WIAA membership approves two amendments; proposed NIL fails

The member schools of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association on April 24 passed two amendments, defeated a much-deliberated Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) proposal, and conducted other membership business at the 128th annual meeting at the Sentry Insurance Theater in Stevens Point.

The membership voted 170-219 to reject the proposed NIL language that would have allowed student-athletes to engage in promotion and revenue opportunities and activities not associated or identified with their school team, school, conference or the WIAA, which included a number of prohibited NIL activities.

WIAA executive director Stephanie Hauser indicated the failed vote does not end the discussions on NIL.

“We will continue this conversation with our membership in response to the trend across the nation with other high school associations allowing some opportunities for Name, Image, Likeness,” she said. “The annual meeting vote is evidence of the ownership the membership has in the democratic process. The WIAA staff provides information, rationale and possible unintended consequences, but it’s ultimately up to each member school to determine how to cast its vote.”

The two amendments that passed by the membership affect the membership’s Bylaws. The first allows schools to use their resources and coaches to conduct developmental programming during the school year but outside the designated sport season for students in eighth grade or below, which remains prohibited for students in grades 9-12. The membership approved the amendment by a 381-9 vote.

The second Bylaw amendment permits member schools to submit one unedited video clip for review by the executive staff if a school believes the wrong player has been identified in an ejection and to assist in identifying the correct student-athlete to serve the ejection suspension. The amendment passed by a 387-1 vote.

In the director’s report, Hauser expressed the focus of the membership will be moving education-based athletics forward and adapting to changes in the interscholastic athletics landscape. She said by working together on existing and future plans, continuous improvement is encouraged and expected. She highlighted recent achievements to reinforce what has been accomplished by the membership working toward a common goal, including tripling girls wrestling participation in three years, the firstever WIAA lacrosse championships this spring, the launching of the WIAA Student Leadership Team, the establishment of a number of ad hoc committees, as well as the reinstatement of the Media Advisory Committee. Hauser also identified a number of membership challenges that will be reviewed and addressed, including season lengths, game maximums and coaching contact; the retention of WIAA-licensed officials and the continued exploration of establishing a WIAA Foundation.

The executive staff responded to 12 pre-submitted requests addressing seven open forum topics, including inquiries about 8-player football; basketball divisional placements; competitive balance performance factor; NIL; impact of code violations on tournament eligibility and the current study of season lengths, season game maximums and coaching contact.

Michael Turner of Hartford Union High School was recognized as the Wisconsin Spirit of Sport Award recipient, sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Also recognized were the representatives of the 30 schools that received the WIAA Award of Excellence in 2022-23.