OHSAA In Conflict With Student-Athlete Endorsement Referendum Item To Be Voted On

(4-6-22) The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) will be voting on 14 referendum items in May.

• OHSAA Member Schools to Vote on 14 Referendum Items

Issue 12B has drawn a lot of attention during the process.

ISSUE 12B: New Amateurism Bylaw (Add Name Image and Likeness Regulations)

This proposed addition would now allow student-athletes to sign endorsement agreements so long as their teams, schools and/or the OHSAA are not being represented within those endorsements and provided there are no endorsements with companies that do not support the mission of education-based athletics (casinos, gambling, alcohol, drugs, tobacco). If passed, effective May 16, 2022.

Chocolate milk cheers to @PCTigersHoops – this year's @OHSAASports DI boys basketball state champs! 🍫🥛🏀🏆 @pick_central pic.twitter.com/MJZqz319AK

— ADA Mideast (@adamideast) March 21, 2022

Way to go DIII state wrestling champs @KnightsofLCA! 🎉 These champions are built with chocolate milk 🍫🥛@OHSAA_Sports pic.twitter.com/Qjk38oF77a

— ADA Mideast (@adamideast) March 14, 2022

Chocolate milk cheers to @ReynoldsburgGBB, the 2022 @OHSAASports DI girls basketball state champs! 🍫🥛=🏀🏆 pic.twitter.com/ICS9lJKilG

— ADA Mideast (@adamideast) March 13, 2022

So will the OHSAA have to stop their deal with ADA Mideast if 12B is passed? Over the past several years OHSAA State Champions have posed with some form of milk product from the group…some include the entire team in a picture (see above). The new referendum would not allow the teams or athletes to endorse this in the future. Does the OHSAA not have to abide by its own rule if it is passed?