GIAA

Tallulah Falls School is joining the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) beginning with the 2024-26 cycle. This decision to leave the GHSA for GIAA was made in December 2023.

Why GIAA?

• Closely aligns with a private, independent education model of governance
• Provides freedom in scheduling, including the number of contests in some sports, as well as scheduling out-of-state teams or teams not in their state association
• Allows TFS to play many of our present GHSA public and private schools
• Transfers from public schools are immediately eligible for interscholastic activities (GHSA requires day student transfers in grades 10-12 to sit out a year)
• Boarding students are immediately eligible when transferring in any grade in high school (GHSA requires boarding students who transfer in grades 10-12 to be ineligible for varsity competition)

FAQ

Who will be in our Region in GIAA 2024-26? 

Athens Christian, Bethlehem Christian, George Walton, Lakeview Academy, Loganville Christian, Riverside Prep, and TFS

Will we still play GHSA schools? 

Yes. We plan on scheduling GHSA public and private schools, GIAA, and out-of-state schools when appropriate.

About GIAA

The GIAA is an ancillary division of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA). GISA advances excellence among its member schools through advocacy, professional growth, student engagement, and collaboration.

GISA is a non-profit association of private, independent K-12 schools throughout the state. The mission of GISA is to advance excellence and collaboration among Georgia’s independent schools by serving the professional growth, advocacy, academic, arts, and athletic needs of member schools. Each member school is unique while sharing a unified commitment to overall excellence, as well as the nurture and care of the physical, intellectual, social, and moral development of all students.

To better serve our association’s growing membership, a new GISA division was established in 2021, the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA).

This premier athletic league provides opportunities for athletic competitions encouraging each student athlete’s overall academic, spiritual, social, and physical development.

MORE INFO / giaasports.org

Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) GIAA Guidelines

GISA/GIAA do not prohibit student-athletes from engaging in selected commercial activities for financial gain. Such activities, now known as Name, Image & Likeness (“NIL”), will not place a student-athlete’s eligibility or amateur status at risk should the student-athlete meet the requirements recognized in GIAA Rules & Regulations, Section 7: Student Eligibility – CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY.  Moreover, student-athletes entering NIL deals must also fully comply with GIAA Rules & Regulations, Section 7: Student Eligibility – TRANSFERS.
Student-athletes are permitted to enter deals that allow the student-athlete to benefit financially from NIL provided the following requirements are satisfied:

1. Compensation from NIL is not contingent upon specific performance or achievement;
2. Compensation from NIL is not an incentive to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific school; and
3. Compensation from NIL is not at the direction of the school or any individual acting on behalf of or as an agent (apparent, implied, or otherwise) for the school.[1]

Student-athletes engaging in NIL activities are prohibited from:
1. Using any “marks” associated with their school, and such “marks” include, but are not limited to, school logos, school name, school uniforms, school mascot, or any trademarked GISA/GIAA logos or acronyms;
2. Advertising school apparel or equipment, which includes school name, school uniforms, school logo, school mascot or any apparel displaying trademarked GISA/GIAA logos or acronyms;
3. Utilizing school facilities and/or properties; and
4. Engaging in actions which conflict with the student-athletes school’s policies concerning tobacco and/or alcohol products and/or controlled substances.[2]

Student-athletes and their families and/or representatives (guardians) participating in NIL:
1. Must notify the Principal or Athletic Director of the student-athlete’s school within ten (10) calendar days of entering any NIL deal; and
2. To the extent possible, maintain a fully executed copy of any NIL deal.

*****Member Schools are required to notify a GISA Team Member in writing within seven (7) calendar days of any student-athlete and their family and/or representative (guardian) reporting an NIL deal.*****

The following are recommendations, not requirements, set forth by GISA/GIAA:
1. Student-athletes and their families and/or representatives (guardians) are encouraged to seek professional guidance regarding NIL and its impact on future athletic endeavors.
2. Student-athletes and their families and/or representatives (guardians) are encouraged to seek professional guidance concerning the potential impact of NIL on, including but not limited to, future financial aid and/or tax implications.

[1]  The list set forth herein is neither exhaustive nor all-inclusive.
[2]  The list set forth herein is neither exhaustive nor all-inclusive.