CORPORATE NEWS

MUELLER PARTNERS WITH PACKERS’ LEGEND DONALD DRIVER

Mueller Sports Medicine signed an agreement with Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Donald Driver, the owner of Driven Elite Fitness & Health. Driver and Driven Elite will act as a strong voice to communicate the essential role that Mueller products play in athletes’ daily lives and will serve as an integral piece by providing onthe-ground feedback on current and future product developments.

“Since establishing Mueller Sports in 1959 — 63 years ago — we have been very protective of our family-owned brand,” said John Cayer, President at Mueller. “We only partner with people who understand our mission of keeping you active in the game of life and have the desire to help us grow. Donald truly embodies everything our brand stands for — his philanthropic heart, moral compass, and positive outlook closely align with our values and make him a great addition to the Mueller family.”

Driver and his likeness are expected to help the Mueller Sports brand achieve its mission to design, manufacture and distribute the highest quality sports medicine products, and to inspire weekend warriors or international superstars alike, and help athletes all over the world Stay In The Game® and perform at their peak.

“I am excited to bring Mueller Sports Medicine’s products, especially the new REVIVE compression technology, to our award-winning personal training recovery lounges in each of our locations,” Driver said. “Our experience with best-inclass training and recovery techniques for athletes of all ages and experience levels allows everyone to experience elite programs based on best practices learned over my 14-year NFL career.”

Driven Elite specializes in life-changing fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle programs to fit a person’s goals and needs. Driver is the Packers all-time leading receiver and a Super Bowl Champion.

Mueller Sports Medicine is a longtime NSGA member and supporter of the Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit.

AUGUSTA, RUSSELL FORM NIL PARTNERSHIP WITH OKLAHOMA SOFTBALL STAR

Augusta Sportswear Brands, with leading softball brand Russell Athletic, is proud to announce a new NIL player partnership with two-time All-American and NCAA champion softball player Tiare Jennings from the University of Oklahoma.

“We are thrilled to partner with a player and person the caliber of Tiare. She is such a well-rounded and amazing player, better yet she inspires thousands of young players to carry themselves the way she does, while winning championships along the way. Our new partnership is the perfect fit for Russell Athletic and all of the Augusta Sportswear brands,” said David Goerke, SVP Marketing & Product Development at Augusta.

“I respect the history and tradition of Russell Athletic and am super excited about the investment they’re continuing to make in softball and female athletes,” Jennings said.

STAHLS’ UNVEILS NEW SPECIALTY HEAT TRANSFER VINYL

CAD-CUT® Puff starts flat and smooth for easy cutting with a vinyl cutter, and a unique puff effect occurs as the material expands during heat application. The result is a dimensional, textured matte look that appeals to a variety of markets like fashion, spirit wear, athleisure and more.

This specialty material is available to order by the yard in more than 15 vibrant and trendy color options, including neon. Puff is Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) certified and applies to cotton or polyester fabric at a low temperature, making it a safe choice for children’s clothing or any heat-sensitive items.

STAHLS’ is a longtime NSGA member and supporter of the Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit.

ORDERMYGEAR NAMES IGNACEK-SUTTON SENIOR VP

OrderMyGear (OMG) announced Tanya Ignacek-Sutton as Senior Vice President, joining the company as the newest member of the executive team. She will focus on creating a seamless client experience and driving more online store growth in the industry.

As the former Vice President of BrightStores, recently acquired by OMG, Ignacek-Sutton will play a pivotal role in deepening OMG’s relationships and roots within the promotional products industry while bringing new online growth opportunities to team dealers and apparel decorators. IgnacekSutton brings more than 20 years of experience and has held multiple leadership positions during her tenure at BrightStores, where she was focused on driving innovation that makes it easier to sell branded merchandise and apparel to groups.

STAHLS’ recently released CAD-CUT Puff®, a special-effect heat transfer vinyl that elevates simple designs for apparel decorators.

OrderMyGear is a longtime member of NSGA and supporter of the Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit.

& CEO

Under Armour announced Stephanie Linnartz joined the company as President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of its Board of Directors, effective February 27. Her appointment followed a search led by a committee of independent members of Under Armour’s Board of Directors.

“Under Armour is an iconic brand with a huge opportunity ahead. This company has immense energy and excitement, and I am committed to building growth while maintaining operational excellence,” Linnartz said. “I look forward to joining the incredible UA team, partnering with Kevin and the board, and leading this amazing company into its next chapter, delivering for athletes, teammates, customers, and shareholders.”

Linnartz served as the president of Marriott International, Inc., the world’s largest hospitality company, with a portfolio of nearly 8,200 properties across 138 countries and territories and 30 brands, including The Ritz-Carlton®, St. Regis®, Marriott Hotels®, W® Hotels, and Westin® as well as the industry’s most extensive customer-loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy®, which has 173 million members.

“As a 25-year veteran of one of the world’s most respected global companies, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the brand,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour Executive Chair and Brand Chief. “She is a proven growth leader with a distinguished track record of brand strategy, omnichannel execution, talent acquisition and development, and passion for driving best-in-class consumer connectivity, experience, and brand loyalty.”

Colin Browne, who has served as interim President and CEO since June 2022, will continue in a leadership role by resuming his position as Chief Operating Officer.

Rawlings Changes Plans To Leave Minnesota

“Caledonia will be responsible for every helmet that’s put on the head of every major league player that takes the field,” Thompson said. “That’s going to be very special.”

ADIDAS CONSOLIDATES US, CANADIAN OPERATIONS

Adidas is consolidating its operations in the US and Canada. The company said the move of business operations to its US headquarters in Portland, Oregon will reduce the Canadian-based corporate workforce but will not affect the availability of adidas products, according to Retail Insider.

Rawlings Sporting Goods changed its plans to close the Miken Sports manufacturing plant and will make the Caledonia, Minnesota facility its North American headquarters for its slowpitch softball business, according to a Rochester Post-Bulletin story.

“We’ve had lots and lots of discussion over the past year and half,” said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer for St. Louis-based Rawlings, in the Post-Bulletin.

“It’s important we maintain operations in Caledonia and have the North American headquarters for our slow pitch business located there. I think this is something Caledonia can be very proud of.”

In 2021, Rawlings announced the closing of the Caledonia plant, where it makes Major League Baseball helmets and composite bats for youth baseball, girls softball and adult slow-pitch softball. Rawlings planned to move the helmet manufacturing to Missouri and the bat business to China.

MLB composite helmet production, stamping of softballs sold in the US, engineering and design of slow-pitch bats and the warranty process for broken or cracked composite bats will be handled in Caledonia as approximately 35 jobs will remain.

“We combine our teams in the United States and Canada to work most effectively and ensure we are positioned for continued success in an ever-changing marketplace,” the company said in a statement.

“In the past, these teams have operated separately as two separate markets. Therefore, this reorganization will allow for more speed and cohesion across the North American market. The implementation of these changes has started and will be completed by spring.”

Marucci Continues Expansion With New Distribution Center

Louisiana-based Marucci Sports announced the development of its 100,000-square foot, Class A distribution center located just outside of Baton Rouge. With the growth of Marucci and its other brands it outgrew its current distribution capacity.

“This expansion is vital to our continued success. This new facility will allow us to gain efficiencies and fuel our mission of getting the best gear into the hands of today’s elite athletes,” said Kurt Ainsworth, Co-Founder and CEO of Marucci Sports.

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Marucci Sports’ headquarters will remain in its current location, flanked by the Marucci Clubhouse, a state-of-theart baseball and softball training facility and retail store. Product testing and innovation will remain at headquarters, with the addition of the Baseball Performance Lab, and Marucci’s wood bat manufacturing operation.

Marucci acquired Victus Sports in 2017, Carpenter Trade in 2018 and Lizard Skins in 2021.

EX-NIKE CEO PARKER NEW DISNEY BOARD CHAIR

Industry News

DC SHOES CO-FOUNDER KEN BLOCK PASSES AWAY

Ken Block, who co-founded DC Shoes and Hoonigan Racing, died January 2 at age 55 after a snowmobile accident. Block co-founded DC Shoes, a popular skateboarding and shoe brand, in 1994. He built the popular skateboarding and shoe brand into a world-wide success before selling the company in 2004 and becoming a successful rally car racer.

Rules News

REMINDER ON NFHS BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL JERSEY NUMBER RULE CHANGES IN 2024-25

The solid number can still have a border or outline to the number in 2024 but the key is that the solid portion of the number (body) needs to clearly contrast with the body color of the jersey. As of 2024, the outline or the border of the number will not be used in order to comply with this rule and it will be the solid portion of the number (body) that needs to comply.

The solid number can still have a border or outline to the number in 2024 — but the key is that the solid portion of the number (body) needs to clearly contrast with the body color of the jersey. Come 2024, the outline or the border of the number will not be used in order to comply with this rule — it is the solid portion of the number (body) that is what needs to comply.

Disney chose Nike executive chairman Mark Parker as its new board chair. Parker replaces longtime director Susan Arnold, whose term limit is expiring. Parker has been a Disney board member since 2016 and Bob Iger recently returned as CEO.

“Mark Parker’s vision, incredible depth of experience and wise counsel have been invaluable to Disney, and I look forward to continuing working with him in his new role, along with our other directors, as we chart the future course for this amazing company,” said Iger in a statement.

Parker stepped down as Nike’s CEO in 2019 after 13 years at the helm. Disney said among Parker’s qualifications as board chair is that he navigated a successful CEO transition at Nike.

The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) wants to remind its members and everyone in the sporting goods industry that new football and basketball jersey number requirements from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) take effect with the 2024–25 school year. As you prepare to work with high schools on orders for new basketball and football jerseys, it is important they are aware of the upcoming requirements where the entire body of the jersey number (continuous horizontal bars and vertical strokes) shall be a single solid color that clearly contrasts with the body color of the jersey.

Bob Colgate, the NFHS director of sports and sports medicine and staff liaison to the Football Rules Committee, said a lot of football jersey designs he has recently received from NFHS member state associations do not have the solid portion of the number clearly contrasting with the body color of the jersey, which would make them non-compliant as of the 2024 season.

The same time frame and reasoning was implemented for basketball jerseys for the 2024-25 season. The reason for the change was the difficulty seeing some numbers that were the same color as the jersey, with a contrasting border, for on-field officials, game administrators, fans, media and coaches who are scouting opponents.

These rule changes were adopted by NFHS in 2019 to give schools time to budget for new uniforms by the 2024 season. If you have questions about a basketball or football jersey design being compliant, contact Marty Maciaszek, NSGA Team Dealer Director at mmaciaszek@nsga.org or (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1260.

Changes to Player Towels for 2023

Football: A change to Rule 1-5-3 says player towels now may contain one manufacturer’s logo and/or one school logo, neither exceeding 2¼ square inches, for the 2023 season. Towels must be a solid color, but now do not have to be the same color for each player. Towels may not, however, be the color of the ball or penalty flag.

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Ncaa Names Baker New Ncaa President

The other approved rule changes go into effect in the 2023–24 school year. The wearing of jewelry by players is addressed in a change to Rule 4-1-7, which now states that all jewelry must be removed, except small, secured studs or posts worn above the chin. No jewelry is permitted below the chin, including string bracelets, commemorative bracelets and body jewelry. In addition, taping over jewelry is not permitted. This rules change aligns high school rules with NCAA rules on the wearing of jewelry.

High School Field Hockey Jersey Changes For 2023

Charlie Baker, the former Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, took over as the new NCAA President in March. A former collegiate athlete at Harvard, Baker is credited with bringing bipartisan leadership to the state, successfully guiding Massachusetts through an exceptionally turbulent period for government officials. In addition to his two terms as Governor, he brings decades of experience spearheading transformations at high profile institutions in the private and public sectors.

Baker’s term as Governor ended January 5. He arrives at the NCAA at a moment of significant transformation. Legal shifts in the environment surrounding college sports have challenged the NCAA’s ability to serve as an effective national regulator for college athletics, resulting in an untenable patchwork of individual state laws. Partnering with federal policymakers to develop a consistent, sustainable legal framework to address issues common to student-athletes and athletic departments across the country will be a top and immediate priority. Throughout the search process, Baker’s history of successfully forging bipartisan solutions to complex problems stood out to the search committee as uniquely suited to the NCAA’s present needs.

“I am honored to become the next president of the NCAA, an organization that impacts millions of families and countless communities across this country every day,” said Baker. “The NCAA is confronting complex and significant challenges, but I am excited to get to work as the awesome opportunity college athletics provides to so many students is more than worth the challenge.”

Governor Baker succeeds Dr. Mark Emmert, who will continue to serve the NCAA as a consultant through June 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL JERSEY NUMBER RULE CHANGE FOR 2028-29

One of the rule changes approved by NFHS in high school boys and girls volleyball pertains to uniform numbers and will go into effect with the 2028–29 school year. Uniform numbers with a leading zero will not be permitted and this change to Rule 4-2-4b eliminates confusion with signaling numbers and aligns NFHS rules with other codes. For example, a uniform number of 01, 02, 03, etc…, would not be permitted. The standalone number 0 is permitted but a 00 is not permitted. The reason for the five-year implementation is to give schools the opportunity to go through their uniform cycles before complying with the new rule.

A note was approved for NFHS field hockey Rule 1-8-1a which will bring uniform requirements for goalkeepers in line with the player’s uniform number. This rule requires that numbers shall be clearly visible, in a solid color contrasting any surrounding colors, no more than two digits (00-99), at least 3 inches in height on the front and 6 inches in height on the back of the uniform top. A visible number worn on the uniform bottom shall be the same number as on the uniform top. A team may not use 0 and 00 because duplicate numbers are not permitted on the same team.