The rule
High school sports in Pennsylvania are governed by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The rule is PIAA Constitution and By-Laws, Article II (Amateur Status and Awards), paragraph J, the 2026-27 handbook, in effect July 1, 2026. Everything on this page is taken from the PIAA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes |
| Who must be told | The school's principal or athletic director |
| By when | Within 72 hours of entering any NIL agreement |
| School and PIAA marks | No reference to the PIAA or a member school: name, team name, nickname or logo. No school uniform or school-identifying apparel |
| Banned categories | Seven, listed below |
| Schools, coaches, boosters | May not solicit, arrange, negotiate or pay for a student's NIL deal, other than their own child's |
| Collectives | Named in the same ban |
| Penalty | Ineligible from the date of the violation. A second violation: one year. A third: permanent |
What the rule says
- What counts. The rule names commercial endorsements, promotional activities, social media presence, product or service advertisements, and unique digital items.
- What the deal has to be based on. The value the athlete brings for a specific service or activity. It cannot be an incentive for an enrollment decision or for membership on a team.
- During team and school activities. A student may not endorse or promote a third party during them, and may not wear an NIL partner's apparel or display its logo during team athletic activities unless it is part of the standard school uniform for that sport.
- The seven banned categories. Adult entertainment; alcohol; casinos and gambling, including sports betting, the lottery and betting tied to video, online and mobile games; tobacco and electronic smoking products; opioids and prescription pharmaceuticals; controlled dangerous substances; weapons, firearms and ammunition.
- The three steps of the penalty. First: ineligible from the date of the violation, and the District Committee may reinstate the student once the violation is corrected, including returning what was received. Second: one year without eligibility, with no reinstatement. Third: permanent loss of eligibility.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the PIAA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers PIAA 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 Pennsylvania
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Pennsylvania?
Yes. The PIAA's by-laws allow students to receive consideration for the use of their own name, image and likeness, with conditions: no reference to the PIAA or the school, no school uniform, seven banned product categories, and notice to the school within 72 hours.
Who do I have to tell about an NIL deal in Pennsylvania?
The principal or athletic director of your school, within 72 hours after entering the agreement. The notice can come from the student or from a parent or guardian.
What happens if a Pennsylvania athlete breaks the NIL rule?
The student is ineligible from the date of the violation and can be reinstated by the District Committee after correcting it. A second violation costs one year of eligibility. A third is permanent.
Can my coach or a booster set up an NIL deal for me in Pennsylvania?
No. The PIAA rule bars schools and anyone employed by or affiliated with a member school, including booster clubs, coaches, collectives, administrators and alumni, from soliciting, arranging, negotiating or paying for a student's NIL deal, other than for their own child.
Be your own agent. Leave.