Ohio specific recruiting research

Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) guidelines on recruiting.  Prohibited recruiting activities include contact with student-athletes at other schools, offering incentives or inducements, promising athletic scholarships, and providing special privileges.  This includes activities of those who are connected with and even those not connected with a school if done for the purpose of recruiting to that school.  Therefore, a student can lose eligibility and a school face punishment if there is any of the above activities engaged in whether by a coach or someone who is not directly involved with the school.  This becomes problematic should Ohio allow high school athletes to engage in NIL activities.  Any endorsement could be seen as an inducement to attend a specific school.  Schools, students, parents, and others should be careful in their communication surrounding such agreements that there is no discussion of participation for a particular school.

Permissible recruiting activities include open houses and information sessions, camps and clinics open to all, recruiting student-athletes who initiate contact, and providing transfer student-athlete guidelines.  Schools are allowed to host open houses and information sessions to showcase their athletic programs to prospective student-athletes and their families.  These events provide an opportunity for interested individuals to learn more about the school's sports offerings, coaching staff, facilities, and academic programs.  Open houses and information sessions are typically open to the public and do not target specific student-athletes for recruitment purposes.

Schools can also organize and host camps and clinics that are open to all students, including student-athletes.  These camps and clinics offer skill development, training, and exposure to different sports in a non-threatening and inclusive environment.  Participation in these camps and clinics is voluntary and does not imply any commitment to attend or join the school's athletic program.