California High School Athletes Sue CIF: Did You Miss Out on NIL Earnings?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and its corporate partners violated antitrust laws by preventing high school athletes from profiting from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

Who's Affected: Student-athletes who competed on, or competed on, a CIF member school athletic team in California since May 2021.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and its network of corporate partners are accused of running a system that reaps millions from high school sports while shutting student-athletes out of the profits. 

A new lawsuit, filed on behalf of current and former athletes, claims CIF and companies including NFHS Network, MaxPreps, Playfly, and Spectrum SportsNet, among others, are violating antitrust laws by denying athletes the chance to benefit from their own name, image, and likeness (NIL).

The class action argues that high school athletes generate real economic value—through their on-field performances and the media content built around them—but are blocked from receiving any compensation. 

Instead, CIF and its partners profit through broadcast rights, sponsorships, advertising, merchandise, and more, all while enforcing strict rules that keep student-athletes unpaid and unable to pursue NIL opportunities tied to their schools.

Top High School Athlete Claims He Was Denied Compensation

Dominik Calhoun, a top-tier football and track athlete from the Bay Area who played for El Cerrito and Pittsburg High Schools, filed the proposed class action lawsuit. He helped lead his teams to championship appearances, racked up impressive stats, and earned a football scholarship to Boise State University, according to the claim. 

Yet throughout his high school career, Calhoun says he was barred from earning a dime off his own athletic reputation.

According to the complaint, Calhoun’s image and performances were used in broadcasts, promotions, and other revenue-generating content. But CIF’s rules prohibited him from being compensated for any of it. 

Only now, as a future college athlete, has he begun receiving NIL compensation—through autograph sessions and sponsored appearances. The lawsuit argues that if not for CIF’s policies, Calhoun and others like him could have earned money in high school, too.

System Allegedly Enforces "Amateurism" While Generating Millions

The case paints a broader picture of high school sports as a booming industry. With over 8 million student-athletes competing nationwide and families pouring an estimated $40 billion into youth sports each year, there’s no question that money is flowing. In California, CIF and its media partners have capitalized on this market through tickets, streaming services, school-branded merchandise, and licensing deals.

But student-athletes, the lawsuit argues, are stuck in a system that enforces “amateurism” through rigid and punitive rules. CIF caps prize values, bans nearly all compensation, and penalizes athletes who attempt to monetize their NIL—even when that content is driving the CIF’s own revenue. 

The lawsuit also challenges rules that restrict students from transferring schools for athletic opportunities, saying they effectively squash any competition in the market for high school sports talent.

Athlete Antitrust Cases Emerge in Sports World

This isn’t the first legal battle over athlete compensation, and it likely won’t be the last.

Former NCAA basketball stars recently filed a class action lawsuit accusing the NCAA of profiting from players’ images in March Madness highlights without compensation. 

Meanwhile, pro tennis players are suing major tours for allegedly colluding to suppress wages and limit competition. Even outside of sports, college students have successfully sued top universities for operating a financial aid “cartel,” with a judge approving a $284 million settlement.

In his class action lawsuit against CIF and others, Calhoun wants to represent student athletes who compete on, or competed on, a CIF member school athletic team since May 2021. He is suing for violations of the Sherman Act, California business laws, and unjust enrichment, and seeks damages, interest, costs, and fees.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Calhoun v. California Interscholastic Federation, et al.
• Case Number: 3:25-cv-04603-LB
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Joel Benjamin Young (The Tidrick Law Firm LLP)
• Nicole Cabañez (Salahi PC)

Were you a high school athlete in California? Share your thoughts on NIL rights below.