Please review the important update regarding new opportunities for student-athletes in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has recently passed rules that allow high school student-athletes to benefit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
This groundbreaking change means that, under specific guidelines, student-athletes in Wisconsin can now engage in activities that leverage their name, image, and likeness for financial gain, without jeopardizing their WIAA eligibility. This brings high school athletics in line with similar opportunities that have become available at the collegiate level.
It's important to understand that an athlete forfeits amateur status in a sport by capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money, compensation, endorsements, or gifts of monetary value in affiliation or connection with activities involving the student’s school team, school, Conference, or WIAA (scholarships to institutions of higher learning are specifically exempted). However, this provision is not intended to restrict the right of any student to participate in a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) commercial endorsement provided there is no school team, school, Conference or WIAA affiliation.
Prohibited NIL Activities include:
- The student shall not appear in the uniform of the student’s school and does not utilize the marks, logos, etc. of the school team, school, Conference or WIAA as part of any endorsement.
The student shall not promote activities nor products associated with the following: gaming/gambling; alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, or related products; banned or illegal substances; adult entertainment products or services; weapons (i.e., firearms).
The compensation is not contingent on specific athletic performance or achievement (i.e., financial incentives based on points scored).
The compensation is not provided by the school or persons associated with school as an inducement to attend a particular school (“recruiting”) or to remain enrolled at a particular school. (Note: Definition of Persons Associated With School include, but are not limited to; current or former coaches, current or former athletes, parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver of current or former student/athletes (exception of one's own parent), booster club members, alumni, spouses or relatives of coaches, teachers and other employees, coaches who become employed, active applicants for coaching positions, and persons who are employed by companies or organizations that have donated monetarily, athletic supplies, equipment or apparel to that school).
The NIL activities do not interfere with a student-athlete’s academic obligations.
A student does not miss athletic practice, competition, travel, or other team obligations in order to participate in NIL opportunities.
A student cannot utilize representation or contract an agent.
High schools or their employees are not allowed to help facilitate deals for student-athletes.
We understand that this is a new and evolving area, and we are committed to providing our student-athletes and their families with the necessary information and support to navigate these new rules. As these guidelines become more detailed, we will share further information about what this means for our Reedsburg Beavers.
We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with the concept of NIL and stay tuned for more specific guidance from the WIAA and Reedsburg Area High School. Our priority remains the well-being and academic success of our student-athletes, and we believe these new rules, when properly understood and followed, can offer valuable educational and financial opportunities.
If you have any initial questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the athletic department.
Sincerely,
Aaron May
Activities Director
June 6, 2025
