https://www.mhsaa.com/name-image-likeness.
In simple terms, the MHSAA is now letting Michigan high school student-athletes earn money from their name and image (NIL), but with clear rules to keep it fair and school sports-focused:
- What’s allowed (examples):
- Sponsored social media posts
- Paid appearances
- Autograph signings / photo shoots
- Modeling or ads
- Selling merchandise, apparel, or sports cards
- Big rules / limits:
- No getting paid for performance (wins, stats, awards, or being on a team)
- No school branding (no school name, logo, mascot, uniforms, or other school identifiers)
- Not during school or sports time (not during school hours, practices, games, or any MHSAA event)
- Not on school property and not promoted on school-run media
- No school/coach involvement (schools/coaches can’t arrange, negotiate, or promote deals)
- No pay-to-play groups/collectives like you sometimes see in college sports
- No banned/inappropriate products (example: gambling, alcohol, banned substances)
- Required step before accepting anything:
- Student-athletes must disclose the deal to the MHSAA at least 7 business days ahead of time and get approval first.
NIL in High School Sports: Fair for Athletes, Risky Without Guardrails
