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A major concern across the high school landscape this year has been the impact of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) on high school athletics and, according to NFHS executive director Dr. Karissa Niehoff writing in a recent NFHS Voice column, high school athletes playing for their schools under the NFHS banner will not be cashing in on the movement any time soon. It has been less than one year since the NCAA suspended its longstanding amateur rules to allow college athletes to monetize their success and profit from their NIL and many changes have occurred at that level. And, throughout the year several state high school associations have established policies to help high school students navigate through murky NIL waters. "We realize that high school students can be tremendous entrepreneurs — they already are in a number of capacities. Students have the ability to be recognized for their athletic prowess and that can be a nice opportunity for a young person," says Dr. Niehoff. "However, the NFHS and its member associations believe high school student-athletes should not be able to benefit as professionals from something they do not own — that is, their high school uniform. e NFHS and its member state associations would not support a situation that would involve a member school and a student-athlete entering into a professional contract while representing that member school." Right now within the 51 member state associations, while some state statutes are bringing high school student-athletes into their language, no student-athlete in a member school can be a professionally paid student by virtue of their identity as a student-athlete in that member school. In other words, high school students can enjoy some success with NIL, but it cannot be done while wearing the school uniform. "We believe the purpose of high school athletics and performing arts is not to develop professional athletes, but to develop kids, to help kids develop life skills and help them develop relationships," she adds. "e high school locker room is arguably the last bastion of amateurism within an education-based setting and we want to protect that. n ere will be no Name, Image, Likeness benefits for high school athletes while wearing their school's uniform. TEAM / TRENDS sportstylemag.com • sportstyle September/October 2022 • 47 NFHS SAYS 'NO' TO NIL

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