CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – North Carolina high school athletes can now make money off brand deals, endorsements, appearances, and more. 

The N.C. High School Athletic Association board voted Wednesday to approve a policy that clears the way for athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness. 

For private schools, their athletic association does not explicitly ban student-athletes from collecting a check from brand endorsements and deals. 

However, HighSchoolOT.com reports NC Senate Bill 636, a bill that would strip the NCHSAA of many powers, was amended on Wednesday afternoon to prevent this from happening.

A group of athletic directors, principals, and superintendents drafted a new policy that could open the door for all athletes to earn money on NIL deals. 

Chad Grier, head football coach at Providence Day School, has dealt with thousands of student-athletes with different stories.

“Clearly, there’s kids of every background and every need or lack of need, and a lot of kids can benefit from this,” Grier said. 

The policy blocks athletes from getting deals from companies that sell alcohol, cannabis, guns, and other products inappropriate for minors.

It also bans coaches from acting as agents while requiring disclosure of all deals to school and state officials.

“I think it covered all the right spots of what’s permissible and not permissible,” Grier said. “Enforcement is always a challenge right now in college; that’s going to be the challenge for everybody.” 

Twenty-seven states, including Tennessee, allow athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness. Ten others are considering it, and a dozen, including South Carolina and Virginia, have banned it. 

Students can start cashing in on their name, image, and likeness by July. If approved, student-athletes, parents, coaches, athletic directors, and principals must complete a NIL course yearly.