Indiana high school student-athletes are one step closer to cashing in on their personal brand — just don’t expect to see a shot clock in their games anytime soon.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors approved a new Personal Branding Activities (PBA) policy Monday, giving student-athletes the green light to pursue endorsement-style deals and monetize their image beginning with the 2026-27 school year. The proposal passed 13-5.
But a companion proposal that would have introduced a shot clock to high school basketball — a long-debated idea in the state that gave the world “Hoosiers” — failed to gain enough support and died without a motion.
“Unlike the current college system, where schools often play a direct role in NIL compensation, the new rule keeps high schools out of arranging or funding deals for student-athletes.” — Paul Neidig, IHSAA Commissioner
What “PBA” means — and what it doesn’t
The IHSAA deliberately avoided the college term “NIL” in crafting its policy. Under the new rule, schools are kept out of the deal-making process entirely, and athletes cannot use their school’s name, logo, or uniform in any paid activities.
Commissioner Neidig framed the move as a preemptive strike: better to write the rules now than have them imposed from outside. “We believe it is far better to be proactive and create thoughtful, education-based guidelines ourselves,” he said.
The shot clock proposal
The failed shot clock proposal would have been a seismic change for Indiana basketball. Proponents argued a clock would modernize the game; opponents held firm that the slower style of play remains part of the sport’s identity in Indiana. In the end, the measure died without even a formal vote.
By the numbers
- 17 proposals approved by the board Monday
- 5 proposals failed to receive enough support
- 1 proposal died for lack of a motion (the shot clock)
- 13-5 vote margin on PBA approval
The board, led by President Tom Black of East Central High School and Vice President Jeff Hamstra of Chesterton High School, is composed of elected school administrators from across the state. The PBA policy takes effect with the 2026-27 school year.
