COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Ohio High School Athletic Association is considering allowing high school student-athletes to sign endorsement deals, and profit from their name, image, or likeness.
The proposal is among 14 referendum items that member schools will vote on, from May 1st through the 16th.
Issue 12B is described as a "New amateurism Bylaw", which would, "allow student-athletes to sign endorsement agreements so long as their teams, schools and/or the OHSAA are not being represented within those endorsements and provided there are no endorsements with companies that do not support the mission of education-based athletics."
Those exceptions are for companies that specialize in alcohol, tobacco, drugs, casinos, or gambling. If passed, it would take effect May 16th of 2022.
The OHSAA is hosting a series of meetings across the state to discuss the referendums. The other issues, if approved by a majority of member schools, would take effect no later than August 1st, 2022.