IHSAA Personal Branding Activities (PBA) Rule — What It Means The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Board of Directors voted 13–5 in May 2026 to approve Personal Branding Activities (PBA), effective for the 2026–27 school year. This change allows Indiana high school athletes to potentially earn money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) while keeping their amateur status intact. Why the Change? Indiana was one of the few states that had entirely prohibited high school NIL until now. The new PBA framework is designed to: 1. Protect the educational mission of high school athletics. 2. Keep high schools out of arranging or funding deals for athletes. 3. Distinguish the high school model from the NCAA’s college NIL system On3+1. Key Principles No school affiliation: Athletes cannot use their school's name, logo, or appear in uniform during PBA activities. No school involvement: High schools cannot arrange, fund, or represent athletes in these deals. Independent monetization: Students benefit directly from their own brand, not through school-sponsored endorsements. What’s Prohibited Any activity that represents or references a Member School unless directly connected to the student’s athletic participation and directed by the school. Deals involving gaming/gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, illegal/banned substances, sexually explicit material, or firearms/weapons. Using school facilities or property for PBA activities. Using PBA to recruit athletes to another high school. Why It Matters Opportunity: Athletes can start building careers, investments, or business ventures while still in high school. Limitations: Earnings will generally be less than college athletes’ NIL deals, but the rule is designed to be a safe, eligibility-preserving start Daily Journal. State context: Indiana will now be the 46th state (plus D.C.) to allow some form of high school NIL On3+1. Bottom line: Under the new IHSAA PBA rule, Indiana high school athletes can monetize their personal brand independently, without school ties, but must avoid prohibited categories to stay eligible.