Virginia becomes the latest state to consider high school NIL policy

A proposal was submitted at a recent Virginia High School League executive committee meeting that would allow high school athletes in the state to profit off of their Name, Image, and Likeness.

To become an official policy, a two-thirds vote will be required at the next meeting. If the vote passes this threshold, the NIL policy would become effective on July 1. The proposal states:

“No school or anyone employed by or affiliated with a member school, including booster clubs, coaches, administrators, alumni or a NIL Collective, may solicit, arrange, or negotiate or pay for a student’s NIL, other than their own child.”

As of this writing, 25 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to allow NIL for high school athletes.

Dan Greene, a licensed attorney and sports law expert based in Syracuse, believes moves made by other states are putting pressure on holdout states like Virginia.

“As more state high school athletic associations change their bylaws to permit NIL, more pressure is placed on those associations that have either not addressed the issue or have been hesitant to adapt to the changing landscape of high school athletics,” said Greene.

Greene also pointed out the interesting timing of the Virginia proposal. Approximately this time last year, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have prohibited NIL for high schoolers in the…