What South Carolina Law Allows
South Carolina officially permits high school student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The South Carolina High School League updated its NIL framework in 2025, establishing clear guidelines for how student-athletes at all nine Spartanburg County high schools can participate in endorsement deals, social media partnerships, autograph signings, personal appearances, and sports camps without jeopardizing their amateur eligibility.
The core rule is straightforward: athletes can earn money from their personal brand as long as the activity does not use school or district logos, does not interfere with school attendance or team obligations, and is fully disclosed to the school per SCHSL policy.
What Is Allowed Under SCHSL Rules
Student-athletes at Spartanburg High, Dorman, Byrnes, Boiling Springs, Broome, Chapman, Woodruff, Landrum, and Chesnee can sign endorsement deals with local and national brands. They can earn income from social media content on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Athletes can charge for autograph signings and personal appearances at local businesses. They can run their own sports camps or clinics for compensation. They can hire a licensed sports agent or NIL advisor to negotiate on their behalf.
What Is Not Allowed
School or district logos and uniforms cannot appear in any NIL deal materials. NIL activities cannot take place during scheduled team practices, games, or school hours. Athletes cannot use NIL to incentivize enrollment at a particular school. All NIL deals must be disclosed to the athlete’s school administration. Any activity that conflicts with SCHSL eligibility rules can result in loss of playing time or competition eligibility.
Disclosure Requirements
Every NIL deal must be reported to the school. The SCHSL requires athletes to disclose the nature of the agreement, the parties involved, and the compensation structure. Schools do not approve or deny deals, but they do ensure compliance with eligibility rules. Athletes who fail to disclose qualifying deals risk their SCHSL eligibility status.
How This Compares to College NIL
College NIL rules operate under NCAA governance and are evolving rapidly with the House settlement and revenue-sharing frameworks. High school NIL in South Carolina is simpler but more restrictive. The key difference is that high school athletes cannot use institutional branding, while college athletes increasingly benefit from institutional NIL infrastructure like Clemson Ventures, Garnet Trust at USC, and The Regiment at USC Upstate right here in Spartanburg.
What is Happening
Q: Can Spartanburg County high school athletes earn NIL money?
A: Yes. South Carolina law and SCHSL rules allow high school student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness through endorsements, social media, appearances, and other activities as long as they comply with disclosure requirements.
Q: Do athletes need to report their NIL deals?
A: Yes. All NIL activities must be disclosed to the school per SCHSL policy. Failure to disclose can result in eligibility consequences.
Q: Can school logos appear in NIL deals?
A: No. School or district logos, uniforms, and branding cannot be used in any NIL agreement at the high school level in South Carolina.
