Sports Tech Company Offers First Team-Wide High School NIL Deal

A sports technology company called KONGiQ has set a milestone in the world of name, image, and likeness — at the high school level.

As part of its NIL program, the brand is offering deals to the entire football team at St. John Bosco High School, a Southern California powerhouse.

While team-wide deals have become somewhat commonplace on college teams, KONGiQ’s partnership is believed to be the first at the high school level.

• Athletes who opt into the partnership will be listed as influencers on the company’s site. 
• Players will promote the brand on social media accounts in exchange for two payments — the first of which will hit their bank accounts this week.
• Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

It’s unsurprising that a California team would lead on NIL. At the high school level, the industry is governed by state laws and local high school federation rules. 

California’s governing body, CIF, was one of the first to state publicly that there were no rules in the state prohibiting local athletes from engaging in NIL.

At least a dozen other states currently allow NIL at the high school level — though many other expressly prohibit it, or haven’t yet made a ruling.