The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) passed four amendments to its constitution, bylaws and rules of eligibility at its 129th annual meeting in Stevens Point April 25.
The WIAA’s 456 representatives from 411 schools voted 293-108 to approve proposed name, image and likeness (NIL) rules to allow high school student-athletes to profit off their personal brand while still in school.
The amendment, which was voted down at last year’s meeting, to the WIAA constitution makes Wisconsin one of 40 states that allow students to have NIL opportunities. Students are allowed to make NIL deals as long as they are not associated or identified with their respective school team, school, conference or the WIAA. High school student-athletes also have to make sure they are not engaged in other prohibited NIL activities, including language attempting to deter undue influence to transfer schools.
“With today’s vote, member schools have opted to join a growing list of states that allow student-athletes to capitalize on their athletic talents in a way that is similar to students with other valued talents and skills,” Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “At its core, the WIAA is charged with promoting fairness and sportsmanship while protecting the integrity of the game–something I believe this NIL language preserves.”
Another amendment passed by the WIAA expands opportunities for coaches to have summer contact with their athletes for all WIAA-sponsored sports. Coaches and athletes are now able to meet from June 1-30 and from July 7-31 without any restrictions except for football, which requires contact with coaches to end one week before the start of the fall training camp.
The WIAA also voted 393-17 to allow ninth-grade teams to play the same number of contests as junior varsity and varsity teams do for each of their sponsored sports.
The final amendment that the WIAA passed forces spectators who are ejected from a contest to serve a one-game suspension and complete a free National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Sportsmanship Course. The spectator must then submit a certificate showing that they completed the NFHS course to school officials before being allowed to return to any home contests.
A proposed change to make cross country excluded from the competitive balance performance factor used to change divisions and qualify for certain tournaments was voted down 161-241.
Oshkosh will see representation on the WIAA’s Board of Control after Bryan Davis, the superintendent of the Oshkosh Area School District, was elected to serve a three-year term for District 4.
More information on the new rule changes can be found at https://www.wiaawi.org/.
