SOAR - NIL

Per the 2026-2027 OSSAA policy, the following may not be used in connection with any NIL agreement or service: 

• School logos or School Name
• School-issued Uniforms or School Facilities
• School or OSSAA awards and honors
• Spirit wear that identifies the school
• Game or practice footage and recordings

Union Public Schools may use an approved NIL marketplace to help connect student-athletes with legitimate third-party brands. Student-athletes may wear school-issued attire in their marketplace profile or in promotional content on the platform — but not while performing the actual NIL service or activity itself. 

Coaches, athletic directors, administrators, teachers, school employees, booster club members, and donors who have contributed to the school within the past ten years may not arrange, negotiate, facilitate, or provide NIL compensation to a student-athlete. (An exception applies only when the school employee is the student-athlete's immediate family member or legal guardian.) 

• NIL opportunities may never be offered or used to influence a student's enrollment or attendance at Union — doing so violates OSSAA Rule 9 (Recruiting).
• Student-athletes may not endorse gambling, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, adult entertainment, banned substances, or unlawful activity.
• NIL activities may not interfere with the instructional school day or academic / athletic responsibilities.

Student-athletes who receive $200 or more in NIL compensation must submit a completed disclosure form to school administration within fourteen (14) days of the activity. 

Violations are addressed in alignment with OSSAA Rules and Board Policy, including but not limited to Rule 5 (Amateurism) and Rule 9 (Recruiting), and may result in appropriate disciplinary action. 

• Review every offer and contract before your athlete signs — no exceptions.
• Help track earnings so nothing is missed once the $200 disclosure threshold is reached.
• Ask questions on your athlete's behalf when something feels unclear or too good to be true. 

Any NIL activity earning $200 or more must be reported to school administration within 14 days. When in doubt, disclose  — it's a quick form, not a penalty. 

• What exactly are they being paid to do, and how/when do they get paid?
• Does this lock them into one brand (an exclusivity clause) or run longer than expected?
• What happens to their photos, videos, or likeness after the deal ends — who owns that content?
• Is this a direct brand deal, or does it look like a pooled “collective” payment tied to being on the team?
• Have we reviewed this together, and are we both comfortable signing? 

• Flat monthly payments tied to being on the roster, rather than a specific deliverable — this may be a prohibited collective, not a legitimate marketplace deal.
• Any offer that shows up, or improves, right around a recruiting or enrollment decision — this may violate OSSAA's anti-inducement rule.
• Brands in restricted categories (gambling, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, adult entertainment, banned substances) —including ones that disguise themselves as “energy” or “wellness” products.
• Any content request involving school logos, uniforms, facilities, or game/practice footage — these can't be used in  NIL promotion. 

NIL income is generally self-employment income — nothing is withheld automatically like a paycheck. Keep records of  every payment and talk with a tax professional about what your family may owe. 

• Coaches, administrators, and school staff cannot arrange, negotiate, or facilitate an NIL deal for your athlete, even informally.
• The school can educate your family and point you toward general categories of professional help (tax preparers, attorneys, NIL education platforms) — but can't recommend or arrange a specific provider.
• The Athletic Office is always available to answer policy questions.

Any NIL activity that earns you $200 or more must be reported to school administration within 14 days. Don't wait until you're sure you've crossed the line — if you're close, disclose. 

Keep a simple running log: See following graphic which shows two sample items by date and brand deal, and amount earned/disclosed.

OSSAA allows individual, transactional NIL deals through a marketplace. It prohibits collectives — pooled booster or donor funding used to pay athletes. 

Quick Check

If an offer sounds like a flat monthly payment tied to being on the team rather than a specific deliverable, that's a warning sign — ask before you sign.

You CAN use:

• Highlight footage from club, travel, or non-school-affiliated competitions
• Training content shot at a private gym, home, or public park — not in school gear
• Personal photos/videos with no school logos, uniforms, or facilities visible

You CANNOT use:

• Game or practice footage or recordings from Union events
• Any video or photo shot inside a school facility (weight room, gym, field, locker room)
• School logos, mascot, name, uniforms, or spirit wear that identifies Union

Quick check: if it was filmed on campus, during a school activity, or in Redhawks gear — don't use it for a paid promotion.

Terms worth knowing

• Payment terms — how much, when, and how you actually get paid
• Exclusivity clause — does this stop you from working with competing brands?
• Morality/conduct clause — what behavior could void the deal or your pay?
• Term & termination — how long does this last, and how can either side end it early
• Rights granted — are you giving the brand rights to your image/content forever, or just for this campaign?

Before Signing, Ask:

• Has a parent or guardian reviewed this with me?
• Do I fully understand what I'm promising to do?
• Am I comfortable with how long this lasts and what it costs me to exit early?

Quick check:  A parent/guardian is legally part of every NIL arrangement — loop them in from the start, not after you've signed.

NIL payments are typically self-employment income — no taxes are withheld automatically the way they are from a paycheck. 

• Keep records of every payment: date, amount, and what it was for
• Save receipts for any expenses related to your NIL activity
• Families should talk with a tax professional about self-employment tax and whether quarterly estimated payments are needed

Quick check:  This applies even to smaller deals — income is income, regardless of the amount.

OSSAA Rule 9 prohibits using NIL opportunities to influence where a student attends or enrolls. This matters most during recruiting conversations or a potential transfer. 

• A red flag: an NIL offer that appears, or gets unusually generous, right around an enrollment or transfer decision.
• Once college recruiting is involved, NCAA NIL rules apply on top of OSSAA rules — they are not the same set of rules.
• When college interest is active, involve a parent/guardian and, where possible, a professional familiar with NCAA NIL rules before agreeing to anything.

• OSSAA prohibits endorsing gambling, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, adult entertainment, banned substances, or unlawful activity. Some offers disguise these categories:
• “Energy” or supplement brands that are actually alcohol-adjacent or contain banned substances
• Sports betting apps or affiliate/referral links, even if framed as “picks” or “entertainment” content
• Vague wellness or supplement companies with unclear or unlisted ingredients

Union Public Schools can ONLY point you toward categories of professional support — but cannot arrange, recommend a specific provider, or negotiate on your behalf. 

• NIL education platforms (e.g., NCAA/state association NIL education resources)
• Sports-focused CPAs or tax preparers familiar with self-employment/1099 income
• Attorneys who review athlete or influencer/endorsement contracts
• Independent financial advisors experienced with young or first-time earners 

Quick check:  Choosing and vetting a specific professional is a family decision — the school's role is to make sure you know these categories of help exist.

Coaches, administrators, teachers, and other staff are considered “School Actors” under OSSAA policy and may not arrange, negotiate, facilitate, or provide NIL compensation — even informally or with good intentions. 

• You can share this guide and the SOAR NIL Statement with athletes and families
• You can direct questions to the Athletic Office
• You cannot connect an athlete with a brand, negotiate terms, or be involved in securing a deal (unless the staff member is the athlete's own parent/guardian)

• Disclosure threshold: $200+ → form due within 14 days
• Allowed: NIL marketplaces, non-school footage, third-party brand deals
• Prohibited: collectives, school logos/uniforms/facilities/footage, restricted-industry endorsements, enrollment-linked offers