The rule
High school sports in New Jersey are governed by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). The rule is Article V, Section 2.D, Name, Image and Likeness, of the NJSIAA Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations for 2026-27, with the NJSIAA's NIL FAQs (updated November 2024) explaining it; the section is unchanged from the 2024-25 edition. Everything on this page is taken from the NJSIAA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes, since January 1, 2022 (NJSIAA FAQ) |
| Who must be told | No one, under the bylaw; it sets no notice, form or signature requirement |
| School and NJSIAA marks | No reference to a member school or the NJSIAA; per the FAQ, no jersey, school name, mascot, logo or photos from school competition, and no NIL partner's apparel or marks during team activities |
| Banned categories | Adult entertainment; alcohol; tobacco and nicotine; cannabis; controlled dangerous substances; prescription pharmaceuticals; casinos and gambling including sports betting, the lottery and betting tied to video, online and mobile games; weapons, firearms and ammunition |
| Schools and employees | No school or anyone employed by a member school, coaches and administrators included, may be involved with a student's NIL; schools may not promote it |
| Collectives | May not offer NIL to current students; boosters, alumni and collectives may not use NIL to entice a transfer or enrollment; no NIL clubs tied to a school or team |
| Agents | The bylaw is silent; the FAQ says athletes may work with agents and advisors |
| Penalty | Case by case, from a warning to immediate suspension of eligibility; money or goods may have to be returned (FAQ) |
| College eligibility | Compliance does not ensure eligibility under NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA standards; NIL income can affect need-based aid (FAQ) |
What the rule says
- The permission. "A student-athlete may profit off of the use of their own name, image and likeness (NIL)," subject to the rest of the section.
- No school reference. "Student-athletes are prohibited from making any reference to a member school or the NJSIAA when engaging in any NIL activity." The FAQ reads that as no jersey, school name, mascot or logo, and no photos from school competition; during team activities, no apparel, logo or mark of an NIL partner.
- No school involvement. "No school or anyone employed by a member school, including coaches and administrators, may be involved with a student-athlete's use of their NIL."
- Eight banned categories. Adult entertainment products and services; alcohol products; tobacco and nicotine-related products; cannabis products; controlled dangerous substances; prescription pharmaceuticals; casinos and gambling, including sports betting, the lottery and betting in connection with video games, online games and mobile devices; weapons, firearms and ammunition.
- No recruiting with NIL. Boosters, alumni and collectives may not use the promise of NIL to entice a student to transfer to or attend a school; the FAQ adds that collectives may not offer NIL to current students and that NIL clubs tied to a school or team are not allowed.
- No reporting window. The bylaw sets no notice, form or deadline; the FAQ says each case is reviewed individually, with penalties from a warning to immediate suspension of eligibility.
- College eligibility. A note in the bylaw says compliance "does not ensure maintenance of eligibility under the eligibility standards of other athletic organizations, such as the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA," and the FAQ notes NIL income can affect need-based financial aid.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the NJSIAA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers NJSIAA 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 New Jersey
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in New Jersey?
Yes. NJSIAA Article V, Section 2.D says a student-athlete may profit off the use of their own name, image and likeness, effective January 1, 2022 according to the association's FAQ, subject to the banned categories and the ban on any reference to a member school or the NJSIAA.
Do I have to report an NIL deal to my school in New Jersey?
The NJSIAA bylaw sets no notice, form or signature requirement. A school or district can set its own policy on top of the bylaw, so the athletic director is the person who knows whether yours does.
Can my school or coach help with an NIL deal?
No. The bylaw says no school or anyone employed by a member school, including coaches and administrators, may be involved with a student-athlete's use of their NIL, and the FAQ says schools may not promote a student's NIL.
Can a New Jersey high school athlete have an agent?
The bylaw is silent, and the NJSIAA's FAQ says athletes may work with agents and advisors. New Jersey has no athlete-agent registration law; its 2025 NIL statute requires agents to follow the federal SPARTA rules and to act as fiduciaries.
Be your own agent. Leave.