The rule
High school sports in Georgia are governed by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). The rule is GHSA Constitution, Appendix N (Guidelines Regarding Name, Image and Likeness), with by-laws 1.92 and 1.70, as posted by the GHSA for the 2025-26 school year. Everything on this page is taken from the GHSA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes |
| Who must be told | The school's principal or athletic director |
| By when | Within seven days of the agreement |
| School and GHSA marks | No school logo, name, uniform or mascot; no GHSA logo or acronym; no school-branded apparel or equipment |
| School facilities | May not be used for NIL activities |
| Banned categories | Anything that conflicts with the school district's policy; the GHSA gives tobacco, alcohol and controlled substances as examples |
| Schools | Pay may not come from the school or anyone acting as its agent |
| Collectives and NIL clubs | Prohibited. A student may not be a member of one or be paid by one |
| Penalty | Loss of eligibility for the student; fines, forfeits, probation or a post-season ban for a school that knowingly allows a violation |
What the rule says
- The three conditions. Pay is not contingent on specific athletic performance or achievement; it is not an incentive to enroll or remain enrolled at a specific school; and it is not provided by the school or a person acting as an agent for the school.
- Collectives and NIL clubs. The GHSA defines them as groups organized to compensate one or more student-athletes. Booster clubs run under school supervision that pay for facilities, equipment and team needs, not individual athletes, are still allowed.
- District policy on top. Appendix N defers to each school district on what products conflict with its policy, so the list can differ from one district to the next.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the GHSA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers GHSA member schools. A school in another association follows that association's rule.
- College rules later. A deal that is fine in high school can still matter to the NCAA, NJCAA or NAIA. At Division I, third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go. The NIL guide has the college windows.
- Taxes. NIL pay is taxable at any age. NIL taxes in plain words.
- The contract itself. What each clause means.
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state, level and age, and a disclosure packet for the school comes with a countdown to the deadline. It is a summary, not a ruling; your school decides. Athletes 13 to 17 use Leave through an account a parent or guardian creates, and are visible to businesses only when the guardian has turned that on and the state allows high school NIL. Leave is software, not an agent. You decide, you send.
Questions about high school NIL in Georgia
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Georgia?
Yes. Appendix N of the GHSA Constitution allows it when the pay does not depend on athletic performance, is not an incentive to enroll or stay at a school, and does not come from the school or its agent.
Who do I have to tell about an NIL deal in Georgia?
The principal or athletic director of your school, within seven days of the agreement. The student or a parent or guardian gives the notice.
Are NIL collectives allowed in Georgia high school sports?
No. A GHSA student may not be a member of, or be paid by, a collective or NIL club. The student loses eligibility, and a school that knowingly allows it can be fined, forfeit contests, be put on probation or be barred from the post-season.
Can I wear my school uniform in an NIL ad in Georgia?
No. The GHSA bars school logos, names, uniforms and mascots, school-branded apparel and equipment, GHSA marks, and the use of school facilities for NIL activities.
Be your own agent. Leave.