PIAA Approves NIL Rules for Student-Athletes

On Wednesday, December 7, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) approved a rule allowing student-athletes to sign name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements. The rule goes into effect immediately.

The PIAA’s NIL rules are much more stringent than those at the collegiate level. For example:

  • NIL agreements must not be used “as an incentive for enrollment decisions or membership on a team.” 
  • No school, coach, booster clubs, collectives, administrators, or alumni may arrange or pay for a student’s NIL deal. 
  • A student is not permitted to use a PIAA school, team name, nicknames, or logos in their NIL agreements. 
  • Students cannot promote anything endorsing adult entertainment products, alcohol products, casinos or gambling operations, tobacco or electronic smoking products, prescription pharmaceuticals, or weapons, firearms, and ammunition.

Any Fox Chapel Area School District athlete who agrees to a NIL deal must inform their school and the district’s director of athletics of the agreement within 72 hours.

More information about high school NIL agreements can be found on the PIAA website at www.piaa.org under “Resources,” “News,” and “PIAA Board of Directors’ Meeting Summary” for December 12.