The rule
High school sports in Massachusetts are governed by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). The rule is 47.1.3, under Rule 47, Amateurism (Name, Image, Likeness), in the MIAA Handbook for July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027; the Board added the NIL language to Rule 47 at an August 18 meeting, and the 2026 rule clarifications and the 2027-29 proposals contain no NIL changes. Everything on this page is taken from the MIAA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes; the handbook gives no start date |
| Who must be told | The member school, which receives copies of any endorsement, employment and representation agreements |
| By when | No deadline in the rule |
| School and MIAA marks | No reference to, or use of, logos, insignia or marks of a member school or of any MIAA or member-school event, game or championship; no NIL partner's apparel or logos during school team or MIAA tournament activities |
| Banned categories | Adult entertainment; alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and vaping products; cannabis; controlled dangerous substances; prescription pharmaceuticals; gambling including sports betting, the lottery and betting tied to video, online and mobile games; weapons, firearms and ammunition |
| Conflicts | No agreement that conflicts with an agreement to which the member school is a party |
| Schools | A member school may use a student's NIL in connection with official team activities; otherwise no school employee may be involved except as needed to enforce the policy; collectives are not mentioned |
| Agents | Allowed; the student may be represented by an attorney or sports agent |
| Penalty | Suspension from all interscholastic athletics; the student may apply to the Board for reinstatement |
What the rule says
- The permission, with representation. "A student-athlete may profit off the use of their own name, image, and likeness (NIL), and be represented by an attorney or sports agent, subject to their compliance with this policy."
- Copies to the school. "Student-athletes are required to provide their member school copies of any endorsement, employment and representation agreements." No deadline or form is set.
- No school or MIAA identity. No reference to, or use of, logos, insignia or marks of a member school, or of any MIAA or member-school event, game or championship; no NIL partner's apparel or logos during school team or MIAA tournament activities.
- Seven banned categories. Adult entertainment products and services; alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and vaping products; cannabis products; controlled dangerous substances; prescription pharmaceuticals; gambling, including sports betting, the lottery and betting in connection with video games, online games and mobile devices; weapons, firearms and ammunition.
- No conflicting deals. No agreement that "conflicts with an agreement to which the member school is a party."
- The school's role. A member school "may use a student-athletes' NIL in connection with official team activities"; otherwise no school employee may be involved "except as needed to enforce this policy." Competing for money remains barred by 47.1.1.
- College eligibility. Compliance does not ensure eligibility under NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA standards.
- The penalty. "Violation of Rule 47 shall mean that the student-athlete is suspended from all interscholastic athletics," with reinstatement by application to the Board.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the MIAA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers MIAA 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, and prospects report from the first day of junior year. The NIL guide has the college windows and NIL Go has its own page.
- Agents. The state's athlete-agent law applies to high school athletes; can a high school athlete have an agent? and the state-by-state registration table cover it.
- 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 Massachusetts
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Massachusetts?
Yes. MIAA Rule 47.1.3 says a student-athlete may profit off the use of their own name, image and likeness, subject to the policy, with seven banned categories and no use of school or MIAA logos, insignia or marks.
Do I have to give my school a copy of an NIL deal in Massachusetts?
Yes. The rule says student-athletes are required to provide their member school copies of any endorsement, employment and representation agreements. It sets no deadline; the school's own policy may.
Can a Massachusetts high school athlete have an agent?
Yes. The rule says the student may be represented by an attorney or sports agent, subject to compliance with the policy, and the representation agreement is one of the documents the school receives a copy of. Massachusetts has no athlete-agent registration law; the federal SPARTA rules still apply to anyone recruiting a student athlete.
What happens if a Massachusetts athlete breaks the NIL rule?
Rule 47 says the student is suspended from all interscholastic athletics, and may apply to the Board for reinstatement.
Be your own agent. Leave.