High school NIL: Allowed

Virginia high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school: Before signing (state law), then the VHSL form within 72 hours
Agents: Allowed
If a rule is broken: Loss of eligibility
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Virginia High School League (VHSL); Va. Code § 22.1-212.2:4 (2024, c. 694) also governs all public and private high schools.

The rule

VHSL Handbook 2026-27, Rule 28B-2-4: students may receive compensation for commercialization of their own NIL. They may not use VHSL or school intellectual property (name, uniform, mascot, logo), reference a school/team/district/region/VHSL, appear in school uniform, or promote third-party partners during school-based team activities. State law (22.1-212.2:4) separately bars any high school or association from prohibiting NIL compensation or agent/attorney representation.

Tell the school

Before signing (state law), then the VHSL form within 72 hours

VHSL 28B-2-4(e): student must notify the Principal or Athletic Director in writing within 72 hours of entering any NIL contract. The VHSL 'NIL Contract Notification' form (Rev. 7/1/23, 2026-27 version on vhsl.org) has checkboxes certifying each rule element, student AND parent signature lines, agent/company name, date signed, duration, and must be returned to the member school administration within 72 hours. Note the statute adds a separate duty: disclose the agreement to the high school BEFORE executing it, in the manner the school designates (22.1-212.2:4 G). No dollar threshold.

Off limits

No VHSL/school IP, uniforms, marks or references; no third-party promotion during team activities; no NIL as inducement to enroll or join a team; prohibited categories (VHSL 28B-2-4(c)): adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco/electronic smoking products, opioids and prescription pharmaceuticals, controlled dangerous substances, casinos/gambling incl. sports betting, weapons/firearms/ammunition. Statute adds cannabis/CBD (hemp excluded), performance-enhancing drugs, drug paraphernalia, and lets schools bar NIL activity during class, practice, competition, travel and other official activities, and bars use of school facilities/equipment without permission. 28B-2-4(d): no school employee or affiliate (booster clubs, coaches, administrators, alumni, NIL collectives) may solicit, arrange or negotiate a student's NIL other than for their own child. Parent signature required on the VHSL form.

Agents

Allowed

Va. Code 22.1-212.2:4 B.2 bars VHSL/schools from preventing representation by a registered athlete agent or Virginia attorney; VHSL handbook does not address NIL agents, only agents for professional contracts.

If a rule is broken

VHSL 28B-2-5: a student who loses amateur standing is ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition; reinstatement by the Executive Committee on the principal's written request certifying no violation during a one-year period. (Statute B.3 says a student may not be declared ineligible merely for earning NIL compensation; VHSL penalties attach to violating the rule's conditions.) Statute gives aggrieved students a right to injunctive relief.

Middle school, club and travel ball

VHSL rules reach 8th graders only when they are on a high school JV/varsity roster (28A-4-3(3)); students competing at middle/junior high level are not covered by VHSL regulations and are left to local school divisions. The statute covers 'student-athletes' enrolled at a high school. Club/travel play outside school is not governed by VHSL.

Recent changes

Statute Va. Code § 22.1-212.2:4 enacted 2024 (c. 694), effective July 1, 2024; VHSL rule adopted May 2023 effective July 1, 2023. No 2025 or 2026 change found in the 2026-27 handbook.

College state law

Law in force

The law

Va. Code § 23.1-408.1 (2022, cc. 510, 638; 2024, c. 837)

Disclosure

Subsection I, athlete must disclose the agreement to the institution before executing it, in the manner the institution designates; institution must disclose conflicting institutional agreement terms.

Schools paying athletes

C.4 bars associations/conferences from preventing an institution from compensating a student-athlete for NIL; C.5 protects institutions/foundations facilitating NIL; D requires board-approved institutional policies and bars use of student fees for NIL pay. Prohibited categories mirror the HS statute; no employee status; injunctive relief and damages provisions.

For high school recruits

None in 23.1-408.1 (covers enrolled student-athletes only). High school athletes are covered by the parallel § 22.1-212.2:4.

Recent changes

Last amended 2024 (c. 837). LIS history line as of 11/4/2026 shows no 2025 or 2026 amendment.

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 Virginia make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Virginia can take NIL deals, with conditions. VHSL Handbook 2026-27, Rule 28B-2-4: students may receive compensation for commercialization of their own NIL. They may not use VHSL or school intellectual property (name, uniform, mascot, logo), reference a school/team/district/region/VHSL, appear in school uniform, or promote third-party partners during school-based team activities. State law (22.1-212.2:4) separately bars any high school or association from prohibiting NIL compensation or agent/attorney representation.

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

Before signing (state law), then the VHSL form within 72 hours. VHSL 28B-2-4(e): student must notify the Principal or Athletic Director in writing within 72 hours of entering any NIL contract. The VHSL 'NIL Contract Notification' form (Rev. 7/1/23, 2026-27 version on vhsl.org) has checkboxes certifying each rule element, student AND parent signature lines, agent/company name, date signed, duration, and must be returned to the member school administration within 72 hours. Note the statute adds a separate duty: disclose the agreement to the high school BEFORE executing it, in the manner the school designates (22.1-212.2:4 G). No dollar threshold.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Virginia?

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. VHSL rules reach 8th graders only when they are on a high school JV/varsity roster (28A-4-3(3)); students competing at middle/junior high level are not covered by VHSL regulations and are left to local school divisions. The statute covers 'student-athletes' enrolled at a high school. Club/travel play outside school is not governed by VHSL.

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

Allowed. Va. Code 22.1-212.2:4 B.2 bars VHSL/schools from preventing representation by a registered athlete agent or Virginia attorney; VHSL handbook does not address NIL agents, only agents for professional contracts.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: VHSL Handbook 2026-27; NIL Contract Notification form Rev. 7/1/23 (2026-27 school year version); Va. Code as of 11/4/2026.

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