High school NIL: Allowed

Utah high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school: None statewide
Agents: Not addressed
If a rule is broken: Loss of eligibility
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA)

The rule

2026-27 UHSAA Handbook, Article 1 Section 6 (Amateur Rule), Interps & Guidelines 1.6.1 F: a student may accept money for use of name, image and likeness, but it violates the amateur rule to (1) wear a school uniform or school insignia in any advertisement/endorsement, or (2) lend name AND team affiliation for commercial endorsement. Endorsements with no school or team affiliation are expressly allowed.

Tell the school

None statewide

None. No reporting, form, deadline or threshold in the handbook.

Off limits

No school uniform/insignia; no team affiliation in endorsements; appearances for nonprofit organizations must be approved by the Board of Trustees. The handbook has no restricted-product list, no collective/booster language, no recruiting-inducement clause tied to NIL, and no parent-signature requirement.

Agents

Not addressed

If a rule is broken

Loss of amateur status makes the athlete ineligible for further high school competition (Sec. 6 A); Interp 1.6.1 E limits ineligibility to the sport concerned only for professional contracts, so NIL-violation scope is not spelled out.

Middle school, club and travel ball

Amateur rule applies only to activities recognized and sponsored by UHSAA as part of the interschool program (Interp 1.6.1 A). UHSAA eligibility runs from first entry into 9th grade; middle school and club play are not governed.

Recent changes

None found. 2026-27 handbook (Oct 12, 2026) shows the NIL text unshaded (not a 2026-27 change).

College state law

Law in force

The law

Utah Code §§ 53H-6-201 to 53H-6-202 (renumbered from 53B-16-601/602 by ch. 8, 2025 First Special Session; substantively amended by H.B. 479 (2025), eff. May 7, 2025; original H.B. 202 (2024))

Disclosure

No athlete disclosure duty remains. HB 479 (2025) deleted the prior requirement to submit agreements over $600 to the institution.

Schools paying athletes

53H-6-202(1) lets an institution compensate a student athlete directly for NIL; (2) bars using legislative appropriations or student fees; athletes are not employees; Board audits of direct NIL payments begin FY2028. Prohibited endorsement provisions: tobacco/e-cig, alcohol, controlled substances/marijuana, gambling, sexually oriented business, firearms the athlete cannot buy. Agreements exempt from GRAMA.

For high school recruits

Only that institutions may not pay 'prospective student athletes' from appropriations or student fees (53H-6-202(2)). Nothing on high school athletes.

Recent changes

HB 479 (2025) eff. May 7, 2025; renumbering to Title 53H effective Oct 14, 2025.

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 Utah make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Utah can take NIL deals, with conditions. 2026-27 UHSAA Handbook, Article 1 Section 6 (Amateur Rule), Interps & Guidelines 1.6.1 F: a student may accept money for use of name, image and likeness, but it violates the amateur rule to (1) wear a school uniform or school insignia in any advertisement/endorsement, or (2) lend name AND team affiliation for commercial endorsement. Endorsements with no school or team affiliation are expressly allowed.

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

None statewide. None. No reporting, form, deadline or threshold in the handbook.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Utah?

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. Amateur rule applies only to activities recognized and sponsored by UHSAA as part of the interschool program (Interp 1.6.1 A). UHSAA eligibility runs from first entry into 9th grade; middle school and club play are not governed.

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

Not addressed.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: 2026-27 UHSAA Handbook, dated October 12, 2026.

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