By putting forward a plan to let public school kids in grades six through twelve make money from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), the North Carolina State Board of Education has taken a big step forward. This plan comes after a case was filed by Faizon Brandon’s mother, who is a top high school football recruit.
There is a big difference: athletes in North Carolina who go to private schools can take advantage of NIL chances, but athletes who go to public schools have been left without any. This unfairness is even worse when you consider that about 40 states have already passed different NIL rules for high school sports.
The suggested rules are meant to fix this problem by giving public school athletes the chance to get fair pay for things like public appearances, autograph signings, social media endorsements, and running sports camps.
Director of NIL at Opendorse, Braly Keller, thinks that there will be a big increase in NIL deals after the suggested rule change. “I believe that whenever the rules change, there are a lot of deals right away.” “There is a race to see who can be the first athlete in the state to sign a NIL,” Keller said.
He says that North Carolina is one of the top 15 places in the country for not spending any money, which is about 5% of the market as a whole. This flood of possibilities could help the athletes make money and make them more visible and marketable right away.
The suggested rules, on the other hand, have a structured framework that will help young athletes get used to this new environment. For each NIL deal, students and their parents must take an education training and turn in forms to school administrators.
The goal of this regulatory oversight is to make sure that athletes stay focused on their games while also figuring out how to make money. Jared Grady, a former NCAA Division I basketball player, stresses how important it is to keep that focus: “High school and middle school athletes are young.”
When it comes to money, making big choices can definitely stop them from becoming something more, whether it’s in basketball, outside of basketball, college, or the pros.
The suggested rules also put specific limits on endorsements. Athletes will not be able to promote drugs, booze, cigarettes, cannabis, controlled substances, vaping products, gambling, weapons, or adult services. These rules are meant to keep young players safe from possible problems while still letting them look for legal ways to make money.
The proposed rules will be open for public comment from October to early December. This makes people more excited for the final vote, which is scheduled to happen in January. If passed, these rules could start on July 1, 2025.
This would be a big day for North Carolina high school athletes. Being able to sell their skills could not only help them financially, but it could also give young athletes a sense of control over their lives that they haven’t had before.