High school NIL: Allowed

Kentucky high school NIL rules

Yes. High school athletes in Kentucky can take NIL deals, with conditions.

Tell the school: None statewide
Agents: Not addressed
If a rule is broken: Eligibility lost: that sport only
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)

The rule

KHSAA Bylaw 10, Sec. 3 allows an enrolled student-athlete to earn compensation from product/business endorsements and market-rate camp/clinic work, provided no school, district, region or KHSAA intellectual property, uniforms, facilities or other school property is used. Case BL-10-5 adds that the deal cannot be tied to individual or team performance, no member-school coach or administrator may be involved, and restricted product categories (per Board of Control corporate-sales policy) are off limits.

Tell the school

None statewide

No statewide KHSAA reporting form or deadline in Bylaw 10. Bylaw 10 defines an 'NIL Agreement' as one compliant with KRS 164.6941; Case BL-10-5 points students to the Acts Ch. 12 (2022 SB 6) contract provisions.

Off limits

No school/district/region/KHSAA trademarks, uniforms, logos, copyrights, equipment, facilities or other school property (statute KRS 156.070(2)(j), as amended 2025, bars use of 'school property' too). Nothing based on actual or speculative individual/team performance. No coach/administrator involvement. Restricted product categories as set by Board of Control policy (document lists categories by reference, not in the bylaw text). Recruiting/undue influence covered separately by Bylaw 16.

Agents

Not addressed

In Bylaw 10; KRS 164.6951(3) (college-chapter statute) lets a parent/guardian sign an NIL agreement or agency contract for a minor, who must reaffirm within 30 days of turning 18.

If a rule is broken

Bylaw 10 violations: forfeiture of amateur status and eligibility in that sport (Sec. 1(c)); any Bylaw 27 penalty may apply including a period of ineligibility (Sec. 4). Appeals are Hearing Officer matters.

Middle school, club and travel ball

Bylaws govern students at member schools (grades 9-12; KHSAA also sanctions some middle-school play but the NIL bylaw speaks to 'enrolled student-athlete with eligibility remaining'). Nothing in Bylaw 10 reaches non-school club/travel play other than the general amateur rule (no cash for competing in any sport). Camp/clinic work at market rate is expressly allowed.

Recent changes

No NIL bylaw change announced.

College state law

Law in force

The law

KRS 164.6941 to 164.6951 (created 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 12 (SB 6); amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 3), effective 3/13/2025)

Disclosure

The 2025 Act text focuses on institutional agreements).

Schools paying athletes

Allowed. 2025 SB 3 amended KRS 164.6945 to let a student-athlete receive compensation from the institution or its affiliated corporation under a written institutional agreement, and KRS 164.6943 to let institutions/associations cap NIL compensation in such agreements. Institutional agreements are exempt from the Open Records Act.

For high school recruits

Yes. KRS 164.6951(3): parent/guardian may enter a minor into an NIL agreement or agency contract; minor must reaffirm within 30 days of turning 18 or it is revoked. KRS 164.6951(4) (as amended 2025): student-athletes and prospective student-athletes must reaffirm NIL/agency contracts within 30 days of no longer participating. KRS 164.6949(4): chapter does not modify KHSAA/KBE powers. Separately, SB 3 Sec. 7 amended KRS 156.070(2)(j) (HS: no member-school property or IP in NIL).

Recent changes

2025 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 3): institutional direct pay/revenue share, sublicensing to media rights holders/third parties, liability protections extended to affiliated corporations, open-records exemption, prospective-athlete reaffirmation, KRS 156.070 'school property' addition. Signed 3/13/2025, effective immediately (emergency).

NCAA Division I, everywhere

Every deal worth $600 or more (added up per payer) entered since July 1, 2025 or the start of junior year, whichever is later, must be reported through NIL Go within 14 days of starting classes or before the first game.

Recruits enrolling on or after August 1, 2026 may hire agents under the April 15, 2026 Division I rule. The NJCAA still ends eligibility for a written agent agreement.

The full college-bound guide

Quick answers

Can high school athletes in Kentucky make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Kentucky can take NIL deals, with conditions. KHSAA Bylaw 10, Sec. 3 allows an enrolled student-athlete to earn compensation from product/business endorsements and market-rate camp/clinic work, provided no school, district, region or KHSAA intellectual property, uniforms, facilities or other school property is used. Case BL-10-5 adds that the deal cannot be tied to individual or team performance, no member-school coach or administrator may be involved, and restricted product categories (per Board of Control corporate-sales policy) are off limits.

Do Kentucky athletes have to tell the school about an NIL deal?

None statewide. No statewide KHSAA reporting form or deadline in Bylaw 10. Bylaw 10 defines an 'NIL Agreement' as one compliant with KRS 164.6941; Case BL-10-5 points students to the Acts Ch. 12 (2022 SB 6) contract provisions.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Kentucky?

State association rules follow the athlete, not where the deal came from. A deal through a travel team is fine as long as nothing ties back to the school team. Bylaws govern students at member schools (grades 9-12; KHSAA also sanctions some middle-school play but the NIL bylaw speaks to 'enrolled student-athlete with eligibility remaining'). Nothing in Bylaw 10 reaches non-school club/travel play other than the general amateur rule (no cash for competing in any sport). Camp/clinic work at market rate is expressly allowed.

Can a Kentucky high school athlete use an agent for NIL?

Not addressed. In Bylaw 10; KRS 164.6951(3) (college-chapter statute) lets a parent/guardian sign an NIL agreement or agency contract for a minor, who must reaffirm within 30 days of turning 18.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: 2025-26 KHSAA Handbook (Bylaws); 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 10 effective 2025-03-13.

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