NIL Advice for High School Athletes: Where and How Athletes Can Cash In Before College

While NIL deals are primarily focused on NCAA student-athletes, high schoolers have the responsibility to prepare for a potentially lucrative future. Because the NCAA has no ruling over NIL for high school students, each state’s athletic associations have the final say on how those athletes may take advantage of the new, growing NIL market. Because of this, knowing your state’s rules and how they apply to you in your journey as a student-athlete is the first step to success.

California is currently the only state in the nation that allows high school student-athletes to make money on their celebrity. The California Interscholastic Federation governs high school athletics in the state of California. The CIF allows high school athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness, as long as they do not use their school’s name, logo, or uniform. Rebecca Brutlag, a spokesperson for the CIF, states that this is because many athletes in the state are also involved in the film or commercial acting industry in some way.

Just spoke to the @CIFState, which confirmed that HS athletes in California absolutely can benefit from their #NIL as long as they aren't using school marks.

That's huge for HS athletes across the state.

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) July 22, 2021

The NCAA NIL FAQ states that “prospective student-athletes may engage in the same types of NIL opportunities available to current student-athletes under the interim policy without impacting their NCAA eligibility.” 

This is important for a few reasons:

• Previously, any deals and sponsorships from high school and college athletes would lead to the possibility of losing a scholarship or forfeiting NCAA legibility.
• California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas are typically home to the most recruits each year. California’s edge of allowing high school athletes to profit on their fame boosts their exposure.

More States May Change Rules Around NIL for High School Athletes

It seems New York may join California in allowing high school athletes to profit on their name, image, and likeness. The state’s high school athletic association is expected to vote on amateur sport rules in October. The potential change would offer students the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness.

Presented proposal today to @NYSPHSAA Central Committee to revise our Amateur Rule to provide students the ability to benefit from their NIL (name, image & likeness) with no affiliation to school, Section or NYSPHSAA. Action will be taken on Oct. 20th. Stay tuned. #NIL pic.twitter.com/QfQ1M1K91F

— Dr. Robert Zayas (@RobertZayasNY) July 28, 2021

Whether your state allows you to profit as a high schooler or not, it is time to think about how you may use NIL legislation in the future. If it is important to you to secure sponsorship deals and build a brand in the future, it is time to ask questions and work on yourself now.

How will you prove you are ready to handle these serious decisions when you enter a university setting? Are you representing yourself well on the field, in the classroom, and on social media (yes, even private accounts)?? Are you asking those who are recruiting you the right questions: How will they help you better yourself and grasp these new opportunities?

And most of all: Are you keeping your head in the game so all of the potential contracts can realistically come into fruition?