By Andy Walter

DOVER — NIL may indeed still be coming to high school sports in Delaware.

But the DIAA board of directors decided not to vote on the issue at its monthly meeting today.

Instead, the board tabled the vote until its March 21 meeting so it can have further discussion, including sending a survey to its member schools.

NIL would allow student-athletes to be paid for their name, image and likeness with endorsements, etc.

Board members emphasized that the proposed DIAA rule change would not allow schools to actively promote NIL opportunities for their student-athletes.

At the college level, schools have collectives that solicit donations that are then used to entice student-athletes to come to their school.

Board member Lenny Richardson from Rehoboth expressed concern after seeing how NIL has impacted college athletics, He wanted to see more discussion on the issue.

“I’ll be honest, I’m terrified of NIL,” said Richardson, the former Polytech High athletic director and coach. “I’m just not comfortable right now (voting on the rule change).”

Another board member, Red Clay superintendent Dorrell Green, also wanted more discussion. But he also said the issue wasn’t going to go away.

Approximately 34 states already permit student-athletes to benefit from NIL. That includes all of Delaware’s neighboring states.

It was also brought up at the meeting that there may be pending national legislation that would impact Delaware’s decision.

With the State Board of Education still needing to sign off on any new NIL rule in Delaware, the earliest it could go into effect now would be August.

“We’re going to have to confront it,” said Green, the former University of Delaware football player. “Are there inequities? Yes there are. ... I think it’s worth a deeper dive.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on X at @DSNSports.