MIAMI VALLEY — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has scheduled an emergency vote.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 6, it has to do with whether it should change its rules and let high school athletes make money off their name and image.
The OHSAA’s more than 800-member high schools voted down its first NIL proposal in 2022 by a more-than two-to-one margin.
“I was a strong no back in 2022,” Jonas Smith, Trotwood-Madison City Schools athletic director, said.
But Smith said he’s changed his mind.
“I see the big picture now and things have changed. and I believe people should have a growth mindset and vote for it,” he said.
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Smith said that’s because of what he’s learned about other states that allow NIL in high school.
Ohio is one of six states that don’t.
“With these 44 states, there’s not a lot of student athletes, and there haven’t been big issues. As long as it’s not interrupting the educational process as well as the athletics in your schools, I don’t see why membership shouldn’t vote for it,” Smith said.
The OHSAA was going to vote on whether to green-light NIL this spring.
But a lawsuit from Wayne High School wideout Jamier Brown sped up that timeline.
The Warriors junior has committed to play his college ball at Ohio State, where he could make tons of NIL money.
But before Monday, he couldn’t do that at Wayne.
The OHSAA currently has an NIL ban.
So, Brown’s family sued and scored the first win in court.
A temporary order from a judge means NIL is allowed for Ohio high school athletes for now.
The OHSAA is getting ready for its latest vote on the future of high school NIL in the Buckeye state.
“Either, you know, membership is going to decide, or the courts are going to decide,” Smith said.
Each high school gets one vote – and the high school principal casts the vote.
Schools will submit their votes from November 17 through the 21st.
As of right now, the next court hearing in brown’s lawsuit against the OHSAA is set for mid-December.
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