West Virginia High School Athletes Allowed to Sign NIL Deals

The WVSSAC has officially passed policy to allow West Virginia athletes in grades 6-12 to earn financial compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

West Virginia officially joins more than 40 states that permit and regulate NIL deals for its youth athletes.

One regulation for the policy is that athletes may not reference their own school or others. This includes the use of logos and uniforms.

“They have to keep it independent of their school and athletic life,” WVSSAC executive director Wayne Ryan said in an interview with West Virginia Watch. “Honestly, they have received notoriety for that, but they can’t use that as part of their advertisement.”

According to the policy, coaches and other personnel may not use NIL opportunities as a recruiting tactic.

“No one associated with or acting at the direction of a member school, such as booster clubs, alumni or collectives, may use the promise of NIL opportunities to entice student athletes to transfer or attend their school,” the policy reads.

Additionally, coaches and other staff members may not participate in or facilitate any kind of NIL deals.

There are also several restricted products which athletes may not advertise, including alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, weapons, etc.

Ryan said evaluation of deals will be on a “case by case basis,” while mentioning the use of other states’ NIL policies to help form the current WVSSAC regulation.

“We’re just trying to serve the student athlete appropriately and keep our competitive rules and policy in place,” Ryan added.

Find more coverage of the WVSSAC at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, WVU junior wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III was the first Pennsylvania athlete to sign an NIL deal in high school.