Colorado · CHSAA · Updated Oct 28, 2026
Colorado high school NIL rules, explained.
Colorado high school athletes can earn money from their name, image and likeness. CHSAA's rules come down to three things: keep the school out of it, keep the money honest, and tell the athletic director within 10 days.
The rules
What CHSAA allows, and what it doesn't.
NIL rules are in Article 20 of CHSAA's Constitution & Bylaws (Rules 2000.1–2000.8)[S1]. Here's each one in plain words, with the bylaw number your AD will look for.
Not connected to the school Bylaw 2000.3
The deal is with the athlete personally, not with the school, team or activity program.
No school marks Bylaw 2000.4
No school or district name, logo, uniform or mascot, no CHSAA logo, and no school or district apparel or equipment in the content.
No school facilities or school time Bylaw 2000.4
Content is not made at a school facility, and the work does not happen during school or team time.
Not paid by the school side Bylaw 2000.4 (see 1640.12)
The sponsor is not the school, a booster club, an individual booster, a collective, or anyone acting for the school.
No pay for play or recruiting Bylaw 2000.4, 2000.32
Pay does not depend on participation, performance or achievement, and is not an incentive to enroll at or stay at a school.
No prohibited products Bylaw 2000.4
Nothing that conflicts with district policy, such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, cannabis, gambling or other controlled substances.
No career agent Bylaw 2000.51
No agent manages the athlete's athletic career. AthleteForge is a marketplace, not an agent.
Bylaw numbers as quoted in [S5]; confirm against the official text [S2].
The 10-day notice
Tell the athletic director within 10 days.
Within 10 days of entering an NIL agreement, the student or their parents must notify the school's athletic director (Bylaw 2000.6) [S5]. CHSAA doesn't name a form. A written summary that shows who the sponsor is, what your athlete will do, what they'll be paid, and how the deal follows each rule above gives your AD what they need.
In AthleteForge, the 10-day clock starts when the parent co-signs. One click sends your AD that summary and the rules checklist, with a copy to you, and the deal shows a countdown until it's sent.
For athletic directors
What you'll get from a family using AthleteForge.
CHSAA's commissioner has asked ADs to slow down, review contracts and keep records [S3]. We built the packet for exactly that.
A one-page deal packet
Sponsor, deliverables, amount, dates, and the parent's co-signature. Print it or save it as a PDF for your files.
The rules checklist, with bylaw numbers
The parent confirms each CHSAA rule; you see the same list with bylaw references.
On-time notice
The parent gets a countdown to the 10-day deadline. Replies to the packet go straight to the parent.
No school-side money
Every business confirms it isn't the school, a booster club, a booster or a collective before it can sponsor.
No agent, no cut
AthleteForge isn't an agent. The business pays our 15% fee; the family keeps 100% of the deal.
Questions or concerns about a packet? Reply to it, or email support@athleteforge.com.
FAQ
Common questions.
- Can Colorado high school athletes make money from NIL?
- Yes. Under CHSAA bylaws in effect since the 2025-26 school year, a student may benefit from their name, image and likeness as long as the deal isn't connected to their high school, team or activity program.
- Do we have to tell the athletic director?
- Yes. Within 10 days of entering an NIL agreement, the student or their parents must notify the school's athletic director. CHSAA doesn't name a specific form, so a written summary of the deal works.
- Can my athlete wear their school uniform or use the school logo?
- No. School and district names, logos, uniforms, mascots, apparel and facilities, and the CHSAA logo, can't appear in NIL content. CHSAA says this is the most common violation.
- Can a booster club or collective pay my athlete?
- No. The school, its booster clubs, individual boosters and collectives can't pay for NIL, and neither can anyone acting for the school.
- Can my athlete have an agent?
- No. CHSAA doesn't allow a high school athlete to have an agent manage their athletic career. A marketplace that helps you find and paper local sponsors is different, as long as it doesn't take a cut of your athlete's pay.
- What happens if a deal breaks the rules?
- Penalties can affect the athlete's eligibility. The safest path is to check a deal against the rules before signing and to notify the AD on time.
Sources
- [S1] CHSAA Now: “CHSAA bylaw changes for 2025-26 have gone into effect” (July 8, 2025)NIL rules live in Article 20, Rules 2000.1–2000.8. NIL is allowed if it isn't connected to the school, team or activity program.
- [S2] CHSAA Constitution & BylawsThe official bylaw text. Always check the current year's version.
- [S3] CHSAA Now: “NIL update” (Coffee with the Commish, Oct 28, 2026)The commissioner's guidance: the most common violation is unauthorized use of school marks; ADs should slow down, review contracts and keep records.
- [S4] KKCO 11 News: “CHSAA rolls out bylaws regarding NIL” (July 11, 2025)News coverage of the 2025-26 rollout.
- [S5] Secondary: Leave Your Agent, “High school NIL in Colorado: the CHSAA rules”Quotes Bylaws 2000.3, 2000.4, 2000.6 (the 10-day notice), 2000.51, 2000.33 and 2000.7. Not an official CHSAA source.
This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice, and AthleteForge isn't affiliated with CHSAA. Rules change; check the current bylaws and ask your athletic director before signing.