Sports could earn South Dakota high school athletes paycheck

Activities board signals support for financial reforms

(Scott Millard/Capital Journal)

High school athletes could soon get a cut from businesses and boosters who capitalize on their talents.

The South Dakota High School Activities Association has adopted an amendment that spells out how the organization will handle student-athletes that monetize their social media accounts.

SDHSAA member schools this week gave their support to an amendment to the organization’s constitution that spells out the ways in which athletes can monetize their name, image and likeness. Breaking the NIL rules can result in the loss of an athlete’s amateur standing for a year.

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Schools approved the amendment on a vote of 115 to 7. To be approved, an amendment must garner 60% of the votes cast.

The constitution’s previous standard caused athletes to lose eligibility if they receive “remuneration for the use of their name, picture and/or personal appearance as an athlete in the promotion of a commercial or profit making event.”

That language was thought to be very broad, making it difficult to rule on an athlete’s eligibility.

Most students earning money on their name, image or likeness on social media are found at the college level. However, SDHSAA Executive Director Dan Swartos said he has received some inquiries from the parents of high school athletes about the association’s NIL rules.

The amendment serves to clarify the rules for high school athletes who seek to get paid for the use of their name, image and likeness. According to the amendment, the social media activity of the athlete must not:

•Interfere with academics.

•Be tied to athletic performance such as pay to play.

•Induce the athlete to attend a particular school.

•Receive payment from the school or agents of the school like booster clubs or foundations.

•Use SDHSAA or a member school’s marks or logos.

•Use the school’s name, mascot or uniforms.

•Promote or endorse activities associated with alcohol, tobacco, vaping, controlled substances, gambling, banned athletic substances or other illegal substances or activities.

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