The rule
High school sports in Ohio are governed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). The rule is OHSAA Bylaw 4-11, Name, Image and Likeness / Personal Branding Rights, approved by member schools in November 2025, with agent wording added in May 2026. Everything on this page is taken from the OHSAA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes, since November 2025 |
| Who must be told | The OHSAA, through its online portal |
| By when | Within 14 days of entering each agreement |
| School and OHSAA marks | No name, logo, mascot or trademark of the OHSAA, a member school or a school team, and nothing implying their approval |
| Banned categories | Gaming and gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment, firearms and other weapons |
| Schools, coaches, boosters | A deal may not be provided, procured or facilitated by a school or its agent: collectives, booster clubs, foundations, administrators, coaches |
| Collectives | Strictly prohibited |
| Agents | Allowed, for marketing only, under Ohio's athlete agent law; that agreement is also disclosed within 14 days |
| Penalty | Late or missing disclosure: ineligibility for up to 20% of the sport season, and other penalties under Bylaw 11 |
What the rule says
- When and where. No NIL activity during school hours, while travelling to or from an OHSAA event, or during practices, meetings, contests and other official team activities. No displaying a sponsor's product during them.
- Not for performance, not for enrolling. Pay cannot depend on athletic participation, performance or achievement, such as points scored, and a deal cannot be an inducement to attend a particular school.
- Only the student. The agreement may not give money, merchandise or services to the student's school or team.
- Transfers. If a transfer can reasonably be linked to an NIL agreement, the rule presumes the student was recruited, and the OHSAA may suspend participation while it looks.
- How the disclosure works. The student and a parent complete a notarized affirmation and submit it with a full copy of the agreement through the OHSAA's portal.
- College eligibility. The rule makes the student responsible for finding out what a deal does to NCAA, NJCAA or NAIA eligibility.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the OHSAA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers OHSAA 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 Ohio
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Ohio?
Yes. OHSAA member schools approved Bylaw 4-11 in November 2025. A student can be paid for appearances, licensing, social media, endorsements and branding, subject to nine conditions and a 14-day disclosure to the OHSAA.
Who do I report an NIL deal to in Ohio?
The OHSAA, within 14 days of entering each agreement, through its online portal. The submission includes a copy of the agreement and a notarized affirmation signed by the student and a parent.
Are NIL collectives allowed in Ohio high school sports?
No. Bylaw 4-11 says collectives are strictly prohibited, and a deal may not be provided, procured or facilitated by a school, booster club, foundation, administrator or coach.
Can an Ohio high school athlete have an agent?
Yes, for marketing only. The bylaw allows an agreement with an athlete agent as defined in Ohio law, solely for marketing the student, and that agreement must be disclosed to the OHSAA within 14 days.
Be your own agent. Leave.