This Week on ICYMI NIL

Welcome to ICYMI NIL - our weekly curated newsletter that provides our take on interesting stories in the world of NIL.

Let's jump into it!

Friday Focus: Networking Through Interpersonal Skills

One of the biggest challenges young professionals face today is mastering the art of networking.

It’s more than just collecting business cards—it's about developing the confidence to connect and recognizing opportunities when they appear.

In my experience, these skills are crucial, especially in the fast-moving NIL era.

Join me as I share insights from my early corporate days and how those lessons apply to business development in today's world.

Let’s elevate your networking game and seize opportunities together!

Happy Friday, everyone!

The Future of Women's Sports: A Financial Turning Point?

As we witness the rapid growth of women’s sports, an emerging and crucial question needs more attention: What should the financial model for revenue sharing with female athletes truly look like?

There seems to be a lot of misinformation circulating. Some argue that revenue is being under-reported, stifling potential growth.

Others believe revenue sharing can’t increase until women’s sports turn a significant profit.

So where’s the truth?

Women’s sports are gaining unprecedented viewership, sponsorship deals, and fan engagement—so why does the financial conversation seem murky?

• Is it time to redefine what success looks like in the industry and rethink the financial model?
• Should revenue sharing be based solely on profit margins, or should it reflect the potential and impact women’s sports have on the broader sports landscape

I think this is a huge story for the future of women’s sports and one that demands more transparency and innovation.

What do you think?

How should the financials behind the rise of women’s sports be structured to ensure fair and equitable revenue sharing with female athletes?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thank You, LinkedIn Community

From TPNIL founder Mark R. Koesterer :

"This past week, I reached a significant milestone: 10,000 connections on this incredible platform, with nearly 12,000 followers.

I’m beyond grateful for the support, engagement, and interest you’ve shown me and my colleagues.

LinkedIn is truly one of the most powerful business tools we have today. That’s why I encourage every athlete and student I speak with to start building their professional presence here today. With just one post per week, you’re shaping your digital resume—one that can be seen by thousands of professionals in your industry of choice

By tapping into the power of your network, the world of opportunities becomes limitless.Though we’re a small brand in a new industry, The Players NIL is gaining momentum.

This week alone, we achieved over 16,000 views of our content right here on LinkedIn!

We're making a difference, and YOU are a big reason why.

If you know a young athlete who has more questions than answers, send them my way.

I’d love to hear their story and share my vision of what’s possible through real NIL education because knowledge is power.

Together, we’re building a brighter future."

The Rocky Steps Challenge

Empowering athletes in the NIL era to be their best selves.

For many athletes, when the final whistle blows on our competitive careers, we search for something that fills that void—the sense of purpose, camaraderie, and drive that sports give us. If we're lucky, we find it in our family, friends, or even a fulfilling work environment.

But for those fortunate enough to continue working in sports—surrounded by athletes, coaches, and like-minded professionals—it’s an incredible experience.

Earlier this week, I witnessed something truly special: a high school boys lacrosse team training together in the dark, climbing the iconic Rocky Steps.

Watching them push each other to the top, overcoming the cold and the fatigue, was a powerful reminder that teamwork, determination, and shared passion go far beyond the field.

Moments like these that keep the spirit of sport alive long after the game ends. ??

The Manipulative Origin of "Student-Athlete" & Its Lasting Harm to College Athletes

Did you know that “student-athlete” was deliberately crafted in the 1950s to protect universities from financial and legal accountability?

It wasn’t some benign classification—it was a legal shield.

Walter Byers, the NCAA's first executive director, coined the term as a direct response to a 1953 Colorado Supreme Court ruling in University of Denver v. Nemeth. The court ruled that an injured football player was an employee of the university and, therefore, entitled to workers' compensation.

This decision sent shockwaves through the collegiate sports world, threatening the entire business model of college athletics.

To counter this threat, the NCAA manufactured the term “student-athlete”—a carefully calculated move designed to ensure athletes would not be classified as employees.

The rationale?

By labeling them "amateurs," the NCAA could deny athletes basic rights, such as workers' compensation and employee protections.

But here’s the kicker: the NCAA has used this term successfully for decades, reinforcing in courtrooms that athletes are “students first” and should not be entitled to benefits or protections that any employee would typically receive.

The consequences?

Modern athletes are still paying the price today.

College athletes continue to face limited rights regarding their health, fair compensation, and decision-making power over their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Even as the NIL era slowly evolves, the term “student-athlete” remains a tool to exploit athletes' talents while shielding universities from responsibility.

Isn’t it time to finally dismantle this outdated and unfair system?

Shouldn’t college athletes be treated as the valuable contributors they are and not just pawns in a billion-dollar sports industry?

It's time to rethink the system and advocate for the rights and futures of college athletes.

Building a better you through?the NIL Era, knowledge is power.

The Playbook Series Podcast

On this episode of Just Thinking, TPNIL founder Mark Koesterer shares the timeless lessons he learned while going door-to-door selling widgets across the country.

Despite the rapid advancements in technology and the evolving ways we communicate, Mark explains how the principles he learned then still hold true today.

Join us as we travel back with “Smokestack Charle” to explore those enduring lessons and discover how they relate to NIL opportunities for young athletes.

We Want to Hear From You!

Would you like to be featured on the podcast? Send an email to [email protected] .

Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok - or connect with Mark Koesterer on LinkedIn.

Have a great weekend!