Not allowing NIL for all youth limits their opportunities, silences their potential, and puts them behind peers in other states.
We call on South Carolina lawmakers and the SCHSL to modernize current regulations and allow middle and high school student-athletes to benefit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), just as young athletes in many other states already do.

South Carolina has made progress by allowing college athletes to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). However, our middle and high school athletes are still banned from participating in NIL opportunities due to outdated SCHSL regulations.

Meanwhile, states like Tennessee, California, and South Dakota have already taken steps to empower student-athletes at the middle and high school levels — giving their youth a head start in building their future.

Middle and high school student-athletes are developing powerful platforms on social media, in local communities, and through elite competitions. NIL rights allow them to:

• Build their personal brand early
• Earn income to support their future
• Promote small businesses or causes they believe in
• Gain real-world experience in business and marketing

But in South Carolina, these same students risk ineligibility, punishment, or removal from competition simply for signing a sponsorship or participating in a monetized opportunity — even if it’s ethical, safe, and responsible.

This creates a two-tiered system where South Carolina students fall behind their peers nationally.

We, the undersigned, urge:

📌 The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) to update its eligibility rules to allow NIL opportunities for middle and high school athletes.
📌 South Carolina lawmakers to support legislation that ensures fair NIL access for all student-athletes, regardless of age or grade level.
📌 Schools and coaches to provide NIL education and safeguards for students and families.

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NIL law summary for south-carolina/

Sign this petition to demand equal rights and opportunities for middle and high school athletes in South Carolina

Support the next generation. Give them the freedom to grow, earn, and lead.