Three tips to help high school student-athletes get started on their NIL journey

High school student-athletes are moving cautiously into a historic era of sports as name, image and likeness shifts to their court. But before these athletes make a play, they may want to consider some tips to help guide them.

Know the Rules

Student-athletes need to do their homework before committing to a contract to understand how NIL could impact them. Reviewing these policies and regulations will help student-athletes understand how a deal may impact their eligibility to play and their future goals.

State law: While a majority of states have enacted collegiate NIL laws, only a handful of them address high school NIL rights. Nonetheless, it is important for student-athletes to thoroughly understand the state law(s) that apply to them at the high school and college level, since state law supersedes state association bylaws. This includes states they live in and states they might move to while in high school.

High school athletic association bylaws: The high school athletic association of each state governs eligibility through its bylaws when no state law exists. Athletes need to review these bylaws to determine if their association allows them to pursue NIL, and to what extent. View our interactive map to review each state’s NIL status.

NCAA and Institutional Rules and Regulations: If a student wants to play sports in college, they need to review the regulations of any institution they are considering attending and the national association it is a member of (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) to ensure a NIL deal does not risk their eligibility to play for those institutions.

Federal Law: While no federal law currently exists, any legislation that does pass in the future could uniformly regulate NIL across the country. We will keep you updated as this legislation develops.

Keep priorities in check

Whether high school student-athletes are chasing NIL opportunities in high school or preparing for college, it is never too early for a student to start growing their brand. However, student-athletes need to understand how their current NIL mission fits into their long-term goals.

Prioritize academic and athletic success: This will allow an athlete to build a strong foundation for their future success, whether it is NIL or not.

Understand why NIL is important: Have an answer for the “why” behind building a brand and pursuing NIL. Is it to get the attention of college or professional teams and coaches? Make money? Support a meaningful message?

Find balance: Determine how much time will be allocated to NIL every week/month, etc., and stick to it. Make sure it leaves enough time for other responsibilities like homework, practice, games, and a social life.

Identify a support system: This support system will help athletes make sound decisions. This may include parents, guardians, coaches, administrators, legal and financial professionals, or other trusted individuals in an athlete’s life.

Enjoy the moment

This might be a student-athlete’s first job, so make sure they enjoy every moment– The successes and the setbacks. Building a brand and finding opportunities will take time, consistency, balance, and hard work far beyond their time in high school, so no need to rush into anything. Be thoughtful about what opportunities to pursue. Continue to prioritize school and athletics since that is ultimately what will pave a path for a successful future in NIL and beyond. As the classic saying goes, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Find a comfortable pace and enjoy the run.