High school NIL: Allowed

Washington high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school: None statewide
Agents: Allowed
If a rule is broken: Eligibility lost: that sport only
Reaches middle school: Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)

The rule

2026-27 WIAA Handbook 18.24.0 Amateur Standing / 18.24.1 NIL: a student immediately loses eligibility if the student, a family member or anyone on their behalf enters an NIL agreement that 'in any way relates to the student's connection to their high school'. Endorsements with no affiliation to the school team, school, WIAA District or WIAA are allowed.

Tell the school

None statewide

None. No reporting, form, deadline or threshold.

Off limits

No school uniform or school/District/WIAA marks or logos in any endorsement; member schools may not promote or have any affiliation with any NIL deal. Separately, no more than $500 fair-market-value merchandise/gifts per sport per year based on performance. The WIAA rule has NO restricted product-category list, no collective/booster clause and no parent-signature requirement.

Agents

Allowed

Handbook Q&A 18.24.1 Q-1: WIAA rules do not prohibit agents.

If a rule is broken

Immediate loss of eligibility (18.24.1); amateur standing is per sport ('amateur in that sport').

Middle school, club and travel ball

WIAA has member middle schools and Article 18 includes middle-level provisions, but 18.24.1 is written around 'high school' connection and graduation; Club play outside school is not governed.

Recent changes

None found in the 2026-27 handbook.

College state law

Narrow law

The law

RCW 42.52.807 (2024 c 33 s 1, SB 5913); RCW 19.225 (Uniform Athlete Agents Act, 2002 c 131, 2016 sp.s. c 13)

Disclosure

No NIL-deal disclosure requirement in state law.

Schools paying athletes

Not addressed. RCW 42.52.807 is only an Ethics Act exemption letting public-university employees use public resources to advise/facilitate/educate on NIL, subject to NCAA rules.

For high school recruits

RCW 19.225.010 defines 'student athlete' to include anyone who engages in, is eligible for, or may in future be eligible for interscholastic or intercollegiate sport, so the athlete-agent registration/contract rules reach high school athletes and their agents.

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 Washington make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Washington can take NIL deals, with conditions. 2026-27 WIAA Handbook 18.24.0 Amateur Standing / 18.24.1 NIL: a student immediately loses eligibility if the student, a family member or anyone on their behalf enters an NIL agreement that 'in any way relates to the student's connection to their high school'. Endorsements with no affiliation to the school team, school, WIAA District or WIAA are allowed.

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

None statewide. None. No reporting, form, deadline or threshold.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Washington?

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. WIAA has member middle schools and Article 18 includes middle-level provisions, but 18.24.1 is written around 'high school' connection and graduation; Club play outside school is not governed.

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

Allowed. Handbook Q&A 18.24.1 Q-1: WIAA rules do not prohibit agents.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: 2026-2027 WIAA Handbook.

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