THOMASTON, Ga. — The Georgia High School Association has voted to split public and private school playoffs in Classes A-3A, approved new NIL rules and new reclassification guidelines.
The GHSA Executive Committee approved the measure public-private playoff split 53-18-14 during its fall meeting on Monday.
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It was one of several proposals approved, including the way the association will handle the upcoming reclassification for the next two years.
The new proposal will only include Class A, 2A and 3A, and will split public and private schools from playing each other in the state playoffs. The GHSA will use a power rating system to seed the teams in both the public and private school brackets.
The reclassification proposal, which was approved unanimously by the EC and will be implemented for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, will eliminate Class 7A. Class 6A will house roughly 14 percent of the largest schools in the state. Classes A will house roughly 26 percent of the state's smallest schools, and Classes 2-5A will have 24-26 percent of the remaining schools divided equally into four classes.
The EC also approved Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules. The NIL proposal passed 65-10. The new rule, which is now by-law 1.97 on page 23 of the 2023-24 GHSA Constitution, will allow students to receive consideration for the use of their own name, image and likeness.
GUIDELINES REGARDING NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS (NIL)
The GHSA does not specifically prohibit students from engaging in certain commercial activities as individuals. These activities, commonly referred to as name, image and likeness (NIL), will not put a student’s amateur status at risk provided the student meets all the requirements for maintaining amateur status in compliance with GHSA by-law 1.92-c and providing there is no violation of by-laws prohibiting influencing a student to attend or remain at a member school under GHSA by-law 1.70 (Recruiting/Undue Influence/Following The Coach).
A student-athlete may benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) in compliance with GHSA by-law 1.92-c provided:
- The compensation is not contingent on specific athletic performance or achievement.
- The compensation is not provided as an incentive to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific school.
- The compensation is not provided by the school or any person acting as an agent for the school.
- The following guidelines are in effect for NIL activities:
- Intellectual property - No “marks” may be used including, but not limited to, school logos, school name, school uniforms, school mascot, or any trademarked GHSA logo or acronyms.
- No school apparel or equipment shall be worn, which includes school name, school uniforms, school logo, school mascot or any apparel displaying trademarked GHSA logos or acronyms.
- No member school facility may be used for the purpose of name, image and likeness activities.
- No activities in conflict with a member school’s local school district policy may be endorsed. (Examples include, but are not limited to, tobacco products, alcohol products and controlled substances.)
- Students and their families should seek professional guidance as to how NIL activities could impact collegiate financial aid and/or tax implications, among other issues.
- Within seven (7) calendar days after entering into any type of NIL contract/agreement, a student, or the student’s parents/guardians, must notify the Principal or Athletic Director of the student’s school of entering into that agreement.
