schools to form collectives that solicit money to pay athletes. In the GHSA, student-athletes are allowed to earn money from endorsements and advertising, but not from boosters. The GHSA’s warning comes as NIL deals become more common in high school sports. Some high-profile athletes in Georgia, such as Carrollton’s Julian Lewis and Savannah Christian’s Elijah Griffin, have signed significant NIL contracts. However, most NIL deals for high school athletes have been modest, such as a partnership with a local restaurant for free meals. Hines plans to address NIL issues at the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) summer meeting in Boston, highlighting the importance of ensuring that NIL regulations protect student-athlete eligibility and amateur status.

The Georgia High School Association warned schools this week that athletes who sign up with a particular company using a name, image and likeness (NIL) risk their participation if boosters pay them for their online news and content.

It’s likely that hundreds of Georgia athletes have registered with the NIL Club, which has more than 200,000 college athletes on its platform and opened up to high school students earlier this month. GHSA Director Robin Hines sent a two-page letter to member schools on Monday warning of the dangers.

“We just don’t want athletes to get in trouble for doing something outside of our policy,” Hines told the AJC. “This will jeopardize children’s eligibility if allowed to continue.”

Of the NIL Club, Hines added: “This has no place in high school, not at all. It’s a business trying to make money.”

According to its website, NIL Club is “a unique, student-run fan community designed to financially benefit its member students by delivering paywalled digital content to their biggest fans. By subscribing to the club for a monthly fee, fans gain exclusive access to content during their membership, while also supporting participating students as creators.” The students would benefit from those fan subscription costs.

NIL Club co-founder Mick Assaf is a former Pace Academy and Notre Dame football player. He told a Florida newspaper that college athletes have earned more than $10 million through NIL Club’s platform since 2021. NIL Club receives 15% of the subscription fee.

Hines’ letter shows how Georgia’s NIL policy differs from college NIL agreements. Georgia high school students can benefit from endorsements and advertising, but not from corporations that allow boosters to funnel money to them. In college sports, schools can form collectives that actively solicit money to pay athletes.

Hines cited GHSA Bylaw 1.73, which defines boosters as “members of the school’s Booster Club; students; alumni; parents; guardians; or family members of a student or former student; financial donors; donors of time and effort; personal trainers or coaches who rent facilities.” He also cited Bylaws 1.70 and 1.90, which define illegal recruiting and amateur status.

The GHSA in October became the 30th state association to legalize NIL deals. Hines stressed at the time that Georgia’s NIL deals did not allow booster-supported collectives to pay college athletes. His letter this week also reiterated that students may not use the GHSA’s or their schools’ apparel, mascots, logos or intellectual property in any content creation or advertising.

Hines said he was aware of 87 GHSA students who took advantage of NIL last academic year. He said the number eventually grew to 44, as many top football players graduated early and joined their college teams.

Carrollton quarterback Julian Lewis, a five-star recruit who has committed to Southern Cal, is the highest-profile NIL recipient in Georgia, if not nationwide. Lewis has signed with Leaf Trading Cards, Alo Yoga, Jaxxon and Cactus Jack. Last month, Lewis reportedly bought himself and his father a car. Savannah Christian’s Elijah Griffin and Schley County’s Zayden Walker also rank in the top 20 of On3’s NIL ratings for high school football players.

But most NIL deals have been relatively modest. Hines believed the first NIL deal came in November, when Barnesville restaurant owner Mama’s Kitchen signed Lamar County quarterback Ty Head to a deal that included a free meal.

“That’s typically what we’re dealing with,” said Hines, who boarded a plane Wednesday to attend the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) summer meeting in Boston. “I’m speaking at NIL on Monday, and I was going to say that we haven’t had any problems with it at all, and then all of a sudden we’re trying to bring this in. It will certainly be a topic of conversation. , not just in Georgia, but across the country.”