THOMASTON — The Georgia High School Association Board of Trustees unanimously approved an amendment Thursday in regards to NIL.

The new amendment was added to Appendix N in the GHSA’s By-Laws.

In June, the GHSA’s Dr. Robin Hines sent out a letter to all schools, urging them to be wary of “NIL Clubs,” that any student or school who signs up might be in violation of GHSA rules regarding name, image and likeness.

Hines presented the proposed new amendment at the GHSA Board of Trustees meeting. Representatives of the NIL Club website were in attendance, according to the official minutes, participating in the discussion of the amendment. Vote on the amendment was 14-0 in favor of its passage.

The new amendment, as approved, states, “No student-athlete may be a member of nor receive compensation or any other benefit from a Collective or NIL Club. A Collective is defined as any group organized or existing for the purpose of compensating or benefiting an individual student[-]athlete or group of student[-]athletes of a member school. NIL Clubs are defined as a group of student[-]athletes organized or existing for the purpose of soliciting funds or other benefits from fans, members or other sources, managing or promoting NIL activities of student[-]athletes or otherwise providing funds or other benefits to an individual student[-]athlete or group of student[-]athletes.”

Booster Clubs are permitted, as long as they are under the supervision of the school, according to the GHSA, and as long as they provide benefits to the schools, sports or facilities — but not to specific athletes.

Those in violation of the GHSA’s NIL Clubs policy may lose eligibility, according to the amendment, and their schools may be punished with fines, forfeits and/or probation and postseason bans.

The GHSA began allowing athletes to benefit from NIL in 2023. In his June letter, Hines reminded student-athletes looking to profit from NIL they cannot use any intellectual property of their schools, or of the GHSA.

“The posting by any student of apparel of their school or the GHSA, equipment bearing the name, mascots or logos of their school or the GHSA, game footage or other intellectual property of the GHSA or its member schools would be a violation of GHSA NIL rules resulting in potential loss of eligibility to compete,” said Hines.

No video or photo connected with an NIL deal can be recorded on school property or at a school facility.

Appendix N of the GHSA By-Laws allows for compensation “not contingent on specific athletic performance or achievement”; “not provided as an incentive to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific school”’ and “not provided by the school or any person acting as an agent for the school.”

Players and parents are encouraged to seek guidance to see if any high school NIL deals are in violation of college NIL rules. Principals or athletic directors of schools must be informed within seven calendar days of NIL deals.

Full text of the GHSA’s rules on NIL, including the amendment added Thursday, are available at https://www.ghsa.net/constitution-section-2024-2025-appendix-n-guidelines-regarding-name-image-and-likeness.