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NEWS
4 Sporting Goods Industry
Hall of Fame Honors Cliff Keen and
Randy Ruch
6 Industry Leaders
Gather to Discuss Rules at
NFHS/SGMA/NCAA Meeting
FEATURES
10 S
tate of the Cheer Market Safety Symposium, Injury
Prevention, and STUNT
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all 2012 Cheer Guide UnIforms & Apparel
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NEWS
CLIFF KEEN &
RANDY RUCH
By Thomas J. Ryan
The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame honors the pioneers, innovators
and leaders who built the sporting goods industry and is designed to
recognize and encourage excellence within the industry. Among the criteria
for manufacturers to be elected to the Hall of Fame are the development
and successful production of products that either significantly improve sports
performance or contribute significant safety factors for sporting goods
products. Retailers and dealers must demonstrate innovation and leadership
as well as participation in industry-wide activities. Monetary success is not a
determining factor.
The following pages pay tribute to the latest inductees Coach Cliff Keen and
Randy Ruch.
T
he late Cliff Keen’s
accomplishments
in wrestling are numerous. As the head
wrestling coach at the
University of Michigan
for 45 years from 19251970, Keen’s teams
went an amazing 26891-9, won 13 Big Ten
team Championships,
and had 68 All-Americans. Individual wrestlers he coached won 11
National Championships
and 81 individual Big Ten
Championships. He also
coached the 1948 U.S.
Olympic wrestling team,
served on the U.S. Olympic Committee, and wrote a book on the fundamentals of amateur wrestling, Championship Wrestling.
But beyond his success on the wrestler’s mat, his true legacy was
in molding boys into men. Some of them became legends themselves.
Also spending 33 years as an assistant football coach, Keen coached
Gerald Ford, who played center for the Wolverines from 1932 to 1934.
Ford said he considered Keen “his coach” and maintained a friendship
with Keen throughout his life. In 1942, a 41-year-old Keen volunteered
for service during World War II and became a full commander in the
navy. Under his command were Bear Bryant, the legendary coach of
Alabama; George Halas, regarded as the founder of the Chicago Bears,
and Bobby Dobb, the legendary Georgia Tech football coach.
“I’m in junior high,” recalled his son Jim Keen in an interview with TEAM
Business. “And I can remember calls from all these guys. ‘How should
I do this?’ ‘How should I do that?’ They really looked up to Dad as a
confidant and someone who could give them good advice.”
While obtaining a law degree from Michigan in 1933 and initially envisioning his career as a lawyer, Coach Keen couldn’t get away from
the mat.
“He did what he loved,” said Rick Bay, a famed athletic director as well
as president of the Cleveland Indians who, at one point, wrestled for Coach
Keen at Michigan in the early sixties. “He had a law degree. He was just
4
2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
going to coach while he went through law school and until he could hang
a shingle. But he loved coaching. He loved the challenge of it and the opportunity to influence young men who were starting to develop not only
physically but psychologically as well.”
He became a P.T. Barnum-like promoter of wrestling on both the
local and national scale. On the eve of the 1937 Big Ten Tournament,
a local Michigan paper quoted him exclaiming, “We have the greatest
show on earth! It’ll be the most stupendous sports affair that ever hit
this fair countryside! It’s the world’s greatest contact contest amongst
the toughest he-men in the Big Ten!”
The inaugural president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, he long presided over the national rules committee and for many
years pioneered the development of safe and effective wrestling equipment. One of his biggest accomplishments was inventing the first wrestling ear guard to protect wrestlers from “cauliflower ears”, a deformation caused from repeated blows to the ear. His invention has become
mandatory for wrestlers to wear in practice and matches today.
In 1958 Keen and his son, Jim, started Cliff Keen Athletic and turned
the company into the largest provider of protective equipment, uniforms and workout gear for wrestlers in the U.S. Today, Jim, Jr. and
Tom Keen, the sons of Jim Keen, now handle day-to-day operations of
the company. Tom Keen added on his grandfather, “He was a builder
of men. He influenced so many people throughout his life that have
had lasting impacts on not only the sport of wrestling, but society as
a whole.”
R
andy Ruch is the founder, and retired CEO of Schuylkill Valley
Sports, a 19-store retail chain based in Pottstown, PA. After earning a
bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Villanova University,
Ruch founded Schuylkill Valley Sports in 1971, building the company
from one-store to a well established 19-store regional chain with a
thriving team business servicing Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Ruch was working as a systems programmer for Philco, a division
of Ford Motor Co. and best known for its car radios, when he decided
he had to launch his own business to avoid the Philadelphia morning
commute.
“I was looking at a real estate or sporting goods business and I
thought sporting goods might be good,” said Ruch. “For one thing,
we didn’t have a sporting goods store in town. I did some homework,
put some friends and family investors together, and
started the business.”
Asked what drove the
success of Schuylkill Valley Sports, Ruch said, “I
think we were very conservative in nature. We didn’t
spend money for ego purposes, only for practical
reasons. We were very
conservative buying inventory and we were always
very low on inventory. On
Randy Ruch founder, and retired CEO of
the team side, you could
Schuylkill Valley Sports
go after the business and I
hustled. I was a referee so I used those contacts to my advantage. But
it was just making a lot of phone calls to the local leagues and we had
a baseball show every January that seemed to spark the team side.
Retail really took off when we got the Adidas line. Adidas was on fire in
the early seventies and at the time everybody was selling at the same
price. So people knew we had it.”
Known as a hard worker with tremendous business acumen Ruch’s
efforts, not only within his own company but throughout the industry,
are well documented. He served on NSGA’s Board of Directors for
six years, on the Athletic Dealers of America Board for 10 years (one
term as Chairman), on the Editorial Advisory Board for Sporting Goods
Business Magazine for more than 10 years, and was the chairman of
the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee for six years.
“Randy committed much time to the sporting goods industry sitting
on many committees, speaking on panels, and Chairing the Hall of
Fame committee,” said Jerry Williams, the current president of
Schuylkill Valley Sports. “Randy hired quality people and let them go.
He had a long leash, but when you did something wrong he let you
know. I miss most the camaraderie and his years of experience that
he conveyed in every area of mentoring. Randy had a keen sense of
business and was the best negotiator I ever met.”
He was also dedicated to his community, serving on various boards
and committees. For over 20 years, Ruch served on the Board of the
Phoenixville Area YMCA, and as its chairman in 2005-06. Awards included Volunteer of the Year in 1993 and the Humanitarian Award in
2005. His other local service included serving as a board member
of Phoenixville Federal Bank and Trust, as a girl’s softball coach in
the Babe Ruth baseball league, and as treasurer of his alma mater’s
Philadelphia Alumni Club. Jay Schaeffer, president and CEO of the Freedom Valley YMCA, said, “During my 40 years as a professional YMCA
director, Randy Ruch has been, and continues to be, one of the best
volunteers with whom I have had the pleasure and opportunity to be
associated.”
Asked what he misses since retiring, Ruch said it’s the personal relationships but that he still stays in contact with many friends formed
over the years. Said Ruch, “It turned out to be rewarding financially as
time went by – certainly not in the early days. I think the most significant
thing is the people I got to know and became friends with, including the
customers. Some team customers liked to play hard ball around price
but once we satisfied delivery over the years, they softened up and we
got to be pretty good friends. That happened on numerous occasions.”
Where
Strategic
Decisions
Begin
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NEWS
Industry Leaders Gather
to Discuss Rules at
NFHS/SGMA/NCAA Meeting
By Fernando J. Delgado
6
2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
Bob Gardner, NFHS Executive Director
Dr. Tom Dompier, president for Datalys
Center for Sports Injury Research &
Prevention
T
he recent NFHS/SGMA/NCAA Meeting, held April 25 in
Indianapolis, IN, to discuss rules changes for high school and
college sports was considered a major success by organizers
and attendees alike. More than 70 sporting goods industry executives
from 40 sporting goods companies and organizations met with the
leadership of SGMA, NCAA, and the National Federation of State High
School Associations (NFHS). Attendees took in presentations detailing
with upcoming rules changes and ongoing injury studies before
participating in sport-specific discussion sessions moderated by NFHS
and NCAA officials.
“We were very pleased with the meeting,” said SGMA President
Tom Cove in an interview with Team Business following the event.
“It included virtually every major team sports company in the United
States and gave everyone a chance to identify issues and resolve
them through a non-controversial, non-conflict-oriented process. We
were very happy with the breadth of subjects which were addressed everything from football helmets to lacrosse balls to uniform issues, as
well as injury statistics.”
NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner and SGMA’s Cove, both of
whom noted the gradually growing attendance at the meeting from
year-to-year, opened the day with a welcome, introductions, and
updates for their respective organizations. Other featured speakers
included Ty Halpin, associate director of playing rules and officiating
for the NCAA, who offered an NCAA update, and Mike Oliver, executive
director of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic
Equipment (NOCSAE), who provided a NOCSAE update. Dr. Tom Dompier,
president for Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research & Prevention,
and Dr. Dawn Comstock, associate professor of Pediatrics at Ohio
State University, gave presentations on injury surveillance systems for
the NCAA and NFHS, respectively.
Rules changes were discussed for a myriad of sports, including
baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse,
soccer, softball, and many others. Attendees were provided with a list
of all NFHS equipment, facilities, uniform and rules changes which took
effect this school year (2011/12) and which will go into effect in the
2012/13 and 2013/14 school years. The NCAA and the NFHS also
presented a list of all the Playing Rules Committees (NCAA) and Sport
Rules Committees, staff contacts, and meeting dates.
“This meeting grows in importance every year,” explained NFHS’
Gardner. “This annual meeting allows all parties to interact face-to-face
and to build trust with one another. The dialog is beneficial to all parties
involved. We are pleased with our strong relationship with SGMA and
the growing response we are getting from its membership each year
at this meeting.”
During his NFHS update, Gardner said that a “steady increase in
participation” had occurred in high school sports over the past several
years, but also noted that the NFHS is aware that a number of schools
have been making cuts as a result of the struggling economy. Due to
the economic slowdowns, contributions from booster clubs and corporate
organizations meant to support high school sports programs are now
more important than ever. Gardner also stated that NFHS focuses on three
main issues when considering any type of rule change for any sport:
1. Is it in the best interests of the sport?
2. Does it give an unfair advantage to either the offense or defense?
3. Does it impact the sound traditions of the game?
Immediately following Gardner, SGMA’s Cove provided the audience
with a preview of SGMA’s upcoming State Of The Industry Report.
Highlighting the update was the promising statistic that the sporting
goods industry grew by 3.1 percent in 2011. He also made mention of
the high cotton prices affecting the apparel market for retailers, team
dealers, and consumers, complicating an already difficult economic
climate. In regards to sports participation, Cove noted that the
SPORTSONESOURCE.COM
7
“We were very pleased with the
meeting... “It included virtually
every major team sports company
in the United States and gave
everyone a chance to identify
issues and resolve them...”
Tom Cove, SGMA President
sports/activities with the highest percentage
growth in participation in 2011 were stationary
cycling (group classes), gymnastics, stand-up
paddling, elliptical motion trainers, and high
impact aerobics.
Cove offered several observations as part of
his update, including:
• Team sports participation has matured,
as participation rates have plateaued
and stabilized;
• The peak age group for sports
participation is children in middle
school;
• Young people start to move out of team
sports once they reach high school;
• Basketball is the most popular team
sport for children; and
• Avid sports and fitness enthusiasts are
the foremost groups driving business in
the sports industry.
He emphasized that the industry must
address the problematic trend of children
participating less during their high school years.
“We should be able to do better to keep them
in longer,” said Cove during his presentation.
“And that’s a goal for SGMA, a goal for our
industry, and it’s something that’s good for this
country.” Cove pointed out the obesity problem
in the United States, evidenced in part through
some of the results of SGMA’s comprehensive
participation survey, for which more than
40,000 respondents aged 6 and older across
the country replied with their activity levels in
119 sports and fitness activities. A staggering
24 percent of all surveyed replied that they had
not participated in any of the 119 activities. He
also shared that obesity rates are at an all-time
high in the U.S., with obesity directly leading to
8 of the 9 most expensive health care issues
in the country. Cove expressed the urgency of
encouraging the country’s youth to participate
8
2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
more in sports and fitness activities in an effort
to fight obesity.
NOCSAE’s Oliver addressed the concussion
issue and the topic of fielders’ helmets for
baseball players. Oliver defended the current
standard for all helmets, stating that it is a
“very effective standard for protecting the head
from skull fractures.” He added that the new
standard for baseball fielders’ helmets will take
effect in January 2013, although no governing
bodies in baseball or softball are currently
requiring its athletes to wear the helmets.
Dr. dawn comstock’s studies
aim to collect data to monitor
high school injury trends and
patterns of injuries to... “provide
data to help drive evidence-based
discussions”
Dr. Dawn Comstock, associate professor of
Pediatrics at Ohio State University
Ty Halpin, associate director of playing
rules and officiating for the NCAA
As part of the NCAA update, the NCAA’s
Halpin stated that safety remains the number
one priority for any action taken by any of the
NCAA’s playing rules committees. When rules
changes are considered at the collegiate level,
the NCAA prioritizes student-athlete safety,
preserving the traditions of a sport, and the
enforcement of potential new rules.
The Injury Surveillance System updates
for both the NCAA and NFHS included a
presentation from Dr. Comstock regarding
the NFHS system, which utilizes an internetbased data collection tool known as RIO
(Reporting Information Online). “The whole
goal was to create a correlation to the NCAA
Injury Surveillance System,” said Comstock,
who has been analyzing high school injuries
since 2005. Her studies aim to collect data to
monitor high school injury trends and patterns
of injuries over time in an effort to “provide
data to help drive evidence-based discussions”
for the various rules committees of the NFHS.
According to Comstock, from 2005-2011,
there were 2.31 injuries to high school athletes
per 1,000 athlete exposures. She stated that in
most sports, more injuries occur in competition
than in practice despite the fact that there are
more athlete exposures in practices than in games.
According to the studies, high school football
has the most injuries, while the most common
injuries are ankle sprains/strains and concussions.
Comstock also said that 45 percent of all injuries in
high school sports result in the athlete missing less
than a week’s worth of games and practices.
Following the presentations, attendees were able
to join sport-specific discussions broken up into
four 45-minute sessions throughout the remainder
of the day. Four or five unique discussion groups
took place during each session. During two of
the sessions, The SportsOneSource Group’s CEO
& Chief Market Analyst James Hartford offered
a presentation detailing the results of the Team
Business Athletic Directors Survey.
The annual growth in attendance is encouraging
to the leadership of the organizations responsible
for hosting the meeting. In 2006, the first year
the meeting was held, about 40 to 45 individuals
attended. Last year, more than 60 sporting goods
industry executives from 33 sporting goods
companies and organizations were present, meaning
this year’s attendance included roughly 10 more
executives and more than a half dozen additional
companies. Including media and other guests, total
attendance approached 85 people for this year.
Such an increase is a reflection of the importance
of the event for manufacturers and other groups
affected by rules changes. “As the years have gone
by, the annual NFHS/SGMA/NCAA Rules Meeting
has evolved into an industry gathering where the key
decision makers with the NCAA and the NFHS get a
chance to establish strong lines of communication
with sporting goods manufacturers,” observed Mike
May, director of communications for SGMA. “And
now, NSGA has been invited to this function so more
retailers can start attending this event in the future.
It’s important for SGMA member companies to have
strong contacts with the leadership of the National
Federation of State High School Associations and
the NCAA because sport governing bodies, sporting
goods manufacturers and retailers need to be
working together for the best interests of all sports
and those that play them.”
SGMA hopes to build upon the momentum of this
year’s meeting and continue increasing its scope
in the future. “We started several years ago simply
to open up communication between manufacturers
and high school rule-makers,” shared SGMA’s Cove.
“It’s evolved now to include manufacturers, brands,
marketers, retailers, buying groups, and on the other
side, not only the high schools, but also the NCAA.”
Cove added that the meeting has brought in other
governing bodies such as U.S. Lacrosse, which was
present for the first time this year. “Attendance has
increased each year most importantly because we’ve
gotten better at focusing on issues that matter to
people, and also because we’re bringing in larger
groups of stakeholders,” he said. ■
NFHS EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES,
UNIFORM AND RULES CHANGES
Changes are in summary form, courtesy of NFHS. Complete rules are available in the current
NFHS Rules Book
Changes Effective 2011-12
Baseball (Rule 1-3-2) - The Bat, which may be a wood or non-wood product, shall be a
smooth implement from the top of the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall
meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such
bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark.
Boys Lacrosse - All Hollow Cross Handles must have their open end covered with a
plastic or rubber end cap manufactured for a lacrosse stick.
Girls Lacrosse - The Goalkeeper’s Stick may be 35.5” to 52” in length (previously 35.5”
to 48”). The Goalkeeper’s Helmet must include a chin strap which must be fastened.
Girls Gymnastics (Rule 6-1-3) - Effective July 1, 2012, the landing area for Vaulting
shall be a minimum of 18’ x 8’. (Rule 8-1) - Effective July 1, 2012, the landing area at
each end of the Balance Beam shall be a minimum of 12’ long x 8’ wide. The working area
under the Balance Beam is 15’ wide x 15 ½ ‘ long.
Changes Effective 2012-13
Football - Effective 2012 new rules will take effect on Football Jerseys; and Football
Gloves and Hand Pads must meet the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture.
Girls Lacrosse (Rule 2-13) - Effective 2013, all Shirts must be of a single, solid color.
Ice Hockey (Rule 3-3-2 and 3-3-3) - Leg Pads will be a maximum 11” wide and a
maximum 38” long. Blocker Glove Padding will be a maximum 8” wide and a maximum
15” long. Catching Gloves will be a maximum 45” perimeter and a maximum 18” in length
across. Wrist Cuffs will be a maximum 4” by a maximum 8”.
Soccer (Rule 4-1-1) - Shinguards must meet NOCSAE specifications. The NOCSAE seal
and height range of the player shall appear on the Shinguard. Effective with the 2012 Fall
season, the NOCSAE seal and height range shall be permanently marked on the front of
the Shinguard. (Rule 4-1-1i1) - Effective with the 2012 Fall season, all Jerseys shall be
numbered on the back with a different Arabic number at least 6” in height and on the front
(Jersey or Shorts) with the same number which shall be at least 4” in height. Numbers
shall be of contrasting color on the Jersey or Shorts and clearly visible.
Track and Field (Rules 7-4-6 and 7-5-11) - Effective January 1, 2013, the High Jump/
Pole Vault Crossbar shall be circular. Square with beveled edges or triangular crossbars
shall no longer be legal for competition.
Changes Effective 2013-14
Soccer (Rule 4-1-1b) - Beginning with the 2013 Fall season, the Home Team shall wear
solid jerseys and solid white socks.
No changes
Boys Gymnastics, Spirit and Wrestling - At this time there are no changes in the area
of Equipment, Facilities, or Uniforms.
SPORTSONESOURCE.COM
9
Cheering
Them On
10
TEAM Business takes a look at recent
trends in cheerleading and the cheer
market By Fernando J. Delgado
Backflips, tumbles, pyramids, jumps, daggers, cartwheels,
scorpions, and scissor kicks are all moves and skills that can be
seen in a high school game or cheerleading competition. Such a list
may sound dangerous or difficult to anyone unfamiliar with cheerleading.
That’s because the sport does indeed pose danger and difficulty to those
involved. Cheerleading is much more of an intense sport than the casual
observer may know, and recent rules changes focused on preserving the
safety of cheerleaders executing risky moves have resonated within the
cheerleading community.
Cheerleading is a steadily growing sport. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association’s (SGMA) 2011 U.S. Trends in
Team Sports study, cheerleading saw approximately 3.2 million individuals aged 6 and above participate in the sport during 2010, a 6.5 percent
increase from the prior year. The figure represented a nearly 23 percent
increase over a 10-year period. SGMA’s 2011 Single Sport Report on
Cheerleading revealed that 81 percent of all cheerleading participants
are female, while 74 percent were less than 18 years old. The report
found that the regions with the highest percentage of participation were
in the South Atlantic (Florida and all coastal states up to Maryland), Middle Atlantic (PA, NY, NJ), and East South Central (KY, TN, MS, AL) regions.
Cheerleading is often distinguished by two distinct levels:
school cheerleading and all-star cheerleading. School cheerleading occurs at high schools, grade schools, and youth recreational leagues
across the country, and is a year-round activity with cheerleaders participating at athletic events, practices, pep rallies, camps and competitions. All-star cheerleading, meanwhile, is a competitive team style of
cheerleading focused more on skills, stunts, and fashion and incorporating gymnastics, dance, and stunting. Sport cheering is governed
by the USA Federation for Sport Cheering (USA Cheer), while all-star
cheerleading is overseen by the United States All Star Federation
(USASF). “High school cheerleading and all-star cheerleading are really
like apples and oranges,” said Sheila Noone, VP of public relations for
the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA). “All-star is more technically closer to a sport. The purpose is competition against other
teams. Whereas with high school cheerleaders, while they have an opportunity to compete, their main purpose is to support the school and
build school spirit. They’re more than just athletes.”
It is essential for team dealers and retailers to recognize the
differences between the two groups, as the product needs of cheerleaders
depend heavily on the nature of their participation. Uniforms for school
cheerleading, for example, are often much more restricted by state
and local regulations compared to those of all-star cheerleaders, which
are more performance-oriented and visually appealing. “Cheerleading
has become a big-time competitive activity in high school,” observed
Mike May, SGMA’s director of communications. “Demand for top-quality
products has increased in recent years. It has become another sport
which team dealers cater to - just like football, basketball, baseball,
soccer, and lacrosse. Collegiate cheerleading is very competitive, too.”
Safety Rules in Cheer
The National Federation of State High School Associations
(NFHS) announced a major rule change, among 18 others, in late March
which caused a stir among the cheerleading community. Effective for the
2012-13 season, a double twist to a cradle (double down) no longer will
be permitted in high school spirit activities, which includes cheerleading,
dance, drill, and pom. The rules were approved by the NFHS Spirit Rules
Committee at its March 3-5 meeting in Indianapolis. While the banning
of the regularly-used move caught many cheerleaders by surprise, the
rule change was made with the safety of participants in mind. “NFHS
has been involved in writing rules for cheerleading since 1988, and the
reason we got involved with it in the first place was to minimize risk,”
explained Kent Summers, director of performing arts and sports for
NFHS. “Our cheerleading rulebook is really the only rulebook – and we
publish rules for 17 different sports - that we have in place solely to
minimize risk for the kids.”
Many of the rules changes approved by the Spirit Rules Committee
bring NFHS rules in closer alignment with the American Association of
Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (AACCA) rules. In a show of
cooperation, AACCA will be revising some of its rules in other areas to
align more closely with NFHS rules.
The USASF also announced major rules changes for the upcoming
2012-13 season of all-star cheerleading. The announcement came as a
surprise to many involved at the all-star level. Three new rules for tumbling were introduced, including a rule that standing fulls and standing
double fulls are no longer allowed. Several other rules pertaining to age
grid and image etiquette were also approved. “The primary mission of
USASF are to promote the safety of the all-star cheer athletes and to help
grow the sport,” said USASF President Jim Chadwick in an e-mail statement announcing the rules changes on March 28. “[The USASF Board of
Directors] felt the safety of their athletes and the long term health of the
sport was at risk so they acted very quickly and without following their
normal procedures.”
Jim Lord, executive director of AACCA, helped shed some light on
the recent flurry of rules changes. “There were two big rules changes,
and both of them came out on the same day [March 28], and that was
not by design at all,” stated Lord. “We were releasing our high school
rules, and a few hours later the USASF released their new changes for
the all-star group. Some of the confusion was that certain individuals
didn’t understand that a rule applied to one particular group, while another rule applied to another group.” With governing bodies for different
levels of cheerleading announcing major changes on the same day, it
is understandable that many cheerleaders became confused with the
application of the rules – depending on whether they were a school or
all-star cheerleader. Others voiced displeasure with the new rules and the
way they were decided upon. “For 10 days, I think we heard from every
cheerleader in America,” joked UCA’s Noone regarding the cheerleading
world’s reception to the new rules.
SPORTSONESOURCE.COM
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2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
For the high school level, the AACCA introduced two new restrictions: one removing the
double-twisting dismount, which had been causing head injuries and collisions, and another
eliminating released stunt transitions. “Speaking for AACCA, when we make a rule change,
it’s from a safety standpoint,” explained Lord. “It’s something that we’ve been looking at for
years. We’ve tried to address safety problems through education and warnings to coaches
and people running competitions in a way that will promote safety and the safe execution of
skills. If that doesn’t work, and we continue to see safety issues, then we end up having to
pull a particular kind of skill out.”
Lord said that while a majority of injuries occur to ankles and wrists, serious injuries such
as concussions and bone breaks resulting from collisions and falls are a major concern. The
AACCA had looked at data from NFHS’ Injury and Surveillance System over the past few
years, and while cheerleading had proven to be one of the safest team sports overall, a more
concerning trend came to light. “At practices, cheerleading was third in head-injury rate only
behind football and wrestling,” stated Lord. “So we looked at that and realized that, of those
head injuries, a majority of them were body-to-body contact.” It is with such injury concerns
in mind that the AACCA and other governing bodies have made the recent rule changes to
improve the safety of cheerleading participants.
Rules ensuring the safety of cheerleaders are particularly important since protective gear
is largely absent from the sport. “I don’t think there’s any protective equipment that cheerleaders have that they would wear on a regular basis,” said NFHS’ Summers. “It would sort
of go against the image of a cheerleader. You wouldn’t expect to see a cheerleader on the
floor or the field wearing goggles or helmets.” As a result of the lack of protective gear, using
proper techniques and removing the more dangerous routines from the sport have become
critical. “It’s solely technique,” added Summers regarding how cheerleaders can ensure their
safety. “The rules of the game have to be written in such a way so that protective equipment
isn’t necessary.”
Protective gear not only often restricts movement, but can also actually pose a hazard to
the athletes, as the contact resulting from jumping and catching involved in the sport would
be complicated by any gear made with hard materials. “The concern that we have is that if
something is created that is hard enough to protect one athlete, it’s the type of thing that
can usually injure another athlete,” said AACCA’s Lord. “If they were to have helmets on, that
helmet is going to be crashing into other people’s heads and shoulders. If everyone has a
helmet or other piece of protective equipment on, that changes techniques and how they do
things such as spins and catches.”
Safety in cheerleading continued to take center stage at a recent symposium.
The American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) and USA Cheer, the national governing body
for sport cheering, recently partnered to plan the first annual Cheer Safety Symposium.
Over the past year, the two organizations worked together to prepare a curriculum aimed
at trainers, physical therapists, and coaches to address prevention and management of
common injuries associated with cheerleading. USA Cheer’s efforts to study and prevent
injuries in the sport of cheerleading, and their relationship with ASMI, took root nearly two
years ago when USA Cheer enlisted the expertise of Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas, M.D., partner
in the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, AL and fellowship
director at ASMI. “USA Cheer really felt that they had to take a leadership role in safety and
injury prevention,” explained Dugas. “So that’s where we [ASMI] came in. They asked me
to be involved – and to get ASMI involved - because we’ve done a lot of this kind of work
with baseball, football, golf and other sports.” Dugas has been the medical director for
USA Cheer ever since, working in a non-paid, volunteer capacity in addition to fulfilling his
regular duties with both ASMI and the Orthopaedic Center.
The genesis of the symposium came as a result of a desire to emulate baseball and
football injury courses taught by ASMI. Eventually, USA Cheer and ASMI announced plans for
similar courses taught within a symposium setting. The first ever Cheer Safety Symposium
was originally scheduled to take place from April 27-29 this year in Orlando, FL. However,
as a result of fewer than expected participants, the planned 3-day symposium was scaled
back to a one-day event which took place on April 28 and occurred concurrently with
the second annual meeting of the Cheer Safety Council. As part of the event and council
meeting, leaders took steps to plan next year’s 3-day symposium and discussed rule
changes, injury patterns, and other important trends from the past
year.
Several doctors, trainers, and experts participated in the April 28
symposium and council meeting, offering their experience and insight in dealing with cheerleading injuries. Experts of note included
Gerald S. George, Ph.D., and Dawn Comstock, Ph.D., both members of the Cheer Safety Council. George is senior editor of all
three AACCA Cheerleading Safety Manuals, while Comstock is the
principal investigator at The Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Many within the industry had been looking forward
to the findings of the cheerleading injury studies conducted by the
researchers, including results from Comstock’s high school RIO (Reporting Information Online) surveillance system. Dugas explained
that, despite cheerleading ranking as one of the safest of about 20
sports tracked by Comstock’s system, the rate of injuries sustained
during practice was significantly higher. Addressing that trend and
finding ways of limiting serious injuries in practices were among
many important issues discussed at the symposium.
The increasing technical difficulty of cheerleading was also an
issue discussed at the symposium and council meeting. “The thing
that cheerleading faces, that a lot of other organizations don’t,
is that cheerleading is growing so fast, and there’s a desire by
some people – some parents, some coaches, some trainers, and
some athletes – to keep doing tougher and tougher stunts,” shared
Dugas. He added that, as a result of the many new rules designed to
keep cheerleading safe, many unregulated, unsanctioned cheering
events have been occurring involving those who want to see the
difficult and oftentimes dangerous stunts performed. “That’s not
the safest thing to do in our mind, and USA Cheer does not endorse
those events,” Dugas stated.
“Right now, we’re almost in the infancy of trying to find out things
that are specific to cheerleaders and their injuries,” offered Dugas.
“It’s like a wide open field that we’re trying to cover. We know so
much more about baseball, football, and sports like that, but we
don’t know an awful lot specifically about cheerleading. And that’s
really why I got involved and that’s what we’re trying to learn.”
A New Sport to Cheer On
A new competitive sport based on cheerleading is making a
potentially ground-breaking impact on the cheer market. Called
STUNT and created by USA Cheer, the sport focuses on the
technical and athletic aspects of cheerleading such as partner stunts,
pyramids, basket tosses, jumps, and tumbling skills, all of which
are scored in a competition format. Each STUNT game comprises
four quarters in the following categories: Partner Stunts, Jumps and
Group Tumbling, Tosses and Pyramids, and Team Routine. Within each
quarter, teams will perform skill sequences. The fourth quarter is the
“Team Performance” period, which allows teams to incorporate their
entire team and arsenal into a 2 minute and 30 second routine.
USA Cheer created STUNT to provide more opportunities for high
school and college level cheer athletes, and envisions the sport gaining NCAA Emerging Sport status while meeting the requirements for
Title IX in the process. In its first season, 22 college cheerleading teams participated in STUNT during the spring of 2011, with
the University of Louisville winning the first STUNT Championship
in April 2011 in Memphis, TN. One of the criteria to qualify as an
emerging sport requires that there must be 20 or more varsity teams
and/or competitive teams that currently exist on college campuses
in that sport. By securing more than the minimum requisite teams for
the inaugural 2011 STUNT season, USA Cheer has ensured that the
Photo courtesy of Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA)
sport has gained sufficient participation to be considered by the NCAA as
an Emerging Sport.
While the ramifications of STUNT as a new sport for team dealers,
retailers, and the cheer market in general remain to be seen, the increased
participation and potential for STUNT to be a recognized NCAA sport are
promising for cheer-related sales.
Scott Treiber, owner of New Jersey-based team dealer Sports Paradise,
believes that a new sport like STUNT can have a positive effect on sales in
the future for team dealers and retailers offering cheer products. “Any time
you have a group of athletes getting together, showing their school colors,
and showing camaraderie, you have potential,” Treiber said. “I think it could
definitely help the team business.” ■
SPORTSONESOURCE.COM
13
Uniforms
& Apparel
“High School uniforms are
traditional… All-Star uniforms are
flashy… the older the group the
more ‘edgy’ the uniform”
LydIa Hicks, Cheer sales manager, Motionwear
By Fernando J. Delgado
Photo courtesy of Varsity
D
epending on the age and level of any given cheerleader, performance, fit, and aesthetic appearance – while all are important
– have varying degrees of emphasis in cheerleading uniforms and apparel. Sellers offering shells, tops, skirts, practice wear, and warm-ups
for the upcoming fall selling season must take into account the demanding nature of the sport, as well as how changing rules and trends
in cheerleading are affecting cheer products.
Just as it is important for sellers to distinguish school cheerleading
from all-star cheerleading when servicing their customers, it is necessary to understand the differences in uniforms between the two levels.
“High School apparel is typically your traditional top and skirt uniform
with school or mascot name in the school colors,” explained Lydia
Hicks, cheer sales manager for Motionwear. “All-Star apparel is a more
flashy uniform ranging from full length, cut-out shoulders and backs, to
cropped tops and halters. Skirts, skorts, and shorts are the bottoms
we are seeing with any of those top silhouettes.”
Sellers can also expect uniform preferences to change as a cheerleader gets older. “Typically the older the group, the more complicated
and ‘edgy’ is the uniform,” said Hicks. “The color combinations chosen
by gym owners and teams can range from traditional to funky with lots
of flash and sparkle.”
According to Hicks, Motionwear’s approach to school uniforms and
apparel is to stick to the traditional and offer some of the new trends such
as color blocking for shell top and skirt designs that do not use traditional
braid applications. Another focus for cheer apparel with Motionwear is the
company’s unique ability to keep everything in-house and offer a custom
pattern to any squad that is willing to pay for a patterning fee. Similar to
other manufacturers, Motionwear is using Dri-Line fabric in applications
where traditional polyester fabric was used before.
Just as governing bodies for cheerleading at both the school and
all-star levels have recently introduced new rules focusing mostly on
safety, new guidelines pertaining to uniforms have emerged. “The rules
in uniforms changed as well,” said Sheila Noone, VP of public relations for the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA). “The National
Federation of State High School Associations has banned bare midriffs
for junior cheerleaders starting in 2015.” With regards to
trends seen in uniforms, Noone added that materials have
been gradually changing. “New materials are being used
more,” she stated. “There’s more lycra, whereas old-fashioned uniforms were made with heavier polyester. Now the
trend is more towards a micro-fabric and super-stretchy
materials.” She also pointed to new production methods
such as sublimation, which is the direct dyeing of colors,
numbers, emblems and names into fabric, being used
more frequently in uniforms.
Mike Dehen, VP of sales & marketing for cheerleading
at Dehen, further elaborated on some of the stylistic differences between different levels. “Probably the competitive
segment of the market for cheerleaders – both from high
schools and all-star gyms that go to competitions a lot
more – those uniforms differ more in the sense that they’re
usually more performance-based fabrics,” observed Dehen. “There’s more stretchy fabrics as opposed to the
more traditional polyester uniforms that the sideline cheerleaders have typically worn. The advantages of the traditional uniform are that it’s durable and keeps it’s colors,
doesn’t wrinkle and stain, and it’s a real hearty uniform.
The all-star stuff is not quite as long-lasting, but they get
new uniforms on a regular basis anyway. The competitive
cheerleading aspect has probably grown the most in the
past half-dozen years.”
All-star cheerleading uniforms have a far more pronounced emphasis on color, appearance, and aesthetics
which make them stand out. “Just by the competitive nature of all-star, there’s a lot more glitz to it,” added Dehen.
“There’s shinier fabrics, rhinestones, and bright colors. It’s
a more showy uniform compared to the traditional high
school uniform.” ■
1
2
3
1. Pizzazz’s SuperNova Uniform Shell is made of 100% double knit
polyester with an asymmetrical neckline. The shell features a unique
embroidered star design and includes a three stripe braided trim in
white sparkle with metallic silver. Available in 7 colorways. MSRP $19
5
2. Dehen’s Poly Shell Performax Slimmer and Skirt
MSRP $66 (Shell); $54 (Skirt); $100 (Shell & Skirt)
3. Kaepa’s Flare 100% Polyester Jacket is tailored for a closer,
feminine fit. Includes hidden zip pockets with white pulls and white
accent main zipper, insets, and piping. Available in Black, Navy, and
Purple (shown). MSRP $35
4
4. Boxercraft’s Racer Tank is the brand’s longer length tank and
features a built-in shelf bra (on adult sizes only) and narrow racer
back. MSRP $18
5. Badger Sport’s B-Core Ladies’ Sleeveless Tee has a sleeveless
lap v-neck and is made with 100% polyester moisture management/
antimicrobial performance fabric. A Badger heat seal logo is located on
the center of the back neck. Available in 14 colors and sizes XS-2XL.
MSRP $12
6. Soffe’s Teeny Tiny Shorts are low rise and available in junior sizing.
Made of 100% polyester birds eye mesh and 100% polyester tricot
liner. Available in 15 colors. MSRP $10
7. Motionwear’s Men’s Performance Top and Cheer Pants (left)
and Women’s Performance Top/Skirt (right) feature custom lettering.
Available in Adult and Youth sizing. MSRP $70 (Men’s Top), $60 (Men’s
Pants), $130 (Women’s Top), $44 (Women’s Skirt)
6
7
"…shoes are 99% white"
Sheila Noone, VP public relations, Universal Cheerleaders Association
By Fernando J. Delgado
16
2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
Nfinity’s Vengence MSRP $85
Kaepa’s Starlyte MSRP $55
U
Kaepa’s Starlyte MSRP $55
nlike cheerleading uniforms, apparel, and accessories, cheer footwear doesn’t
feature much color and isn’t meant to stand out. Trends in the footwear category
are based on performance, comfort, and functionality, as lighter shoes allowing
for greater flexibility and speed have become very popular at the most competitive
levels of cheerleading. As such, sellers can expect to focus less on appearance and
more on fit and feel for cheer shoes compared to other products they may offer.
Sheila Noone, VP of public relations for the Universal Cheerleaders Association
(UCA), explained that cheerleaders seek out the best performance from their
footwear. And whereas school cheerleader uniforms display school colors and allstar cheerleaders feature showy apparel, cheer shoes boast far less visual appeal.
“Cheerleaders want to have the lightest shoe,” said Noone. “And I would say that
shoes are 99 percent white.”
“The slam dunk at the moment is lightweight, super-lightweight, and ultra-lightweight,” shared Russell Shimomura, product and creative director at Kaepa USA.
“The lighter the weight, the better. It helps cheerleaders move their feet higher and
faster, and feels more comfortable. Lighter weight shoes tend to be less durable,
so there are some downsides, too.” Shimomura has also found that cheerleading
shoes, while usually lasting only a year or so for most competitive cheerleaders, can
have varying life spans. “We hope that they can keep a shoe that will last a year. But
we’ve heard of some shoes that last less than that,” he said. “It’s very difficult for us
to determine because we’ll have a report from one person that they’re using a shoe
the same way that a second person is using it, but the shoe might last twice as long
for the second group. Why is that? We don’t really know. Your mileage will vary.”
Shimomura echoed UCA’s Noone’s observations that a vast majority of cheerleaders stick with white as their primary shoe color. “The basic white is traditional. I believe
people have tried to add a little more color, a little more sparkle, to the shoes, but
there’s a certain amount of market acceptance or rejection. I don’t think that the white
shoes will be changing anytime soon.” Kaepa’s shoe line includes the Touch and Prism,
which are both new this year and will be available for the fall selling season. Additional
core Kaepa models include the Spectrum, Starlyte, and Stellarlyte, among others. All
models are available in Women’s and Youth sizes.
According to Patrice Stec, owner and gym director of Allstar Athletics, a
cheerleading training center in Tinley Park, IL, shoes are getting lighter, but they are
also getting pricier. “What I’ve noticed is that the shoes weigh less and less, but they
cost more and more,” observed Stec. “The less it weighs, the less it’s going to last,
and the more money it costs. Which seems a little contradictory to me.” Stec said
that with a cheerleading shoe being lighter, it will offer girls less support, and that
the life of the lightest shoes on the market will only last about three months for the
more competitive and active cheerleaders. She also added that a typical shoe for a
competitive cheerleader of high school age or above should last a whole season, which
is usually about nine months. Stec mentioned that Nfinity cheer shoes were among the
most popular shoes used by girls in her gym over recent months.
Ultimately, functionality and fit are the underlying trends for cheer footwear, and
they can go unnoticed by the casual observer. “Most all-star cheerleaders and sideline
cheerleaders don’t want to bring attention to their feet,” commented Kaepa’s Shimomura. “But trends can change.” ■
Kaepa’s Stellarlyte MSRP $55
Kaepa’s Spectrum MSRP $49 (Women’s), $45
5 (Youth)
6
Nike’s Sideline II MSRP $65 (Women’s), $45 (Youth)
Nfinity’s Passion MSRP $65
7
Adidas’ Women’s Cheer Flyer MSRP $55
8
9
Zephz’s Stratoscheer MSRP $70
Accessories
and Equipment
"You can never have enough bows"
Patrice Stec, Owner and gym director, Allstar Athletics
By Fernando J. Delgado
C
heerleaders express themselves when it comes to
their accessories, often picking bows, scribbons, backpacks, and poms which stand out and accentuate their uniforms. Sellers can offer colorful accessories that feature
more of a personal touch than other aspects of cheerleading uniforms and shoes. On the equipment side, mats continue to be a staple piece for cheerleaders in a sport that
does not rely heavily on equipment.
Once again, as with other cheer product categories, the
differences in high school and all-star cheerleading come
into play with accessories. High school cheerleaders, for
example, make heavy use of pom poms, while all-star
cheerleaders usually do not use poms. Poms in particular
have been very large in size in years past, but are now usually much smaller.
One key accessory is considered essential for many
cheerleaders – the hair bow. “As far as accessories, you
can never have enough bows,” said Patrice Stec, owner
and gym director of Allstar Athletics, a cheerleading training center in Tinley Park, IL. Bows from manufacturers
such as Alleson Cheerleading and resellers such as Team
Cheer come in a variety of colors and designs. “Hair bows
for all-star tend to be really shiny and really flashy, while
high school bows tend to be in their school colors,” commented Sheila Noone, VP of public relations for the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA).
Bags and backpacks for storing and carrying apparel,
footwear, and personal items are also popular among
1
2
cheerleaders, and again provide an opportunity for them to show their team colors
or individual fashion preferences. “For bags,
some girls like bags that can carry more
stuff, but what seems to be really popular
right now are smaller bags and backpacks
that are useful to take to events and throw
some extra clothes in,” said Russell Shimomura, product and creative director at
Kaepa USA.
According to Allstar Athletics’ Stec, aside
from mats, tumble tracks, modular pits and
- for school cheerleaders - megaphones,
there are not too many pieces of equipment
associated with cheerleading. UCA’s Noone
agreed, pointing out that cheerleading depends more on skills and teamwork more
than anything else. “What makes cheerleading such a great sport for schools to take
on is that there’s really not much overhead,”
said Noone. “Mats would really be the only
consideration for schools. All-star cheerleading competes on a spring floor, while
high school stick mostly to foam mats.”
Companies such as Tiffin Mats offer a variety of portable and folding mats for competitions and practice for both the school and
all-star levels.
1. Team Cheer’s In-Stock Youth 2 Color Pom is a youth-sized pom with a dowel handle and 768 ½” wide strands. Sold
separately and available in more than 15 colors. MSRP $6
2. Alleson Cheerleading’s CPOM1 Solid Plastic Convertible Pom is a pre-fluffed 6” plastic pom with a convertible
“twist” baton handle. Consists of 2,500 ¾” streamers per pom. MSRP $16 (per pom)
3. Flexer’s Scribbons are stylish ponytail holders. Available in more than 10 colors. MSRP $4-$6 each
3
18
2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
7
4
8
5
4. Team Cheer’s Fusion Bows are customizable 6” L x 7” W bows. One team
name can be displayed, along with up to three fusion colors and up to two glitter
colors. MSRP $10 (not including customization)
6
5. Alleson Cheerleading’s CHB2 Hype Hair Bow is a traditional style made of
100% polyester ribbons. The two-color bow has covered black elastic and no
metal ponytailer. One size fits most. MSRP $8
6. Flexer’s Scrunchies are available in more than 10 bright colors. MSRP $4-$6
each
7. Nfinity’s Backpack is designed to hold gear within four compartments. It
includes a padded sleeve for a laptop, a detachable purse to add convenience
to the rigors of travel on the road, mesh padded shoulder straps and back for
comfort and support. Made of 100% nylon. MSRP $65
9
8. Kaepa’s Circuit Backpack is generously sized with main and front compartments that are large enough for shoes, a change of clothes, or small equipment.
Both compartments are made of 100% 420D nylon with PVC backing. MSRP $33$50
9. Tiffin Mats’ Short Roll Flexible Carpet is made with 26 oz. needle punch carpet that is permanently flame-laminated to lightweight, durable crossed-linked
polyethylene foam rolls. The lightweight combination is ideal for fast, easy, daily
set ups in gymnasiums/multipurpose rooms. MSRP $230
10. Kideapolis’ Team Wrap Spiritwear Blankets are wearable fleece blankets
ideal with easy-on, easy-off styling. The blanket rolls into the hood with the neck
tab as a handle. A favorite team name can be displayed on the back using sewnon lettering, screen-printing, heat transfers or embroidery. MSRP $30 (Adult),
$26 (Youth)
10
11. Pizzazz’s Multi-Sport Travel Bag features a zebra print design on 300D polyester with heavy vinyl backing and a large rectangular storage pocket. Includes
an I-Pod or MP3 player pocket with access for headphones. Available in 5 colors. MSRP $28
11
SPORTSONESOURCE.COM
19
I AM... TEAM BUSINESS
“ MY GOAL WILL ALWAYS BE TO HELP
DEVELOP AND GROW THE GAME OF
LACROSSE NATURALLY THROUGH MY
COMPANY... AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR
KIDS EVERYWHERE TO ENJOY THE SAME
EXPERIENCES I HAD PLAYING LACROSSE...”
Did you have a favorite sports team? I liked the
Denver Broncos and John Elway was, and still is, a legend
to me.
What was the smartest move of your career?
Giving up working on Wall Street when I realized I didn’t
have a passion going to work each day. I decided to work
in lacrosse full time, playing professional lacrosse indoors
and outdoors as well as running lacrosse events. In 2005
I launched Maverik Lacrosse.
What do you like about working in the team
industry? Working with my friends and game planning
with them. It is almost like we are in a huddle figuring out
how we are going to beat the other team.
What do you do for fun? I like going to the beaches on
Long Island and Florida.
What sports or activities do you participate
in today? I enjoy running in Central Park or playing
basketball to stay in shape.
John Gagliardi
Maverik Lacrosse
founder and president
WWW.MAVERIKLACROSSE.COM
When did you become a sports enthusiast? My father introduced me to
football, basketball and baseball when I was young. I lived in Brooklyn until I
was 10 years old and baseball was the most popular sport. But when I moved
to Long Island, I was introduced to lacrosse. At first my dad didn’t want me to
trade baseball for lacrosse. After he watched the sport once he was hooked.
I loved playing lacrosse and all the physical aspects of the sport and my dad
also loved watching all of the action.
Name one thing (interest, hobby, passion) that the
industry may be surprised to learn about you?
I like to read… magazines, books, newspapers, everything.
What’s your dream vacation? Go to Bora Bora or Banff
in Canada to just sit on a lounge chair and read all day.
Who’s the business person you most admire and
why? I admire a lot of people who started their own
businesses. Jake Burton at Burton, Steve Jobs at Apple,
my father with his own athletic retail stores, the Bishop
Family who started Sobe Beverages and Blue Buffalo Dog
Food.
What would you be doing if you were not doing
your job? Living and snowboarding in Colorado.
What was your first job? Carrying grocery bags to cars for people at a
How would your friends describe you? Loyal,
Walbaum’s supermarket in Brooklyn. I was in the 4th grade and I would make
$8 to $10 over a few hours.
honest, hardworking and passionate about everything I’m
involved with. Plus, I don’t like to lose.
20
2012 TEAM BUSINESS DIGITAL
YOUR Daily Online Source for Team Business News and Jobs
UPD ATE
WWW.TEAMBUSINESSUPDATE.COM
• 2151
HAWKINS STREET • SUITE 200 • CHARLOTTE • NC • 28203 • 704.987.3450
TO READ THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION, PLEASE CLICK ON JOB TITLE
Lids Sports Group
Easton-Bell Sports
Team Sports Sales Rep
Business Unit Director – Easton Cycling
LIDS Team Sports is looking for strong established
candidates to join our sales team. We are the leading NIKE
Team Sport dealer in the industry and we are looking for
sales representatives in each of the following states: Oregon,
Washington, Nevada, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming with
the following traits • High Energy • Self-Starter / Goal
Oriented • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Competitive Edge • Experienced outside team sales
experience…
Responsible for managing the Easton Cycling business unit
to achieve brand and business objectives. This individual
will partner with senior and executive management to
develop and lead the definition and execution of product
and brand strategies that will enable the business unit to
meet or exceed its revenue and profit growth objectives.
The Business Unit Director will lead cross-functional
teams to execute product design, development, sourcing,
marketing, and sales initiatives…
Generator Group has partnered with a leading
sporting goods company in Chicago to identify a new
Marketing Manager to support their organizational
growth. Our client is looking for someone with proven
marketing communications experience in the Sporting
Goods, Outdoor or Action Sports industry to drive
innovative marketing programs from inception through
implementation. Responsibilities Include - Lead marketing
interface with key team members…
Umbro USA
SKLZ
SKLZ
Manufacturer Sales Rep
Web Designer
Product Marketing Manager
Umbro USA is looking for Manufacturer Sales
Representative to sell Umbro Performance, Teamwear,
Sportswear Apparel, Footwear and Accessories for the
following States - CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA and calling on
the following channels of distribution - Soccer Specialty,
Team Dealers, Regional Accounts, Premium & Moderate
Department Stores, Boutiques, On Line Retailers. Daily
responsibilities include servicing Umbro Accounts in
specified Sales Territory…
Reporting to the Sr. Director of Marketing Communications,
the Web Designer will be responsible for supporting the
Marketing team in all facets of SKLZ visual design, user
experience, creative production and online marketing
assets across the SKLZ network of sites. While playing a
critical role in the strategy and execution of online creative
marketing initiatives, the Web Designer will also work very
closely with the broader marketing organization…
Responsible for driving the company’s process of
taking product concepts and designs to final production
versions, developing packaging and merchandising
solutions, and supporting them in the complete sales
cycle. Primary responsibilities include » Develops
market research and competitive analyses to help define
relative positioning and messaging for products and the
brand » Serves as a primary driver in product form and
function…
Hamilton / Hi Score Scorebook
Big Rock Sports
Manufacturers Rep
Director of Sales, National Accounts
Leupold & Stevens
Hamilton company is looking for manufacturer reps to
sell our line of Hi-Score athletic scorebooks to sporting
goods dealers throughout the country. Primary duities
are to contact major team dealers, Retailers and
athletic associations throughout the country to sell HiScore athletic scorebooks. Must be an independant
manufacturer rep group. Straight commission on paid
sales. Increased commission on new customers initial
sales…
Big Rock Sports, the leading distributor of hunting and
fishing equipment, has an immediate need for a Director of
Sales, National Accounts. This position will be responsible
for developing, growing, and retaining strategic, long-term
partnerships with new and existing accounts. Provides
a lead role in all aspects of account management and
coordinates account and business development activities
• Develops and implements strategic sales plans…
Generator Group
Marketing Manager
Account Manager 2
Develops and manages the implementation of strategies
for marketing and selling the Company’s products for
assigned national or international accounts, markets
or distribution channels. Focus is on large/high
profile accounts and/or accounts with highly complex
regulatory requirements or distribution channels. Primary
responsibilities include • Identifies and qualifies new
business opportunities • Establishes and maintains
industry contacts that lead to sales...
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT 704.987.3450 OR sportsjobs@sportsonesource.com
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1.800.345.2231