By Andy Walter

DOVER — The DIAA today took the next step in allowing Delaware high school student-athletes to be paid.

After a lengthy debate, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association board of directors passed rule changes that would permit student-athletes to profit from their name, image or likeness, known as NIL.

The board first took a vote to table a vote until it could get more information on what NIL looks like at the high school level. But that motion failed by a vote of 9-4.

The board then passed its NIL proposal by a vote of 8-6.

The passage starts a process that will first require public comment followed by a vote by the State Board of Education.

Under that time table, the changes could go into effect by August — in time for the 2024-25 school year.

The board held an hour-long debate on the issue before taking a vote on Thursday.

Some of the biggest concerns were about schools being able to use NIL in recruiting and the fears that the problems currently transforming college athletics would also impact high school sports.

Board members also expressed fears that allowing student-athletes to benefit from NIL could impact interactions within the team and put more emphasis on the individual.

While there were a number of different opinions, the board’s consensus seemed to be that having NIL in Delaware was inevitable. Currently, 33 states permit student-athletes to be paid.

“It’s here,” said Dave Baylor, the DIAA’s executive director.

Baylor recently attended a meeting of the National Federation of Secondary Schools Association in Indianapolis where he said NIL rules were a major topic of conversation.

The DIAA also recently took a survey on the subject.

The proposed Delaware regulations would not allow DIAA-member schools to be involved in the process or benefiting from NIL money. The hope, said Baylor, is that no school would gain a competitive advantage by offering or obtaining NIL deals for student-athletes

“We’re going to have to hold each other accountable,” said Baylor.

The DIAA board members also realized that, if it didn’t take action on the matter that state legislators would determine the rules.

“We have an opportunity here to create our own direction before other people create it for us,” said Baylor. “It’s not perfect.”

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