The rule
High school sports in Tennessee are governed by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). The rule is Article II, Section 19, the Amateur Rule, in the 2026-27 TSSAA Constitution and Bylaws dated July 13, 2026, with the TSSAA's NIL FAQs; the association's NIL page says the Legislative Council approved the change in December 2022. Everything on this page is taken from the TSSAA's own text, linked under Sources.
| Question | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Allowed? | Yes, since December 2022, for activities not related to performance |
| Who must be told | No one under the TSSAA's rule; its FAQ says schools need not document NIL for the association's purposes |
| School and TSSAA marks | Nothing that suggests the school's endorsement or sponsorship; no image in a uniform or in gear showing the school's name or logo; no reference to TSSAA accolades or championships; no school host site in an ad (FAQ) |
| Banned categories | None; the FAQ answers "Not at this time" |
| Limits | Not performance-related; no cap on amounts (FAQ) |
| Schools, coaches, boosters | Coaches may not facilitate, promote or negotiate; booster payments are not allowed; schools may not pay through a collective (FAQ) |
| Recruiting | Offering an NIL opportunity contingent on enrollment at a particular school is a Level 4 recruiting violation (Section 18 FAQ) |
| Agents | The rule is silent |
| Penalty | First violation, a formal warning, return of the money and removal of the promotion; second, one year of ineligibility; third, set by the Executive Director |
What the rule says
- The permission. "Students may receive payment for activities not related to performance provided that they are carried out in a manner that does not suggest or reasonably suggest the endorsement or sponsorship of the TSSAA member school."
- No school identity. No image in a uniform or in gear showing the school's name or logo; "No reference to TSSAA accolades or championships may be used in the student's activities for which they are compensated"; the FAQ adds that a school host site may not appear in ads.
- No reporting. The rule sets no notice; the FAQ says schools need not document NIL "for the purposes of TSSAA."
- No category list, no cap. The FAQ answers "Not at this time" on banned categories and says there is no cap on amounts.
- Coaches, boosters, collectives. Per the FAQ, coaches may not facilitate, promote or negotiate; booster payments are not allowed; schools may not pay through a collective.
- Recruiting. The Section 18 FAQ lists "offering an NIL opportunity contingent upon enrollment at a particular school" as a Level 4 recruiting violation.
- The penalty, in steps. "First Violation: The student shall receive a formal warning and return any award(s) or money received in violation of this rule," with the promotion removed; a second violation is a year of ineligibility; a third is set by the Executive Director.
What sits on top of it
- Your school and district. A school or district can set a stricter policy than the TSSAA. The athletic director is the person who knows it.
- Private and non-member schools. The rule covers TSSAA 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 Tennessee
Can high school athletes sign NIL deals in Tennessee?
Yes, for activities not related to performance. TSSAA's Amateur Rule says students may receive payment provided the activity does not suggest the endorsement or sponsorship of the member school, and the association's NIL page dates the change to the Legislative Council's December 2022 vote.
Do I have to report an NIL deal in Tennessee?
Not to the TSSAA. The rule sets no reporting requirement, and the association's FAQ says schools need not document NIL for its purposes. A school or district can set its own policy.
What is off limits in Tennessee?
Anything that suggests the school's endorsement or sponsorship, an image in a uniform or in gear with the school's name or logo, any reference to TSSAA accolades or championships, and a school host site in an ad. There is no banned-product list; the FAQ answers "Not at this time."
What is the penalty in Tennessee?
It escalates. A first violation brings a formal warning, return of any award or money received and removal of the promotion; a second brings one year of ineligibility; a third is set by the Executive Director.
Be your own agent. Leave.