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Protect Your NIL

Leadhawk Learning introduces...

Digital behavior no longer affects just one post, it affects opportunity,

trust, and the reputation of the programs you represent.

Protect Your NIL is a short, values-based challenge designed to help athletes at every level navigate

visibility, responsibility, and decision-making online, before a mistake costs more than it should.

Protect Your NIL is built on the Protect Your Brand framework.

NIL is not a separate issue, it's the most visible expression of an athlete's personal brand, decision-making, and accountability.

Why This Matters

Athletes today live in a world of:

  • Constant visibility

  • Instant amplification

  • Permanent digital records

Whether you earn NIL compensation or not, your online behavior carries weight; for you, your teammates, and your school.

One post.
One comment.
One "like".

That's all it takes.

Protect Your NIL exists to help athletes pause, reflect, and lead with intention in a digital environment that rarely encourages either.

Who the Protect Your NIL Challenge Is For

College Athletes (All Sports, All Roster Spots)

Digital Badge Protect Your Brand_edited_

You don't need an NIL deal to carry NIL-level responsibility.
Visibility applies to starters, backups, walk-ons, and redshirts alike.

High School Athletes & Recruits

College coaches don't just evaluate talent, they evaluate judgment.
Your digital footprint is already part of your recruiting profile.

Teams, Programs, & Universities

Athletes don't post in isolation.
They post as representatives of a program, a culture, and a brand.

Coaches, Assistants, Trainers, & Athletic Staff

Athletes are influenced by the culture around them and culture is modeled from the top.
Coaches and staff carry visibility, authority, and public trust, both online and off.
Their digital behavior signals standards, values, and expectations to athletes and the broader community.

Protect Your NIL helps ensure everyone representing a program is aligned in judgment, accountability, and responsible online conduct.  It supports a unified digital standard.  One that protects individuals, teams, and institutions in an environment where visibility is unavoidable.

Basketball Court Floor

The Protect Your NIL Sprint

Protect Your NIL is built on the Protect Your Brand framework.

NIL represents the most visible moments where an athlete's decisions, values, and accountability are publicly tested.

Step 1:  Visibility Changes the Game

Understanding how digital behavior is interpreted by:

  • Coaches

  • Sponsors

  • Media

  • Employers

  • The public

Athletes learn why intent doesn't always match impact.

Step 2:  Digital Discipline

Practical decision-making tools for:

  • Pausing before posting

  • Recognizing risk signals

  • Avoiding emotional or impulsive responses

  • Understanding downstream consequences

This is about control, not censorship.

Step 3:  Signaling Responsibility

Athletes learn why how they respond after a moment matters and how taking ownership, reflection, and corrective action builds credibility instead of eroding it.

What You Gain

Athletes

  • Greater awareness of how online behavior affects opportunity

  • Stronger judgment under pressure

  • A framework for responsible decision-making

  • Confidence navigating high-visibility moments

Most importantly:
The ability to protect their future, on and off the field.

Programs & Schools

  • A consistent, values-based message

  • A proactive approach to risk management

  • Documented participation without punitive measures

  • A culture of responsibility instead of reaction

Protect Your NIL supports athletes and the institutions they represent.

The Protect Your NIL Digital Badge

Athletes who complete the challenge earn a digital badge that serves as a visible signal of the commitment to:

  • Responsible digital behavior

  • Accountability and reflection

  • Protection opportunity and trust

This badge is not about being flawless.
It's about being intentional.

This Isn't About Fear.

It's About Leadership.

Athletes will make mistakes.
What matters is whether they are equipped to learn, adjust, and lead forward.

Protect Your NIL helps athletes do exactly that.

A smarter way to protect opportunity, reputation, and trust in a digital-first world.

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