ProTect Athletics
ProTect Athletics is a Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing education, certification, and consulting on athletic safety. Its core product is the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) micro-credential, complemented by consulting, courses, and content for athletic departments, equipment managers, and professional sports organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ProTect Athletics does
ProTect Athletics (legal entity: Athletic Safety Organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) is a Virginia-based organization whose stated mission is to deliver research-based collaboration and training that promotes athlete safety at all levels, from youth through senior athletics. Founded by Jerry D. Fife, M.Ed., who serves as Co-Founder & COO, the company does not sell equipment or software; instead, it professionalizes the role of safety oversight in sports programs through certification, advisory services, and educational content aimed at equipment managers, athletic departments, and safety personnel.
The core product is the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) micro-credential, a proprietary curriculum organized around five domains: Equipment Integrity & Technology Management, Environmental Safety & Facility Risk Mitigation, Administrative Governance & Legal Compliance, Clinical Integration & Emergency Preparedness, and Educational Leadership & Safety Culture. The curriculum is built on a proprietary CAD (Correct, Accurate, Defensible) framework and is supported by an Athletic Safety Culture Audit Framework. The credential was co-developed with the Professional Football Equipment Managers Society (PFEMS) and is delivered through ProTrain College, while ProTect complements it with consulting services under a "Hire Safety Experts" offering, online courses and webinars, an educational blog, and a Safety Forum community platform. There is no evidence of proprietary software, AI/ML systems, or technology IP beyond the curriculum and audit frameworks themselves; delivery is human-led and content-driven.
Revenue mechanics operate across three streams: fees from credential courses delivered via the ProTrain College channel (pricing not publicly disclosed), fee-for-service consulting engagements with athletic departments, and donations accepted through the nonprofit structure (contact routed via [email protected]). The inaugural DAS-01 cohort, launched around June 2024, included equipment operations staff from five NFL teams—the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, and Washington Commanders—serving as the organization's first cohort of referenceable enterprise customers. Headcount is undisclosed; only one executive (the COO/Co-Founder) is named in the available data.
ProTect Athletics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ProTect Athletics
- Legal name
- Athletic Safety Organization
- Website
- https://protectathletics.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- ProTect Athletics is a Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing education, certification, and consulting on athletic safety. Its core product is the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) micro-credential, complemented by consulting, courses, and content for athletic departments, equipment managers, and professional sports organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ProTect Athletics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Athletic Safety Education and Certification
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Athletics Compliance, Eligibility & Governance (EDALAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Compliance, Governance & Integrity Services (Safeguarding, Anti-Doping, Match Integrity) (MPAKAKAM), Sports Medicine, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Services (EDALAIAH)
Keywords
ProTect Athletics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Education and Certification Programs: Revenue from Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) credential courses offered through ProTrain College partnership, targeting athletic equipment managers and safety professionals.
- Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements with athletic departments to improve safety processes and implement safety methodologies.
- Donations and Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ProTect Athletics accepts donations to support their mission of promoting athlete safety at all levels.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ProTect Athletics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ProTect Athletics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides athletic safety education, research-based collaboration, and training. Its primary offering is the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) micro-credential certification program covering five domains: equipment integrity, environmental safety, administrative governance, clinical integration, and safety culture. Complementary offerings include fee-for-service safety consulting, courses/webinars, and an online community forum for safety professionals.
Product overview
ProTect Athletics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational, research-based collaboration, and training to promote athlete safety at all levels. The core offering is the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) Credential—a professional micro-credential developed in partnership with the Professional Football Equipment Managers Society (PFEMS) and ProTrain College. This is complemented by consulting services, educational courses and webinars, an informational blog, and a community safety forum. The organization does not offer a software platform but rather focuses on professional certification, training, and thought leadership in athletic safety.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) Credential A professional micro-credential certification program that trains individuals to serve as the 'Safety Quarterback' for athletic organizations. The curriculum covers 5 domains: Equipment Integrity & Technology Management, Environmental Safety & Facility Risk Mitigation, Administrative Governance & Legal Compliance, Clinical Integration & Emergency Preparedness, and Educational Leadership & Safety Culture.
- Athletic Safety Consulting Services Fee-for-service consulting engagements with athletic departments to improve safety processes and implement safety methodologies. Safety experts are deployed to assist organizations in evaluating and upgrading their athletic safety programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% reduction in concussions cited by NFL CMO for Guardian Caps (though ProTect questions methodology)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ProTect Athletics
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ProTect Athletics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ProTect Athletics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Professional Football Equipment Managers Society (PFEMS)coreProTect Athletics partnered with PFEMS to create the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) micro-credential. PFEMS provides industry expertise and access to professional equipment managers for curriculum development and pilot programs.
- ProTrain CollegecoreProTrain College serves as the educational delivery partner for the Director of Athletic Safety credential program, hosting courses at protrain.edu/courses/director-of-athletic-safety/. Provides infrastructure for certification delivery.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ProTect Athletics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Concussion Legacy Foundation: Nonprofit focused on concussion and CTE research, education, and advocacy. Comparable as a mission-driven athletic safety organization producing educational content and credentialing-style training for clinicians, coaches, and families.
- USA Football: National governing body for amateur football that runs the 'Heads Up Football' coaching certification and safety education programs. Directly comparable as a football-specific safety education and credentialing organization targeting coaches and program administrators.
- Korey Stringer Institute: University of Connecticut-affiliated institute focused on preventing sudden death in athletes through research, education, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a mission-driven athletic-safety body producing curriculum and credentialing content for sports safety professionals.
Others
- Riddell (Football Equipment Manufacturer): Major football helmet and equipment manufacturer whose products are central to the equipment-integrity domain of ProTect's curriculum. Comparable as an adjacent commercial actor whose marketing and product claims ProTect critically analyzes, and which could conceivably become a sponsor or competitor.
- Athletic Business: Media and education platform serving athletic administrators and program operators. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that influences purchasing and policy decisions around athletic safety products and certifications in the same buyer segment.
Regional players
- Brain Injury Association of America: National nonprofit providing education, advocacy, and resources around brain injury including sports-related concussion. Comparable as an education-and-advocacy nonprofit serving overlapping populations (parents, coaches, administrators) concerned with athlete brain safety.
Broad incumbents
- NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations): Governs high school athletics nationwide and publishes free coaching and sports safety courses. Comparable as the dominant institutional source of athletic safety education at the secondary-school level where ProTect's secondary customer segment sits.
- NATA (National Athletic Trainers' Association): The largest U.S. professional association for athletic trainers, providing certification, continuing education, and advocacy. Comparable as an established credentialing authority in athletic safety, though broader in scope than ProTect's equipment-and-safety focus.
- NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment): Sets safety standards for athletic equipment (helmets, pads) and is frequently cited in ProTect's curriculum. Comparable as a governing authority in athletic safety, with overlapping concerns around equipment integrity and certification, though NOCSAE is a standards body rather than a credential issuer.
Emerging players
- Professional Football Equipment Managers Society (PFEMS): ProTect Athletics' core strategic partner and the principal professional society for NFL equipment managers. Adjacent as a peer in the equipment-manager ecosystem, with potential overlap if PFEMS ever internalizes credentialing rather than partnering.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ProTect Athletics social profiles
Digital presenceProTect Athletics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ProTect Athletics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ProTect Athletics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ProTect Athletics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ProTect Athletics
What does ProTect Athletics do?
ProTect Athletics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides athletic safety education, research-based collaboration, and training. Its primary offering is the Director of Athletic Safety (DAS) micro-credential certification program covering five domains: equipment integrity, environmental safety, administrative governance, clinical integration, and safety culture. Complementary offerings include fee-for-service safety consulting, courses/webinars, and an online community forum for safety professionals.
Is ProTect Athletics a public or private company?
ProTect Athletics is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ProTect Athletics founded?
ProTect Athletics was founded in -1.
How does ProTect Athletics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Education and Certification Programs are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services and donations and Support.
Who are ProTect Athletics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Concussion Legacy Foundation, USA Football and Korey Stringer Institute. Others are Riddell (Football Equipment Manufacturer) and Athletic Business. Brain Injury Association of America is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations), NATA (National Athletic Trainers' Association) and NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment). Professional Football Equipment Managers Society (PFEMS) is listed as an emerging player.
Does ProTect Athletics have an API?
No public API is recorded for ProTect Athletics.
What industry is ProTect Athletics in?
ProTect Athletics's product category is Athletic Safety Education and Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAIAJ, Athletics Compliance, Eligibility & Governance, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAM, Sports Compliance, Governance & Integrity Services (Safeguarding, Anti-Doping, Match Integrity). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7900.