Connecticut

Status

What We Discovered

Connecticut’s state NIL law does not address NIL at the high school level. This gives the CIAC, which governs high school athletics in Connecticut, the authority to make decisions regarding NIL. The CIAC updated its amateur guidelines to allow student-athletes to profit off of their NIL, according to documents obtained by Opendorse, becoming the 10th state to allow high school student-athletes to do so.

Bylaws | CIAC Handbook

Excerpt | 4.5.A. Amateur Athletic Guidelines

An amateur athlete is one who participates in athletics solely for the physical, mental, social and educational benefits derived from such participation. The amateur athlete treats all athletic activities in which he/she participates as an avocational endeavor. One who takes or has taken pay, or has accepted the promise of pay, in any form, for participation in athletics or has directly or indirectly used his/her athletic skill for pay in any form shall not be considered an amateur and will be in violation of Rule II.G. of the CIAC Code of Eligibility.

The following are the basic interpretations of the principles involved in the amateur code which may lead to the loss of an athlete’s eligibility.

• • Participation in any athletic activity under an assumed name.
  • The awards should be symbolic in nature, i.e. letters, sweaters, jackets, pins, trophies, other similar type awards, and rings or watches which are properly inscribed. Cash awards including U.S. Savings Bonds are prohibited.
  • Participation on an amateur sports team in which the student-athlete receives, directly or indirectly, any salary, gift cards, incentive payment, gratuity or expense allowance other than actual and necessary travel allowances, and room/board expenses for practice and games. Third party scholarships are permitted. These are scholarships which are paid directly to the university or college.
  • Sign a contract or verbally commit with an agent or a professional sports organization.
  • A student-athlete may participate as an individual, or as a member of a team against professional athletes, or as a member of a team on which there are some professionals who are not currently under contract with a professional team and are not receiving payment for their participation; but he/she may not participate on a professional team.
  • Accepting a nominal, standard fee or salary for instructing, supervision or officiating in an organized sports program or recreation, playground or camp activities shall not jeopardize amateur status. “Organized programs” include both school and non-school programs. Compensation for giving private lessons is permissible if circumstances parallel the above statement.
  • If a student-athlete’s appearance on radio, television or print/electronic media is related in any way to his/her athletic ability or prestige, the athlete may not under any circumstance receive remuneration for his/her appearance. Under such circumstance, however, an athlete may appear on a sponsored radio or television program or have his/her name appear in newsprint ads or in player of the week, month, year advertisement promoting products provided he/she does not endorse or implicitly endorse any commercial product.