EAST LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has expanded its rules on personal branding activities, commonly known as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) allowing high school student-athletes at member schools to earn money from their individual brand, effective immediately.
The Representative Council approved the change on Tuesday after years of discussions with schools, following a 2023 legislative proposal in Michigan and developments in neighboring states. Previously, athletes could conduct camps, clinics, and private lessons; the updated policy broadens opportunities to include social media endorsements and promotions, personal appearances, autograph signings, photo sessions, modeling, advertising, merchandise or apparel sales, sports cards, and using their name, image, or likeness in marketing materials, provided these remain strictly individual and do not involve group-based or pay-for-play arrangements like collegiate collectives.
To preserve competitive equity among schools, the policy includes strict restrictions: activities cannot tie to athletic performance, awards, team participation, or game outcomes; they must avoid using school names, logos, mascots, uniforms, or other institutional identifiers; and they cannot occur during school hours, MHSAA events (including practices), on school property, or via school media channels. Schools, coaches, and boosters are barred from involvement in arranging or promoting these opportunities.
MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl emphasized that the changes deliver true individual NIL benefits without compromising the association’s long-standing focus on fair play, stating the policy aligns with the original intent of NIL while excluding elements that could disrupt high school sports balance.
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