The South Carolina High School League amended its bylaws last week to explicitly prohibit student-athletes from earning compensation for their athletic participation.
According to Sports Illustrated, citing reporting by the South Carolina Daily Gazette, the change aims to comply with a newly passed state budget clause that bans public school districts from affiliating with any athletic association that "permits, allows or authorizes" name, image and likeness compensation.
The South Carolina High School League amended its bylaws last week to explicitly prohibit student-athletes from earning compensation for their athletic participation.
According to Sports Illustrated, citing reporting by the South Carolina Daily Gazette, the change aims to comply with a newly passed state budget clause that bans public school districts from affiliating with any athletic association that "permits, allows or authorizes" name, image and likeness compensation.
Previously, the wording of SCHSL’s rules could have been interpreted as permitting athletes to earn compensation as long as it wasn’t tied to athletic performance or use of school property. SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton clarified that the amendment doesn’t reflect a new policy but rather reinforces long-standing rules about maintaining amateur status.
“You can change the wording, but you can’t change the intent,” Singleton told the South Carolina Daily Gazette.
South Carolina state senator Sean Bennett, a Republican who authored the budget clause, said the policy was meant to protect the amateur nature of high school sports. “These are extracurricular activities," Bennett said. "They are no place for the ugliness or business activities ruining college athletics.”
South Carolina is one of a vast minority of states that have resisted NIL's influence at the high school level. Nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia have adopted NIL policies, according to Gary Adornato of SI.
Per Adornato's reporting, the new bylaw language puts in place the following penalties:
- A first offense draws a warning.
- A second violation triggers a one-year suspension from league competition.
- Further violations can result in additional suspensions based on severity.
- Students who use school logos, uniforms or facilities in any promotional deal remain ineligible.
Bill Carter, a consultant who advises schools and athletic associations on NIL policy, called the South Carolina budget clause "pretty extreme" and warned it could prompt a lawsuit.
“The courts are never going to accept that there’s an impediment to a young person’s ability to earn income by way of their name, image and likeness,” Carter told the South Carolina Daily Gazette, as reported by SI.
