Winamac Athletics- Home of the Warriors

May 4, 2026 - Indianapolis, IN The IHSAA Board of Directors voted to pass Personal Branding Activities into the IHSAA Member School By-Laws. This rule will come into effect in the 2026-27 school year. It provides student-athletes with a set of guidelines in the ever changing landscape of personal branding and monetization, while allowing the student to maintain their amateur status as a student-athlete in the IHSAA. What is a Personal Branding Activity (PBA)? A PBA is completely separate from the college version of Name-Image-Likeness (NIL). In the college model the lines are either blurred or non-existent between professional and amateur status. This deliberate separation breaks down potential barriers that allow students to earn money off themselves, but not the organization or brands that they compete for. In short, you can't sell what you don't own. An individual owns their name and personal reputation, and can sell or profit off of that. However they do not own the brands, marks, equipment, or reputation of a member school and thus cannot profit off of that affiliation. Allowable activities include: activities that do not represent the member school and do not perform athletic services; personal social media representation, personal appearances, and other endorsements unrelated to the school; and non-skill based services such as tutoring, personal training, or coaching youth sports when the activities are provided reasonable compensation. Prohibited activities include: any representation or reference to a member school; participation in prohibited activities such as alcohol, tobacco, gaming/gambling, cannabis, firearms, illegal, or sexual content; providing athletic services (exceptions for instruction, camps/clinic, and training when not affiliated with member schools); PBA collectives where groups are affiliated or in conjunction with benefiting a member school; or recruitment to member schools. Navigating PBA a Walkthrough: 1. Does it use the school name, logo, or facilities? No- Proceed to step 2. Yes- Stop. This activity is likely prohibited. Check with your coach or the athletic office. 2. Are you wearing a school uniform, clothing representing the school, or using school equipment? No- Proceed to step 3. Yes- Stop. This activity is likely prohibited. Check with your coach or the athletic office. 3. Does it involve vices? Gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, weapons, illegal activities or items, or explicit material? No- Proceed to step 4. Yes- Stop. This activity is likely prohibited. Check with your coach or the athletic office. 4. Is there a "PBA Collective" (outside group benefiting a school), or school employee arranging the deal? No- Proceed to step 5. Yes- Stop. This activity is likely prohibited. Check with your coach or the athletic office. 5. Are you providing athletic services? No- Proceed with the activity, it is allowed under IHSAA member by-laws and you will maintain your amateur eligibility. Yes- Proceed to step 5b. 5b. Are you being reasonably compensated for instruction or exhibition at a camp, clinic, or private lesson/training? Yes- Proceed with the activity, it is allowed under IHSAA member by-laws and you will maintain your amateur eligibility. No- Stop. This activity is likely prohibited. Check with your coach or the athletic office.