The rule
High school sports in Illinois are governed by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The rule is IHSA By-law 3.084 and the Board's Name, Image and Likeness policy (Policy 37 in the current handbook; the by-law still calls it Policy 35), as printed in the IHSA Handbook for 2026-27. Everything on this page is taken from the IHSA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes |
| Who must be told | No report is written into the rule. The IHSA tells students to work closely with their principal |
| By when | No window stated |
| School and IHSA marks | No IHSA or member-school name, logo, mascot or trademark, and nothing implying their approval |
| School facilities | May not be used in association with the activity |
| When | Not during school hours, travel to or from an IHSA event, or an IHSA event including practices and meetings |
| Banned categories | Gaming and gambling, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment, firearms and other weapons, and anything the Board finds inappropriate or distracting |
| Penalty | Ineligible in the sport in which the violation occurred, until reinstated by the Executive Director |
What the rule says
- What counts. Any activity for which a student performs work, a service or an endorsement, or makes an appearance, in exchange for compensation.
- College eligibility. The policy makes the student responsible for finding out what the activity does to NCAA, NJCAA or NAIA eligibility.
- Recruiting rules still apply. The IHSA's by-laws separately bar any inducement to enroll at or transfer to a school for athletics.
- A numbering quirk. By-law 3.084 points to "Board Policy 35". In the 2026-27 handbook the NIL policy is printed as Policy 37. The text of the six limits is the same as in earlier editions.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the IHSA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers IHSA 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 Illinois
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Illinois?
Yes. IHSA By-law 3.084 allows a student to earn compensation from the use of their name, image and likeness, within the limits of the Board's NIL policy.
Do I have to report an NIL deal in Illinois?
The IHSA rule sets no reporting deadline. The IHSA's eligibility summary tells students to work closely with their principal on NIL opportunities, and a school can have its own policy.
What NIL deals are banned for Illinois high school athletes?
Deals using IHSA or school names, logos, mascots or facilities; activity during school hours or IHSA events; and anything associated with gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment, or firearms and other weapons.
What is the penalty for breaking the IHSA NIL rule?
The student becomes ineligible in the sport in which the violation occurred, and needs a ruling from the IHSA Executive Director to be reinstated.
Be your own agent. Leave.