High school NIL: Allowed

New York high school NIL rules

Yes. High school athletes in New York 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

NYC public school athletes compete in the PSAL, which has no NIL exception to its amateur rule. Treat NYC public school deals as not clearly permitted and ask the PSAL first.

High school

Who sets the rules

NYSPHSAA (New York State Public High School Athletic Association); NYC public schools are run by the NYC DOE Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), which is not an NYSPHSAA section.

The rule

NYSPHSAA Handbook, Eligibility Standards, Amateur rule 2.c (Oct. 2021): an athlete forfeits amateur status by capitalizing on athletic fame in connection with the school team, school, Section or NYSPHSAA, but the rule 'is not intended to restrict the right of any student to participate in a commercial endorsement provided there is no school team, school, Section or NYSPHSAA affiliation' and the student does not appear in school uniform or use school/Section/NYSPHSAA marks or logos.

Tell the school

None statewide

None required of the athlete.

Off limits

No school/Section/NYSPHSAA affiliation, uniform, marks or logos; accepting money/gift cards in non-NYSPHSAA events (beyond entry fees, travel, meals, lodging) forfeits status; awards over $500 per competition not approved; signing a professional playing contract forfeits status. No product-category list, collective, agent or parent-consent provisions.

Agents

Not addressed

If a rule is broken

Forfeiture of amateur status in that sport; may apply to the league/section for reinstatement one year after the latest violation.

Middle school, club and travel ball

NYSPHSAA amateur rule forfeiture triggers apply "when competing in non-NYSPHSAA sponsored events," so cash for club/travel play can cost school eligibility. NYC public school athletes compete in the PSAL (NYC DOE), which is outside NYSPHSAA: the PSAL amateur rule (psal.org) lists capitalizing on athletic fame by accepting gifts of monetary value as a loss of amateur status and contains NO endorsement/NIL exception. Treat NYC PSAL athletes as "not clearly permitted" until the PSAL or the school AD confirms.

Recent changes

None; the amateur rule text in the handbook posted Sept./Oct. 2026 still carries the Oct. 2021 date.

College state law

Law in force

The law

N.Y. Educ. Law § 6438-c (New York Collegiate Athletic Participation Compensation Act). Citation OK.

Disclosure

¶6(b) requires disclosure of an NIL compensation contract to a college-designated official in advance of executing it; college asserting a conflict must disclose the conflicting provisions (not financial terms).

Schools paying athletes

Not expressly addressed for enrolled athletes (colleges may 'identify, facilitate or support' NIL opportunities, ¶2(c)(ii)); ¶3 bars colleges and athletic associations from compensating PROSPECTIVE student-athletes for NIL.

For high school recruits

Yes, important for a HS audience: ¶1(a) defines 'student-athlete' to include an individual who has completed at least their sophomore year of high school and is or may become eligible for intercollegiate athletics, and ¶3 prohibits paying prospective athletes. Agents must be registered under GBL Art. 39-E; attorneys licensed in NY.

Recent changes

The NY Senate's statute page shows a revision dated 2026-04-03 (prior version 2023-07-07) that includes a ¶8 on assistance programs/financial-distress-fund disbursements for Division I athletes.

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 New York make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in New York can take NIL deals, with conditions. NYSPHSAA Handbook, Eligibility Standards, Amateur rule 2.c (Oct. 2021): an athlete forfeits amateur status by capitalizing on athletic fame in connection with the school team, school, Section or NYSPHSAA, but the rule 'is not intended to restrict the right of any student to participate in a commercial endorsement provided there is no school team, school, Section or NYSPHSAA affiliation' and the student does not appear in school uniform or use school/Section/NYSPHSAA marks or logos.

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

None statewide. None required of the athlete.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in New York?

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. NYSPHSAA amateur rule forfeiture triggers apply "when competing in non-NYSPHSAA sponsored events," so cash for club/travel play can cost school eligibility. NYC public school athletes compete in the PSAL (NYC DOE), which is outside NYSPHSAA: the PSAL amateur rule (psal.org) lists capitalizing on athletic fame by accepting gifts of monetary value as a loss of amateur status and contains NO endorsement/NIL exception. Treat NYC PSAL athletes as "not clearly permitted" until the PSAL or the school AD confirms.

Can a New York high school athlete use an agent for NIL?

Not addressed.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: NYSPHSAA Handbook, file dated Oct. 31, 2026 (Amateur rule dated Oct. 2021)

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