In response to a lawsuit filed by a student-athlete on October 15 against the Ohio High School Athletic Association regarding Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), a Franklin County judge opened the case on Monday by issuing a 45-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the OHSAA.
The 45-day TRO prevents the OHSAA from enforcing its bylaw that prohibits a student-athlete from being compensated for his/her Name, Image and Likeness.
OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute has announced that an emergency referendum vote regarding NIL will go to member schools sometime during the 45-day window. The OHSAA Board of Directors meets this Thursday (October 23) and will determine the voting dates. Each member high school has one vote, cast by the principal.
Following the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, the OHSAA will announce the proposed NIL bylaw language and the voting timeframe for the emergency referendum.
“We anticipated a lawsuit would come any day and our Board of Directors has already approved the language of an NIL bylaw referendum for our schools to vote on,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “We are thankful for the 45-day window so our schools will have time to learn more about this referendum and to vote on our proposed language for NIL.”
If the membership votes in favor of a proposal, it would allow OHSAA member schools to shape the NIL bylaw. If schools do not vote in favor of the referendum, the lawsuit and the future of NIL in Ohio will be determined by the court.
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