Can high school athletes in Illinois do NIL deals?

Yes, with conditions. Illinois students may earn NIL compensation under IHSA By-law 3.084 and Board Policy 35: no IHSA or member-school names, logos, mascots, or implied approval; no school facilities; no NIL activity during school hours, IHSA travel, or IHSA events; and a banned-category list covering gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned substances, adult entertainment, and weapons. Notably, Illinois requires NO reporting: the IHSA's own Q&A says schools and students are not required to report NIL deals to the IHSA.

Illinois High School NIL Rules (IHSA)

What's allowed

NIL compensation subject to the By-laws and Board Policy 35

What's prohibited

IHSA name, logo, or trademark use, or implied IHSA approval
Member-school name, logo, or mascot use, or implied school approval
Use of school facilities
NIL activity during school hours, IHSA travel, or IHSA events
Gaming/gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment, firearms/weapons, or anything the Board deems inappropriate or distracting
Inducements to attend or remain enrolled (separate By-law 3.083)

What the document is silent on

Silence is not permission and not prohibition — the governing document simply does not address these. We list them because most summaries wrongly convert silence into "no".

parental consent (confirmed absent across By-laws 3.081-3.086, all 17 Q&A illustrations, and Policy 35)
agent representation
collectives (not named in Policy 35; inducements covered separately by 3.083)

Parental consent, disclosure & representation

Parental consent required

Not addressed

Disclosure required

No

School marks allowed

No

Agent / representation addressed

Not addressed

Disclosure runs to: Not required. IHSA Q&A: 'Are schools/students required to report NIL deals to IHSA? A. No.'

State-law status

Illinois' NIL statute (110 ILCS 190, Public Act 102-0042) is expressly limited to postsecondary athletes - no conflict. HB3871 (NIL tax deduction) pending in committee, not enacted.

Who sets this rule

Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sets Illinois's high school eligibility rules. High school NIL is governed by private association bylaws — not federal law, and in most states not statute — which is why the answer differs state to state and can change in a single handbook cycle.

Sources

IHSA Handbook 2025-2026, By-law 3.084 + Board Policy 35 (July 22, 2025)
A student in a member school may earn compensation from the use of the name, image, and likeness ("NIL Activity"), subject to these By-laws and Board Policy 35.

Governing text effective July 1, 2025.

Change history

July 19, 2026 — Initial publication from primary-source research pass (adversarially verified; see citations).

Not legal advice. This page documents publicly available rules and is not legal advice. Rules change, and associations do not always announce changes. Confirm anything you rely on with the governing association, your school compliance office, or your own counsel before acting.

Spot an error? Tell us and cite the source — we re-check the primary source before changing anything, and record what changed.