The rule
High school sports in Michigan are governed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). The rule is MHSAA personal branding activities (PBA) policy, approved by the Representative Council on January 27, 2026, effective immediately. Everything on this page is taken from the MHSAA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes, since January 27, 2026 |
| Who must be told | The MHSAA, for approval |
| By when | Within seven days of the opportunity or of signing the contract |
| School marks | No school name, logo, mascot, trademark, uniform or other school intellectual property |
| When and where | Not during school, not at MHSAA events including practice, not on school property, not promoted through school media |
| Banned categories | Gaming and gambling, alcoholic beverages, banned substances, and anything the MHSAA finds inappropriate, unsafe or inconsistent with school sports |
| Schools, coaches, employees | May not solicit, arrange, negotiate or promote a student's activity |
| Collectives and group deals | Prohibited, along with pay-for-play |
| Penalty | The student can be ruled ineligible; a school's MHSAA membership can be put at risk |
What the rule says
- What is allowed. Camps, clinics and private lessons; social media endorsements and promotions; personal appearances, photo sessions and autograph signings; modelling and advertising; sales of merchandise, sports cards and apparel; and use of the student's name, image or likeness in marketing materials.
- What it has to be based on. The student's individual marketability. The policy bars capitalizing on athletic performances, awards, team participation or the outcome of competition.
- Approval, not only notice. In Pennsylvania and Georgia the school is told. In Michigan the disclosure goes to the MHSAA itself, and the MHSAA approves the activity.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the MHSAA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers MHSAA 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 Michigan
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Michigan?
Yes. The MHSAA's Representative Council approved an expansion of personal branding activities on January 27, 2026, effective immediately. Individual deals such as social media endorsements, appearances, autograph signings and merchandise sales are allowed.
Who do I report an NIL deal to in Michigan?
The MHSAA. Every personal branding activity is disclosed to the association within seven days of the opportunity or of signing the contract, for approval.
What NIL deals are not allowed for Michigan high school athletes?
Deals tied to athletic performance, awards or team results; group activities, collectives and pay-for-play; anything using school names, logos, mascots or uniforms; activity during school, at MHSAA events or on school property; and products involving gambling, alcohol or banned substances.
Can my Michigan school or coach help arrange an NIL deal?
No. Schools, including coaches and other employees, are not allowed to solicit, arrange, negotiate or promote a student's personal branding activity.
Be your own agent. Leave.