Every year, thousands of high school athletes dedicate countless hours to training, competing, and representing their schools on courts, fields, and tracks. Their talent and hard work is celebrated by their communities, but it is also profitable for athletic associations, media companies, and other corporations.
The problem? Athletes see none of that money.
Along with the Tidrick Law Firm, Salahi PC has filed a first-of-its-kind class action lawsuit challenging rules adopted by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to prevent high school athletes from being compensated for their athletic services and for the use of their name, image, and likeness (commonly referred to as “NIL”) in connection with their sports activities.
These are the same kinds of restrictions that have been successfully challenged by college athletes in other antitrust lawsuits. Now we’re taking that fight to the high school level—because student athletes’ hard work shouldn’t be taken advantage of as free labor in a booming, multi-million dollar industry.
What This Case Is About
The lawsuit, Calhoun v. California Interscholastic Federation, was filed in federal court in San Francisco on behalf of high school athletes across California who participated in CIF events. It targets the CIF and its ten regional Sections, as well as the corporate media companies that partner with CIF to broadcast, stream, and monetize high school sports, including the NIL of those students.
The complaint alleges that CIF’s rules unlawfully suppress competition for student-athletes’ athletic labor and NIL. The rules allegedly:
- Prohibit athletes from earning compensation for their athletic services, even though media companies and sponsors profit from their games.
- Restrict athletes from receiving NIL opportunities tied to their schools or team affiliations.
- Punish athletes for transferring schools for athletic reasons, precluding competition between schools and teams to recruit athletes, including through the promise of scholarships, housing assistance, or other compensation or benefits.
At the same time, CIF, its partners, and its media sponsors allegedly earn millions from streaming rights, advertisements, ticketing, and merchandise—all thanks to the student-athletes’ performances and NIL. The lawsuit seeks damages and reforms that would ensure high school athletes are treated fairly and paid when others profit from their efforts.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about a few superstar athletes. It’s about fundamental fairness in a system that allows corporations and athletic associations to make money off of high school sports while preventing the athletes who make it all possible from sharing in that value.
The complaint also highlights how the CIF rules in question disproportionately harm low-income athletes and athletes of color—whose athletic talent provides them with various pathways to economic success, but which are artificially obstructed by the CIF rules in question.
Are You a High School Athlete in California?
If you’ve played high school sports in California since June 2021 with a CIF-affiliated team and you feel you were denied the opportunity to earn compensation for your athletic services or your NIL—or were punished for transferring schools for athletic reasons—you might have a legal claim.
This case could reshape high school sports for the better. If you believe you’ve been affected, we want to hear your story. So if you want to stand up for your rights and be a part of this case, complete the intake form below and we will follow-up with you as soon as we can.