High School Status
Permitted
High School Governing Body
NIL State Law
Status
What We Discovered
Missouri has become the 29th state to permit Name, Image, and Likeness at the high school level after the passage of House Bill 417, which is awaiting the governor’s signature. Athletes may participate in NIL at the high school level provided they sign a letter of intent to play for a school in the state of Missouri.
5Summary
College
NIL Law: House Bill 417
Missouri has passed multiple laws related to NIL, but the most recent edition is the most comprehensive. House Bill 417, which is awaiting the governors signature, allows for high school athletes in the state to profit from their NIL, however the athlete must have a signed letter of intent to attend college in Missouri. The bill requires financial literacy training and gives schools the right to facilitate NIL deals. Schools are also allowed to have a “marketing representative” on staff to assist in enabling NIL opportunities for athletes.
Summary
High School
Missouri has become the 29th state to permit Name, Image, and Likeness at the high school level after the passage of House Bill 417, which is awaiting the governor’s signature. Athletes may participate in NIL at the high school level provided they sign a letter of intent to play for a school in the state of Missouri.
Bylaws | MSHSAA Official Handbook
Excerpt | 3.6 Amateur Awards and Requirements
3.6.1 Amateur Status: A student who represents a school in an interscholastic sport shall be an amateur in that sport. An amateur athlete is one who engages in athletic competition solely for the physical, mental, social, and pleasure benefits derived there from.
a. An athlete forfeits amateur status in a sport by:
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- Competing for or accepting money or other monetary compensation (it is permissible for a student to accept necessary meals, lodging, and transportation in connection with playing a contest);
- Receiving any award or prize of monetary value which exceeds the amount that has been approved. (See By-Law 3.6.2 below.)
- Capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money, gifts of monetary value, or merchandise;
- Signing a professional playing contract in that sport.
b. Accepting a nominal, standard fee or salary for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques or officiating shall not jeopardize amateur standards.
c. Athletes shall not represent the school (appearing in school uniform, school-named clothing, at school facilities, or with mascot/school colors) to endorse or promote a product/ service, commercial venture, political venture, etc. without prior written consent by a school administrator. If consent is given, the requirements of By-Law 3.6.2 must be met.
d. If gifts, benefits, awards or opportunities are provided to all enrolled students at the school rather than to members of a particular sports team only, then amateur status has not been compromised and the awards limits are not applicable.
3.6.2 Awards: A student may accept an award for participation in an athletic contest, or for athletic honors or recognition of athletic achievements in the interscholastic program. Awards presented to students shall meet the following criteria.
a. A student may receive the following symbolic awards: unattached school letters or emblems, medals, ribbons, trophies, certificates, etc.
b. A student shall not have accepted or competed for the following types of awards: services, cash or gift certificates.
c. A student may receive an award of merchandise items (one or more) which together do not exceed a total value of $250.00. The total value of all items shall be calculated using the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for each item.
d. A student may receive an award of commemorative jewelry of a value greater than the merchandise award limit in recognition of achievements in the school athletic program only if purchased and awarded by the school.
e. A banquet sponsored by other than the school shall not constitute a violation if arranged with approval of the school administrator.
f. An award presented to a student in recognition of achievements in the school athletic program by a non-school organization or individual shall be approved in advance by the school administration.
g. This standard shall not prevent a student from signing an agreement which binds him or her to play only for a particular team or an athletic letter-of-intent with a university or college.
h. A student who wins only an Olympic medal and receives specified funds only from the National Governing Body for the sport for the Olympic placement in competition, may continue or return to interscholastic sports without jeopardizing his/ her secondary school eligibility.
i. Awards in the form of high school scholarships or concessions on tuition because of athletic ability shall cause the student to become ineligible for future competition in all interscholastic sports.