The 2015 AT Initiative Grants

Athletic Trainer Initiative Contest Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

1) Eligibility:
The Athletic Trainer Initiative Contest (hereafter, “Contest”) is open only to those who are, as of the date of entry, (i) legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia; (ii) eighteen (18) years of age or older; and (iii) either a High School Administrator, Teacher, Coach, or administrative director at a state-accredited private high school or public high school with (at least) grades between ninth and twelfth. As used herein, the following shall be considered “High School Administrators”: Principal, Vice-Principal, Dean, Superintendent, Athletic Director or Health and Wellness Administrator. Entrants will be responsible for securing any necessary school, school board or other regard permission prior to participating in this Contest. Employees, officers, directors, agents and representatives of the National Football League Foundation and the National Football League (together, the “Sponsors”) and the Sponsor-Related Parties (defined herein as the Sponsors, NFL Ventures, Inc., NFL Ventures, L.P. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, the National Football League’s member professional football clubs), the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (“NATA”), The Gatorade Company, teamDigital Promotions, Inc. and each of their respective affiliates, parents, owners, subsidiaries, shareholders, officers, directors, agents and partners (e.g., wholesalers, retailers, distributors, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, representatives and employees, both individually and collectively) (hereafter, collectively, “Released Parties”), and each such person’s immediate family members (mother, father, sister, brother, any child, husband, wife and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related, are not eligible to participate or win a prize. Void where prohibited by law. All applicable federal, state and local laws apply.

It is an entrant’s sole responsibility to review and understand his/her school’s policies regarding participation in promotions such as this. The awarding of a prize available in this Contest will be subject to such school policies and verification from an authorized school representative representing that participation is consistent with school policies. If, for whatever reason, any entrant (and/or their respective school) is unable to accept a prize due to school policies or for any other reason, the prize may be forfeited and Sponsors will have no further obligation to such entrant or school. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and to Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.

2) Entry Period:
The Contest entry period begins at 5:00:00 p.m. ET on 10/8/15 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 11/12/15 (hereafter, “Entry Period”). Sponsors’ computer is the official time keeping device for this Contest.

3) How To Participate:
During the Entry Period, eligible entrants can visit www.ATinitiative.com (hereafter, “Contest Site”) and follow the instructions provided to complete and submit the registration form inclusive of essay responses of (500) words or less per question (including all words such as “I”, “a”, etc.) to the following questions (hereafter “Entry”):

1. Please describe your current athletic training coverage and summarize your school’s need for this prize.
2. Please describe how you plan to use $50,000 to establish or expand an athletic training program at your school (e.g. implementation plan and hiring strategy, athlete reach, sport coverage, training facility availability, access to supplies and in-school support).
3. Please summarize your school’s long-term plan to support your proposed enhanced athletic training program once funds are no longer available. Please explain support for this program from administration and key stakeholders.

Limit one (1) Entry per person for the duration of the Entry Period. You may only use one (1) email address to enter the Contest. In case of multiple Entries from any one person or email address, only the first Entry received will be accepted. Multiple Entries for any one (1) school are allowed; however, each Entry must be submitted by a different eligible person/email address.

Entry Details: To be eligible, any Entry cannot have been previously published or submitted in any competition or have won any awards, and must be (i) complete, (ii) in English, and (iii) your original creation and solely owned or controlled by you. In addition, to be eligible, Entry must not include any third party logos or any other third party intellectual property or general property other than unless requisite permission is obtained. In the case where there are multiple Entries submitted for one (1) school, the Entries must be unique and original. Identical Entries submitted for the same school will be void. Modification of an existing work does not qualify as original. Entry cannot defame or invade publicity and/or intellectual property rights or the privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any copyrighted, trademarked, or patented works or person’s personal or proprietary rights, other than as outlined above. Entry may also not contain, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, any content that is sexually explicit or suggestive, violent or derogatory, profane or pornographic, promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or use of any of the foregoing); promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; promotes any particular political agenda or message; is obscene or offensive; endorses any form of hate or hate group; appears to duplicate any other submitted Entries; defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people or entities; contains materials owned or controlled by others, other than as outlined above; contains any personal identification (other than as provided in the registration form); contains materials embodying the names, likenesses, or other indicia identifying any person, including, without limitation, school children, school personnel, celebrities and/or other public or private figures, living or dead, without requisite permission; contains look-alikes of celebrities or other public or private figures, living or dead; communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which Sponsors wish to associate; and/or violates any law. Entries deemed by the judges, in their sole discretion, to be immoral, obscene, profane or not in keeping with Sponsors’ image or in violation of these Official Rules will be void. In the event of non-compliance with any requirements specified herein or with any of the terms of these Official Rules, Entry will be void.

If the Entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the Entry any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the Entry by Sponsors in the manner set forth in these Official Rules, including, without limitation, name and likeness permissions from any person who is identifiable in the Entry (and, if such person is a minor, permission from that person’s parent or legal guardian). Sponsors reserve the right to request proof of these permissions in a form acceptable to Sponsors from any entrant at any time. Failure to provide such proof may, if requested, render Entry null and void. By submitting an Entry, entrant warrants and represents that he/she and any persons appearing or who are identifiable in the Entry consent to the submission and use of the Entry in the Contest and to its use as otherwise set forth herein. By submitting an Entry, entrant further warrants and represents that his/her entry is original, has not been previously published or won any award, does not contain any material that would defame or otherwise violate or infringe upon the rights of any third party, including patents, copyrights, trademarks or rights of privacy or publicity, and will not violate any federal, state or local laws or ordinances.

By submitting an Entry, entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsors may obtain many submissions under this Contest and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to others submitted under this Contest and/or other contests staged and/or sponsored by the Sponsors, or to other ideas conceived by or provided to Sponsors and entrant waives any and all claims entrant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any Entry and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the Sponsors (or their designees) may be similar to his/her Entry. Except where prohibited by law, each entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsors do not have now, nor shall they have in the future, any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of any copyright in and to entrant’s Entry. Each entrant also acknowledges and agrees that such entrant will not be entitled to any compensation as a result of Sponsor's use of any such similar or identical material.

By submitting an Entry, entrant hereby (i) grants the Released Parties, without limitation of any other rights granted herein, permission for the Entry to be posted on www.nata.org www.nfl.com, www.nflhealthplaybook.com, and any other media platform as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion; (ii) acknowledges and agrees that his/her Entry may be shared via social media by third parties; and (iii) agrees that Released Parties are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties. Released Parties do not guarantee the posting of any Entry and may remove posted Entry at any time.

Incomplete Entries and/or Entries containing inaccurate entrant information will be disqualified at Sponsors’ sole discretion. The use of script, macro or any other device to automate or subvert the entry process is prohibited and all such Entries and Entries made by any other means which subvert the entry process will be void. In the case of a dispute as to the entrant who submitted an Entry, Entry will be deemed made by the person named on the applicable registration form (regardless of whether that is the name of the authorized account holder of the email address from which said Entry was submitted) and he/she must comply with these Official Rules. Other than as otherwise specified herein, neither the Sponsors, nor anyone acting on their behalf, will enter into any communications with any entrant regarding this Contest (except for the purposes of notifying the winners) or acknowledge any Entry (or portion thereof) received. Any Entry not meeting all Entry requirements stated herein will be void.

4) Winner Selection:
Judging & Notification: Based on the criteria outlined below, fifteen (15) potential Grand Prize Winners and ten (10) potential First Prize Winners will be determined by 12/31/2015 from among all eligible Entries received during the Entry Period. All prizes will be awarded to the respective high school and not the entrant that submitted the Entry on behalf of such school. Each Entry will be judged by the Sponsors, whose decisions will be final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest, on the following criteria: 1.) Support and Detailed Plan for Ongoing Sustainability of a New or Expanded Athletic Training Program: 0-35 points; 2.) Thoughtful and Detailed Plan for Use of Funds to Develop or Expand Athletic Training Program: 0-35 points; and 3.) Level of the Need of Athletic Trainer Described in Entry: 0-30 points. In the event of a tie, the tied Entries will be judged a second time based on the same criteria as in 3.), but for the second round of judging the scale will be between 0-100 points.

The fifteen (15) Entries with the highest score(s), as determined by the judges in their sole discretion, will be named potential Grand Prize winners (subject to compliance with these Official Rules). The ten (10) Entries with the next highest score(s), as determined by the judges in their sole discretion, will be named potential First Prize winners (subject to compliance with these Official Rules). In each case, potential winners will be named winners after confirmation of their eligibility (which may include, at the Sponsors’ discretion, certain Affidavits and background checks). Sponsors reserve the right to award fewer than twenty-five (25) total prizes in their sole discretion if they do not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries.

5) Winner Notification:
Potential prize winning entrants will be notified by 12/31/15 by telephone or email. Entrants who submitted the potential winning Entries will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and (where legal) Publicity Release and any other documents required by Sponsors no later than 1/8/16. Prizes will be awarded to the schools named on the winning Entries’ registration forms and not to the entrants who submitted the winning Entries. An authorized representative of the prize winning schools will also be required to execute a release and/or other required documents no later than 1/8/16. Noncompliance with any of the foregoing, with these Official Rules, the inability to contact a potential prize winning entrant or an authorized representative of an applicable school within a reasonable time period, any notification being returned as non-deliverable may result in disqualification and, at Sponsors’ discretion, a runner-up being chosen. Prize winner status is subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.

6) Prizes:
(15) Grand Prizes: $50,000 grant directly to the high school awarded in the form of a check made payable to the winner’s school, which must used (x) for the purposes of funding additional athletic trainer coverage (i.e. to fund an athletic trainer if there is none or to increase the hours or add an additional athletic trainer if one is already in place) and (y) no later than during the 2016-2017 academic school year. In addition, high school will also receive a visit from an Athletic Trainer designated by the NFL. Actual Athletic Trainer visit details are dependent upon both the Sponsors’ and the school’s full permission and approval. High School will also receive a Gatorade Hydration Starter Kit (i.e. product). Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each Grand Prize = $50,400. Hired Athletic Trainers will receive mentorship from a National Athletic Trainers Association Secondary School Athletic Trainer Committee member or Alum, and a kickoff event that provides them with educational materials.

(10) First Prizes: High School will receive the opportunity to have a local member of the NATA leadership provide an athlete safety presentation to parents and athletes, a Gatorade Hydration Starter Kit (i.e. product), and educational materials to help advocate for greater Athletic Trainer presence and better youth athlete care. ARV of each First Prize =$400.

Athletic Trainer Visit Details: The Athletic Trainer visit may not be recorded, photographed and/or videotaped by winner, school or any third party for any commercial purpose unless otherwise approved by Sponsors. Sponsors reserve the right to record, photograph and/or videotape all those attending the Athletic Trainer visit (such recordings, photographs and/or videotapes shall be owned by Sponsors), and use such recordings, photographs and/or videotapes in any and all media now known or hereafter created throughout the world in perpetuity without compensation to winner or any third party. School attendees of the Athletic Trainer visit (and, if minors, their parents or legal guardians) may be required to execute and return a liability and publicity release prior to the Athletic Trainer visit at the school. Exact details, date, time and duration of Athletic Trainer visit at each school is at Sponsors’ sole discretion. Prize awards are dependent upon applicable schools’ full approval and cooperation. Athletic Trainers’ attendance at school is subject to availability. In the event an Athletic Trainer is not available to attend school due to scheduling conflicts or any other reason, prize will be awarded minus the Athletic Trainer attendance and no compensation or substitution for such portion of the prize will be provided.

Limit one (1) prize per school. By accepting a prize, each winning school agrees that Sponsors and their designees may use (unless prohibited by law), such school’s name, location, images, logos, and/or trademarks, any for advertising, trade and/or any other purposes in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, without further compensation, permission or notification. All costs and expenses associated with the acceptance and use of a prize not specified herein as being awarded, including, but not limited to, all federal, state and local taxes if any, are the sole responsibility of each winning school.

Total ARV of all prizes: $760,000. All prize details are at Sponsors’ sole discretion.
And who are those sponsors. As of date an online eyeglasses frame store has expressed interest to participate not only with cash but with perhaps other goodies. That peaked a lot of interest among folks. Perhaps they will also offer discounts on various shaped frames such as designer round glasses, or square designer glasses to the winners, or designer sunglasses. The most excitement is around their very recent offer to donate Ray Ban glasses, considered the best looking frames by many. There's also been positive feedback from the folks at the National Athletic Trainers' Association and Gatorad's Athletic Trainer Initiative and both have offered to participate in some fashion. We'll post other sponsors as soon as possible.

7) Miscellaneous:
No transfer, assignment, cash redemption, or substitution of prize is permitted, except by Sponsors, who reserve the right to substitute a prize with one of comparable or greater value, as determined by Sponsors. Sponsors’ failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Entrants agree, by entering, that 1) Sponsors and their designees may use (unless prohibited by law), entrant’s name, city and state of residence, Entry, any recording (film, video, voice, etc.), and/or likeness for advertising, trade and/or any other purposes in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, without further compensation, permission or notification, and 2) the Released Parties shall have no liability and will be held harmless by entrant and winning schools for any claim, action, liability, loss, injury or damage to entrant, winning schools or any other person or entity, including, without limitation, personal injury or death to entrant or any other person or damage to personal or real property, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize and any related activity thereto or participation in this Contest. Sponsors reserve the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, and/or terminate this Contest (or any portion thereof) for any reason, including should virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes, including, but not limited to, war, strikes, and/or acts of God, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Contest and, in the case of termination, at its discretion, select winners for the prize levels at issue from those eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to event requiring such termination using the judging procedure outlined herein.

Ownership/Assignment of Rights: Entrants warrant and represent that (1) Sponsors shall own the Entry and (and all material and rights embodied therein) and that such Entry will not be acknowledged or returned; and (2) that by entering, the entrant irrevocably assigns to Sponsors and their designees any and all rights, title and interest in the Entry including but not limited to all intellectual property rights; and (3) that Sponsors and their designees shall have, without limitation, the perpetual right worldwide to edit, adapt, modify, publish, exploit and use the Entry in any way and in any and all media now known or hereinafter discovered or devised, world-wide for trade, advertising, promotional, public relations and/or other purposes as Sponsors and/or their designees may determine without further permission from, or notification or consideration to entrants or any third parties. Entrant further agrees that if Sponsors elect to use entrant’s Entry, entrant will execute any documents requested by Sponsors regarding this assignment. If any use by Sponsors of the Entry causes it to be liable to any third party, entrant agrees to indemnify the Released Parties from and against any and all damages, costs, judgments and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) which are incurred as a result of Sponsors’ use of the Entry. Entrants further agree to abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors and judges, which shall be final and binding. Entrant's submission of an Entry constitutes his/her representation of eligibility, consent to participate in Contest and consent for Sponsors to obtain, use, and transfer his/her name, address and other information for the purpose of Contest administration.

Released Parties are not responsible for lost, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, inaccurate, undeliverable, garbled, late, stolen, damaged, delayed or misdirected Entries; failures or malfunctions of phones, phone lines or telephone systems or other communications or malfunctions; interrupted or unavailable network, server, cable, satellite, Internet Service Provider (ISP) or other connections; miscommunications, failed computer hardware or software or other technical failures; garbled, lost, misrouted or scrambled transmissions; any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in any transmission or communication; traffic congestion on the Internet or for any technical problem, including but not limited to any injury or damage to entrants’ or any other person’s computer or other device related to or resulting from participation in the Contest; theft, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, Entries; or human-processing error; printing, typographical or other errors or omissions in these Official Rules or in any Contest-related advertisements or other materials; or other errors or problems of any kind whether mechanical, human, technical, network, electronic; or errors which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of Entries, the cancellation or postponement of any Athletic Trainer visit, or the awarding or announcement of the winners and/or prizes or in any other Contest-related materials. Sponsors reserve the right to void and remove any and all Entries of an entrant who Sponsors believe has attempted to tamper with, influence, or impair the administration, security, fairness, judging or proper play of Contest and such entrant will be disqualified and all associated Entries will be void. All Entries become property of Sponsors and will not be returned. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK ANY AND ALL REMEDIES AVAILABLE FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

No Employer Relationship. This Contest shall not in any manner establish an employer-employee relationship between an athletic trainer hired by a winning high school and Sponsors or the Released Parties. Each entrant covenants and agrees that if its high school is chosen to receive funding for an athletic trainer, the entrant shall be solely responsible for: entering into an appropriate employment agreement with the athletic trainer, paying all applicable federal, state and local payroll taxes, withholding all required amounts, and obtaining appropriate insurance and any necessary licenses, it being understood and agreed that no such taxes or fees shall be withheld or paid by Sponsors or the Released Parties.

8) Arbitration: Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Contest, entrant agrees that (1) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association and held at the AAA regional office nearest the entrant; (2) the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and (3) judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, other than entrant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in this Contest), and entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

9) Choice of Law: This Contest is governed by the laws of the United States. Void where prohibited by law and outside the United States. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant and Sponsors in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York, USA, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

10) Winners’ List: For the names of the winners, visit winners.teamdigital.com/AthleticTrainer no later than 2/1/16.

Sponsors: National Football League Foundation and National Football League, 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154.
Administrator: teamDigital Promotions, Inc., 6 Berkshire Blvd., Bethel, CT 06801 www.teamDigital.com.