NIL for Soccer Players in Illinois: What Parents Need to Know

NIL (name, image and likeness) lets athletes get paid for things like endorsements, social media posts and appearances, as long as the money isn't for playing. Illinois high school players can do it under IHSA By-law 3.084, with real limits on logos, timing and the kinds of brands involved, and Illinois college athletes are covered by a state law updated in 2025. For most soccer players the money is small or nothing at all, so the bigger job for parents is avoiding mistakes that cost eligibility.

Key takeaways

• The NCAA has allowed athletes in all three divisions to earn NIL money since July 1, 2021, while still banning pay-for-play and recruiting inducements.
• Illinois high school athletes can earn NIL money under IHSA By-law 3.084, which member schools approved 419-50 in a vote that ended December 19, 2022.
• IHSA rules ban school and IHSA logos in NIL deals, ban NIL activity during school hours and IHSA events, and rule out categories such as gambling, alcohol, cannabis and firearms.
• Division I athletes must report third-party NIL deals worth $600 or more through the College Sports Commission's NIL Go system within five business days of signing.
• No reliable public data shows what soccer players earn from NIL, and most of the money in college sports has gone to football and basketball.

What is NIL, and when did it start?

NIL is an athlete getting paid for the use of their name, image or likeness, such as a sponsored post, a local ad or an autograph session. It isn't a salary for playing.

The NCAA opened the door on July 1, 2021, when all three divisions adopted an interim policy suspending their NIL rules for current and incoming athletes. Pay-for-play and improper recruiting inducements stayed off limits, and schools and conferences can still add their own rules.

The NCAA's current NIL page spells out what a legitimate deal looks like. It has to pay specifically for the use of the athlete's NIL, have a real business purpose and pay within a reasonable range. Pay with no deliverables isn't allowed. Neither is pay for playing, or pay to attend or compete for a particular school.

Can Illinois high school soccer players make NIL money?

Yes. IHSA By-law 3.084 allows it, with restrictions. IHSA member schools approved it 419 to 50 (with 46 voting no opinion) in a referendum that ended December 19, 2022, according to the IHSA's release as reprinted by Stateline Sports Network.

The release lists the rules. A high school player doing NIL can't:

• use IHSA or school names, logos or facilities (so no paid post in the school jersey)
• do NIL activity during school hours, while traveling to IHSA events or at IHSA events
• take deals involving gaming or gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, illegal substances, adult entertainment or firearms

The penalty is serious. A violation makes the student ineligible in that sport. The by-law also puts the responsibility on the student to find out how a deal might affect NCAA, NJCAA or NAIA eligibility later.

Club soccer adds its own wrinkle, since a lot of Illinois players spend more time with their club than their high school team. Our guide to high school vs club soccer at 15-19 covers how the two seasons interact. For NIL, the safe habit is to keep school logos and school events out of anything paid.

What does Illinois law say about college NIL?

Illinois college athletes are covered by the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act (110 ILCS 190), first passed in 2021. Under the compensation section of the Act, athletes can earn NIL pay that matches market value, but not in exchange for athletic ability or participation, and they aren't employees.

Section 15 of the Act sets out what schools can and can't do. Schools can set reasonable limits on dates and times, require written permission before an athlete uses school marks and bar other logos during competition. They can't stop an athlete from hiring an agent or attorney. Athletes have to give the school written notice and a copy of each NIL agreement.

The law was amended by HB 307 (Public Act 103-0724), signed August 2, 2024 and effective January 1, 2025. According to State Senator Napoleon Harris III's office, the update lets colleges pay NIL directly (including as an incentive to attend), extends coverage to before and after enrollment, confirms athletes aren't employees and keeps NIL contract details out of FOIA requests.

How does NIL work in college now?

College NIL now runs alongside direct payments from schools. Under the House settlement, schools that participate can pay athletes directly up to a cap of $20.5 million per school in 2025-26, estimated at $21.5 million for 2026-27, according to the College Sports Commission FAQ. There's no cap on what athletes can earn from outside NIL deals. Our House settlement guide explains how that affects soccer rosters.

Outside deals have to be reported. The CSC FAQ says all Division I athletes, international athletes included, must report third-party NIL deals worth $600 or more in total within five business days of signing, through a system called NIL Go. Deals are reviewed for a valid business purpose, and athletes who disagree with a decision can go to binding neutral arbitration, which they must start within 14 days.

Incoming freshmen have their own window. The NCAA says high school recruits who enroll at a Division I school must report third-party deals of $600 or more through NIL Go within 14 days of starting full-time classes or before their first D1 game, whichever comes first. The NCAA also notes NIL income is generally taxable.

NAIA athletes can earn NIL money too. The NAIA's 2026-27 handbook requires them to report it in writing to their athletic director when a deal references their school or their status as an athlete. Failing to report can cost eligibility.

How much do soccer players actually make from NIL?

There's no reliable public figure for what soccer players earn from NIL, and the overall money in college sports flows mostly to football and basketball. In the first year of revenue sharing, The Athletic's reporting via Bleacher Report found schools paid $1.77 billion to 34,915 athletes in 45 sports, mostly in football and basketball, and that 46,478 third-party deals worth more than $582 million were approved.

For a soccer family, treat NIL as a possible small bonus, not a plan for paying for college. Scholarships and academic aid will almost always matter more. Our guide to college soccer scholarships, divisions and odds covers that side.

What should international players and families watch for?

International students on F-1 visas should be very careful with NIL. F-1 visas generally allow only limited work, such as on-campus jobs and certain training programs, and neither the Department of Homeland Security nor SEVP has issued NIL guidance, according to Loyola University Chicago's compliance office. Schools advise international athletes not to sign or perform NIL deals in the U.S. without clearance from the international office. The University of Florida International Center has a similar FAQ for its athletes.

How do you spot NIL scams and bad agents?

School groups have issued warnings about scams aimed at young athletes. The Carson City School District in Nevada warned families about a possible scam targeting athletes, and the New Jersey high school athletic association warned coaches and athletic directors about schemes asking players to sign up for fake NIL school clubs.

Agents are the other risk. Since April 2026, the NCAA Division I Cabinet has allowed prospects enrolling in 2026-27 and later to sign with professional sports agents before college without losing eligibility, and the NCAA said it would study agent behavior. Coaches have also told Athletic Business that unregistered "street agents" are taking advantage of athletes in NIL deals.

Some simple filters help. Don't pay upfront fees to get NIL deals. Get fee terms in writing. Be suspicious of anyone who texts your kid out of nowhere with a platform to join. And remember that IHSA rules still apply to high school players no matter what the NCAA allows.

What this means for your family

• Keep school and IHSA logos, uniforms and facilities out of any paid post or appearance while your kid plays high school soccer.
• Schedule NIL activity outside school hours and away from IHSA events and travel.
• Turn down any deal in a banned category (gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, adult entertainment, firearms and the rest of the IHSA list).
• Keep a folder with every contract and payment record. You'll need it for NIL Go reporting, for Illinois college disclosure rules and for taxes.
• Never accept money tied to choosing a school or to how your kid plays.
• If your kid is on an F-1 visa, get written clearance from the school's international office before any NIL activity.
• Refuse upfront fees, and get any agent's fee terms in writing before signing.
• Check every deal with your high school athletic director or the IHSA, and later with the college compliance office, before your kid signs. This guide isn't legal or tax advice, so talk to a tax professional about NIL income.

The short version

NIL is legal for Illinois high school and college soccer players, but the rules are strict and the money is usually modest. Read every deal, keep the paperwork and ask compliance first.