UIL, THSCA Await State Legislation Before Approving NIL Opportunities

The Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) movement has already spread from the NCAA institutions to the high school ranks.

And, yet, the UIL and the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) — as well as Texas state officials — have yet to decide on allowing high school student-athletes to profit from sponsorships.

The topic is discussed during the THSCA Coaching School in San Antonio over the weekend. Below is an excerpt from Caller.com about the discussion and the chances of high school athletes profiting from NIL opportunities.

“Texas does not allow high school athletes to engage in NIL contracts,” UIL deputy director Jamey Harrison said during a media availability. “That is not at the UIL authority level. That is at the state legislative level. Until there is movement there, there will be no change from UIL. Even if there were movement, we’d have to see what way it moves.”

Joe Martin, the president of the THSCA said there are between 17 and 19 states that currently allow their high school athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, and the association is not promoting a change to allow the same in Texas.

What the THSCA is providing is education for coaches and administrators on what NIL is and what laws are in various states, in order to help athletes that may be high-profile Division I recruits. The association has partnered with the Eccker Group, which had a booth at the convention this week.

“Those schools that have high-profile athletes that are being recruited, those coaches and those kids need to know what the laws are and the rules are, whether you are just being recruited in the state of Texas or you have someone recruited in California, Alabama, Florida and Georgia because all those laws are different,” Martin said. “Our coaches have to be educated enough to get information to those kids so they can make a proper decision.

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“We are engaged in the Eccker Group in promoting them to help educate our coaches.”

Harrison said until the state legislature were to make any movement on allowing NIL at the high school level, the UIL would not make any moves regarding any rules or regulation. Although there is a small amount of concern that athletes at Texas public schools in border communities may consider moving to a neighboring state to make money through NIL deals, the other side of the coin is that if it were allowed in Texas, that athletes may transfer within the state for the same purpose.

To read the full story from Caller.com, click here.