Personal Branding Activities Approved, High School Basketball Shot Clock Proposal Fails

The Board of Directors voted on both measures this week.

INDIANAPOLIS - During its annual review of the Member School By-Laws on Monday afternoon, the Board of Directors of the IHSAA approved Personal Branding Activities (PBA) for high school student-athletes while a proposal calling for a basketball shot clock failed. 

The Personal Branding Activities item, which passed by a 13-5 vote, allows student-athletes of IHSAA member schools to potentially benefit while preserving their amateur status. The rule becomes effective the next school year (2026-27). 

The PBA term was chosen to clearly distinguish the high school model from the college version of Name-Image-Likeness (NIL). At the most basic level, students will not be allowed to use their school affiliation nor appear in uniform during activities. 

Allowable PBA activities include: 

• Non-School, Non-Athletic PBA Activities: Students may engage in PBA activities provided they do not represent the Member School and do not perform athletic services. 
• Personal Brand Development: Students may develop and monetize their personal brand through social media, personal appearances, and endorsements unrelated to their school athletic participation.
• Skills-Based Services: Students may provide non-athletic services such as tutoring, personal training instruction, or coaching youth sports for reasonable compensation. 

Prohibited activities include anything related to producing services, individuals, companies or industries that promote gaming or gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, illegal or banned substances, sexually explicit material, or firearms or weapons. 

Recruitment-related activities are also prohibited. Violations of prohibited PBA activities will result in ineligibility. 

On the basketball shot clock, a proposal was submitted on behalf of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) calling for a 35-second shot clock to introduced to boys and girls varsity basketball games beginning with the 2028-29 school year. 

The proposal failed with one in favor but 17 opposed. 

The IBCA surveyed its membership, receiving 612 responses from approximately 800 boys and girls coaches. Of those returning the surveys, 68 percent voted in favor of a shot clock. 

At a series of eight school administrator meetings around the state during the month of April, only 79 of 245 administrators, or 24.4 percent, were in favor of the proposal. 

For more information, visit Microsoft Word - 050426.Board.docx.