APOPKA, Fla. – It’s a new era for high school athletics in Florida. Tuesday, the Florida High School Athletic Association unanimously voted to allow players to profit from their name, image and likeness, while maintaining their eligibility.
Under the new rules, student-athletes and their families will be required to negotiate any NIL deals independent of their school, school district or the FHSAA. They also will not be allowed to monetize their name, image and likeness with the use of their school’s uniform, equipment, logo, or name.
News 6 spoke with Kingston Shaw and his family after the vote from the Board made it official. Kingston Shaw is a football player at Apopka High School. He has already received 11 D-1 offers to play college football.
“There was always talk about it, but now that the NIL in high school is becoming a reality it’s like really awesome,” Kingston Shaw said. “Amazing opportunity.”
Kington Shaw’s mother, Courtney Shaw, said this is a day her family has been preparing for.
“One of the ways we have been preparing is just through education, just understanding what is going on in the news, especially in the college space,” Courtney Shaw said.
What has unfolded since the NCAA adopted rules related to NIL was brought up as a concern during Tuesday’s board meeting, along with other potential drawbacks like the effects on coach pay.
The unanimous approval by the FHSAA does come with limits. The bylaw prohibits schools and booster clubs from forming collectives to collect money from donors. Also, athletes who transfer in season can’t secure an NIL agreement that season unless granted an exemption.
Some fear the new rules could ruin high school athletics, while others are excited about the opportunities it will bring student-athletes.
Now that it is official, what happens next?
Dan LaForest is a wealth advisor and registered sports agent in Central Florida. He is well-versed in NIL.
“I think the concern is who can participate, who will participate, and how does that affect?” LaForest said.
More than 30 other states, including the District of Columbia, allow high school student-athletes to receive NIL compensation. Georgia is one of them.
“Georgia actually passed this bylaw back in October of last year and they’ve only reported almost 40 NIL deals in the whole state of Georgia,” LaForest said. “So, I don’t expect this to be a big wave.”
While Florida is not the first state to adopt NIL rules, it is one of the most influential.
“The state of Florida puts more kids into power four schools than any other state,” LaForest said. “Florida was represented in the NFL draft more than any other state. So, this is where high school talent is developed.”
The new rules will be in place for the 2024-25 season.
“The floodgates are open just like any other situation. It’s opening it up to possible making mistakes, and people not understanding what they’re doing and how to do it, and that’s what is going to get people in particular in trouble,” LaForest said. “I think that the ones that do get legal counsel, financial counsel, and do get somebody who’s looking out for their best interest. I think those are going to be the ones who are the most successful.”
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