High school NIL: Allowed

Wisconsin high school NIL rules

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

Tell the school
None statewide
Agents
Not allowed
If a rule is broken
Eligibility lost: all sports
Reaches middle school
Generally no

High school

Who sets the rules

Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)

The rule

WIAA Rules of Eligibility, Article IV Amateur Status, as amended by member vote April 25, 2025 (293-108) and effective with the May 2025 Bulletin; carried in the 2026-27 High School Athletic Eligibility Information Bulletin (5/2026): a student may take part in an NIL commercial endorsement provided there is no school team, school, Conference or WIAA affiliation.

Tell the school

None statewide

None. No reporting to school or WIAA; students/families sign the annual eligibility acknowledgment only.

Off limits

No school uniform or school/WIAA marks or logos; no promotion of gaming/gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment, or weapons; compensation may not depend on athletic performance; no compensation from the school or 'persons associated with the school' (coaches, former athletes, boosters, alumni, donors, etc.) as an inducement to attend or remain; NIL may not interfere with academics or team obligations; schools and employees may not facilitate deals. No parent-signature requirement.

Agents

Not allowed

Bulletin: 'A student cannot utilize representation or contract an agent'

If a rule is broken

Loss of amateur status; bulletin states a student must be an amateur in all recognized WIAA sports to compete in any WIAA sport, so ineligibility is not confined to one sport; schools may impose longer periods than WIAA minimums.

Middle school, club and travel ball

Rule is in the high school eligibility bulletin; Club/travel play is not governed.

Recent changes

Adopted April 25, 2025, effective May 2025 (first school year 2025-26). Unchanged in 2026-27 bulletin.

College state law

Law in force

Wisconsin's law took effect April 10, 2026. We are confirming the final statute text.

The law

Keep § 36.11(12).)

Disclosure

Athlete discloses each third-party NIL agreement to the institution before entering it, in the manner the Board of Regents/institution prescribes.

Schools paying athletes

Expressly permitted for both current and prospective athletes; athletes are not employees; FOIA exemption for NIL and revenue-share contracts.

For high school recruits

Drake Group database classifies the law as applying to high school AND college athletes (prospective athletes may receive institutional NIL compensation).

Recent changes

New law: A.B. 1034, effective April 10, 2026.

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 Wisconsin make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Wisconsin can take NIL deals, with conditions. WIAA Rules of Eligibility, Article IV Amateur Status, as amended by member vote April 25, 2025 (293-108) and effective with the May 2025 Bulletin; carried in the 2026-27 High School Athletic Eligibility Information Bulletin (5/2026): a student may take part in an NIL commercial endorsement provided there is no school team, school, Conference or WIAA affiliation.

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

None statewide. None. No reporting to school or WIAA; students/families sign the annual eligibility acknowledgment only.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Wisconsin?

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. Rule is in the high school eligibility bulletin; Club/travel play is not governed.

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

Not allowed. Bulletin: 'A student cannot utilize representation or contract an agent'

Get Wisconsin alerts

One email when Wisconsin's rules change.