The rule
Public high school sports in North Carolina are governed by a State Board of Education rule, administered through the NCHSAA. The rule is 16 NCAC 06E .0211 (Name, Image, and Likeness), a State Board of Education rule for public school units, effective July 1, 2025, amended effective July 1, 2026. Everything on this page is taken from the State Board of Education's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes, in public schools |
| Who must be told | School administrators: the principal, athletic director, superintendent, chair of the governing body and the head coach |
| Before signing | A complete, unredacted copy of the proposed agreement, no later than 10 business days before it is signed |
| After signing | A complete, unredacted copy of the signed agreement, no later than 5 business days after |
| Education | The NFHS NIL course, completed 10 business days before entering a deal, by the student and by a parent if the student is under 18 |
| Under 18 | A parent or legal guardian is a party to the agreement |
| School marks | No reference to a school, district, conference or association; no school uniform; no school name, mascot, mark or logo |
| Banned categories | Nine, listed below |
| School staff, boosters, collectives | May not use NIL to recruit, act as a student's agent or marketing representative, or otherwise facilitate a deal |
What the rule says
- What an agreement can cover. Public appearances and commercials; autograph signings; athletic camps and clinics; sales of NFTs; product or service endorsements; promotional activities, in person and on social media; and other commercial activity that promotes a product or service.
- What it cannot do. Tie the pay to the extent or quality of athletic performance. The agreement also has to hold the school's governing body, the administering organization, the State Board and the Department of Public Instruction harmless.
- During competition and school events. No endorsing or promoting the partner, and no wearing its logo unless it is part of the standard uniform.
- The nine prohibited categories. Adult establishments and adult entertainment; alcohol; tobacco, vaping and nicotine; cannabis; controlled substances; opioids and prescription pharmaceuticals; weapons, firearms and ammunition; casinos and gambling, including sports betting; and activities that would disrupt the operations of a school.
- What the school does next. The athletic director sends a copy of each signed agreement to the administering organization within 30 days, and that organization reports a summary to the State Board each June.
- Deals that pay later. The rule covers any agreement signed while the student is enrolled in a public school, even if the benefits arrive after graduation.
- How it got here. The State Board banned NIL for 2024-25. A court ordered the ban lifted in October 2024, and this rule took effect on July 1, 2025.
- Who it covers. Public school units. Private schools in the NCISAA follow that association's rule.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the State Board of Education. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers public school units. Private schools in the NCISAA follow 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 North Carolina
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in North Carolina?
Yes, in public schools, under State Board of Education rule 16 NCAC 06E .0211, effective July 1, 2025 and amended July 1, 2026. Private schools in the NCISAA follow that association's own rule.
When do I have to tell my school about an NIL deal in North Carolina?
Twice. School administrators get a complete copy of the proposed agreement no later than 10 business days before it is signed, and a complete copy of the signed agreement no later than 5 business days after.
Do I have to take a course before an NIL deal in North Carolina?
Yes. The student completes the NFHS NIL education course no later than 10 business days before entering an agreement and gives the school the certificate. If the student is under 18, a parent or guardian completes it too.
Can my coach or a booster arrange an NIL deal for me in North Carolina?
No. Athletic directors, coaches, other school employees, board members, booster club representatives and NIL collective representatives may not use NIL to recruit, act as a student's agent, or otherwise facilitate a deal.
Be your own agent. Leave.