TEAM NEWS

Rates data, and must meet their sport’s minimum competition and participant requirements. If legislation is adopted, the NCAA governance structure works to establish a championship. That process can take two years or longer to work through logistics such as budgeting, site selection and other details.

Rugby

In 2021–22, 23 schools reported sponsoring rugby — nine more than in 2016–17. Of those 23 schools, eight are from Division I, six are from Division II and nine are from Division III. The 2021–22 data shows more than 650 student-athletes participated in rugby, with roster sizes that range from 21–35.

In a year where the celebration of Title IX’s 50th anniversary is front and center in college athletics, the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women Program continues to be a catalyst for increasing opportunities for female student-athletes.

Since the program was established in 1994, based on a recommendation from the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force, five women’s sports have earned NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015). In the 2021–22 academic year, those sports collectively included more than 13,000 student-athletes, about 6% of the total student-athletes competing in NCAA women’s championship sports, according to the most recent NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates data released in December by NCAA research. Women’s rowing accounted for more than 6,800 of those student-athletes, per the data.

Three sports in the Emerging Sports for Women program — acrobatics and tumbling, triathlon and women’s wrestling — are nearing the sponsorship threshold required for CWA to consider whether the committee will recommend them to the NCAA governance structure for championship consideration.

To be legislatively considered for an NCAA championship, sports in the Emerging Sports for Women program must be sponsored at the varsity level by at least 40 schools, based on the NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation

Five sports are currently in the Emerging Sports for Women program: acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, triathlon and women’s wrestling. Stunt was approved as an emerging sport by Division II at the 2023 NCAA Convention and will be added to the program in August. Here is a summary of the sports currently in the program, including the 2021–22 sports sponsorship numbers schools reported to the NCAA.

Acrobatics And Tumbling

In 2021–22, 33 schools reported sponsoring acrobatics and tumbling, which was added to the program in 2020–21. Currently, two Division II conferences — the Mountain East Conference (nine members) and Conference Carolinas (11 members, including affiliate members from the Peach Belt Conference and South Atlantic Conference) — sponsor a conference championship in the sport. In total, 22 schools in Division II sponsored the sport in 2021-22.

Acrobatics and tumbling rosters range from 22-42, with nearly 900 student-athletes reported in the latest NCAA participation data.

EQUESTRIAN (DIVISIONS I AND II ONLY)

In the 2021–22 academic year, 22 Division I and II schools sponsored equestrian as a varsity sport. Currently, three conferences — the Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference — host a conference championship in the sport.

According to NCAA research data, more than 800 student-athletes participated in equestrian in 2021–22 across Divisions I and II.

Triathlon

In 2021–22, 35 schools reported sponsoring triathlon. Of the schools that sponsored it in 2021–22, eight are from Division I, 15 from Division II and 12 from Division III. In 2016–17, only nine schools reported sponsoring the sport at the varsity level, which was added to the emerging sports program in 2014. More than 250 student-athletes competed in triathlon at NCAA schools in 2021–22, with roster sizes of six to nine.

WOMEN’S WRESTLING

Women’s wrestling has rapidly grown since becoming an emerging sport in 2020–21, when 30 schools reported sponsoring it. In 2021–22, 39 schools sponsored women’s wrestling, with more than 550 student-athletes competing among them. Of the schools reporting women’s wrestling in 2021–22, 22 were from Division III, 15 from Division II and two from Division I.

The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin became the first Division III conference to host a women’s wrestling championship in January.

Steph Curry Strengthens Under Armour Partnership

Golden State Warriors point guard and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry is strengthening his partnership with Under Armour as Curry will become president of the Curry Brand. This will enhance Curry’s ability to drive athlete insights, product development and strategic business and marketing endeavors in a partnership that started in 2013.

“Stephen is one of the greatest talents of our generation,” said Kevin Plank, Executive Chair and Brand Chief, Under Armour. “He is an integral part of the Under Armour family, and we are excited and inspired by this next stage in our partnership. At his core, Stephen embodies what it means to be an Under Armour athlete, and we feel fortunate to take the next step with him in continuing to empower those who strive for more, together.”

Plank was a 2017 inductee into NSGA’s Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.

FANATICS BECOMES NHL ON-ICE UNIFORM IN 2024-25

Fanatics will become the official on-ice uniform outfitter of the National Hockey League (NHL) through a 10-year agreement that starts with the 2024-25 season. It will be the first time the Fanatics logo appears on game uniforms in professional sports, although the company has made Major League Baseball game uniforms with the Nike logo since 2017. Fanatics has made the NHL Authentic Pro line of official performance and training apparel and headwear worn by players, coaches and staff since 2018.

Adidas has been the NHL’s official on-ice uniform since the 2017-18 season. Each NHL game jersey is made in a factory in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, outside of Montreal, and Fanatics will initially continue to use the same factory, same specs for players and some of the same fabrics, according to a story on NHL.com.

Csga Names New President

The Canadian Sporting Goods Association (CSGA) appointed Bryan Loucks as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Loucks is a proven executive with impressive association management experience and he joins CSGA as the association has completed its operational platform improvement and is set to bring an increased value to the membership.

“I could not be more grateful and excited to accept the position of President and CEO of the CSGA,” Loucks said. “The impact on sporting goods and retail has been significant during the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s an important time for the sporting goods industry to focus on our community. I look forward to working with our Board of Directors, our corporate partners and most of all our members to maintain, create and grow the sporting goods industry.”

Loucks replaces Jon Irwin as CSGA President & CEO. Irwin took over that role in July 2021 after Julian Savory retired.

Easton Diamond Sports Extends Little League Partnership

Little League and Easton Diamond Sports extended their official partnership through 2028. The extended agreement now incorporates Rawlings as the Official Glove of the Little League World Series starting 2023. Rawlings and Easton merged in January 2021.

“In our ever-changing industry, one thing has remained constant and that is our long-standing, valuable partnership with Little League,” said Mike Thompson, Rawlings Chief Marketing Officer. “Little League is committed to growing amateur baseball and softball and celebrates athletes by telling their stories on a regional and national stage. We look forward to being included in their unique journeys for many more years to come.”

Foot Locker Closing Stores

Foot Locker plans to close nearly 400 mall-based stores by 2026, according to a report by Retail Dive. Nearly 125 Champs stores will close in that period but other brands will expand. Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon said the company is “revitalizing” its relationship with Nike and the results will begin to show during the 2023 holiday season. Their focus will include the basketball culture and kids business.

North Carolina Lawmakers Propose Participation Trophy Ban

Three North Carolina senators are the primary sponsors of a bill that would prohibit awards for kids “based solely on their participation in the sport or other activity.” Awards could be given for identified performance achievements. The bill would apply to any youth sports or youth recreation activities operated under the authority of a local government.

What are some of your new and innovative products the industry should know about?

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