VOLUME 3 NO. 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
P I H S R E B M ME S
S R E T T A M Taking advantage of the services, benefits and opportunities available to NSGA members
Fitness Spotlight: Working Out at a Club/Gym/Fitness Studio Protect Yourself This Holiday Season
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A CHANGING UNIVERSAL New President and Headquarters for Prominent Team Dealer
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CEO CORNER
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ASSOCIATION NEWS NOW
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MEMBERSHIP NOW
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OPERATIONS NOW
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INSIGHTS NOW
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LOCKER ROOM NOW
Reflecting on 2015 and Looking Ahead Save the Date for the 2016 Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit Volunteer Opportunities for NSGA Members NSGA Member Candace Bingham Shares Her Experience in the Next Generation Leadership Program Fitness Spotlight: Working Out at a Club/Gym/Fitness Studio Baseball Bat Standard, Football Pants Rule, High School Sports Participation and More
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
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CEO CORNER Reflecting on 2015 and Looking Ahead It’s always interesting to look back on the past year and reflect. At the same time, it is important to continually look ahead and be prepared for the changes and advances before us. The sporting goods industry continues to evolve, just like any other. As a team, the NSGA staff are dedicated to helping members navigate these changes. We are continually evaluating our programs and services to provide you with the best solutions to grow your business.
NSGA OFFICERS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Randy Nill Nill Bros. Sports, Kansas City, KS
TREASURER/CHAIRMAN-ELECT David Labbe Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME
PAST CHAIRMAN Ken Meehan Dunham’s Sports, Troy, MI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dale Donaldson Mallard’s Source for Sports, Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada
Pat Donnelley Donnelley Sports, Twin Falls, ID
Rhett Johnson Johnson-Lambe Co., Raleigh, NC
Jeff Miller Scholastic Sports Sales, Ltd., Manlius, NY
Cathy Pryor Hibbett Sports, Birmingham, AL
Pete Schneider Athletic Dealers of America, Viera, FL
Rob Summerfield MC Sports, Grand Rapids, MI
STAFF Matt Carlson President & CEO
Meghan Beach Director, Membership
Dustin Dobrin Director, Research & Information
We want to make sure you are aware of all of the benefits available to you as an NSGA member. In this issue, we’ll highlight some of the initiatives and programs that NSGA has implemented or been a part of in the last year in our NSGA Year In Review on Page 8. This is just a glimpse into NSGA activities. We started 2015 with the launch of our redesigned website complete with a fresh look, new content and user-friendly features like the immediate download of NSGA research reports. The brand new NSGA Shopper Playbook, the latest addition to our research offerings, was made available in May along with the release of all of the 2015 editions. In July, NSGA entered into an agreement with a new affinity program, Payment Alliance International. This program provides members with discounts on credit card processing and terminals. Other new member programs were launched, like the cybersecurity services from Sword & Shield, we expanded our advocacy reach with a lobbying day in Washington, D.C., launched the Next Generation program to advance the skills of employees in your business, and we continue to strive to stay relevant to you and your business. In addition, this issue will provide information on ways you can get more involved in the association and the industry. Whether it is volunteering for an NSGA committee or presenting to students who may become the next generation of sporting goods business owners, we encourage you to get involved and make a difference. You can read more about the opportunities available on Page 4. As the 2015 year comes to a close, we are looking forward to offering you even more in your NSGA membership. If there is a service you are looking for, an advocacy issue you would like to see NSGA get involved with or any way you think we may be able to help, we encourage you to contact us. For more information on discounted services, publications, advocacy, research and more, I encourage you to visit nsga.org. Best regards, Matt Carlson President & CEO
Darlene King Director, Business Development
Marty Maciaszek Director, Team Dealer Division/HDA
Angela Mennecke Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Katie Nemec Director, Marketing & Communications
Nick Rigitano Research & Information Analyst
Chuck Suritz Director, Education & Strategic Planning
Larry Weindruch Director, Public Affairs
Dan Wiersma Chief Financial Officer
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Katie Nemec
Matt Carlson
Editor/Publisher
President & CEO
NSGA NOW (ISSN 1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods Association, 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite 300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035; Phone: (847) 296-6742; Fax: (847) 391-9827. Subscription price of $50 per year is included in membership fee. Non-member subscription information available from publisher. Periodical postage paid at Mount Prospect, IL 60056 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NSGA NOW, 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite 300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035. © by NSGA 2015. Printed in the USA.
November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
ASSOCIATION NEWS NOW
Looking Ahead: Save the Date and More The 2016 NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit will be held May 22-25, 2016 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This premiere event in the sporting goods industry will include education, networking, golf and so much more.
Innovations Arena is Back! Back for a second year, the NSGA Innovations Arena will highlight up-andcoming sporting goods products and retail technology to help make it easier for you to do business. For more information on the NSGA Innovations Arena please visit www.nsga.org/innovationsarena or contact Darlene King, NSGA Business Development Director at dking@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1310.
Scholarships Are Now Open! Applications are now being accepted for Scholarships to the 2016 Conference & Summit. Retailer and dealer NSGA members are eligible for the scholarship, which covers room and conference registration. Be on the lookout for a preview of the Conference & Summit in an upcoming issue of NSGA Now.
From left: Joshua Bonventre (RampShot), Kevin Texeira (RampShot) and Stephanie Rosenberg (The NPD Group Inc.) network at the Sunday evening reception
From left: McKenzie Scott (Hubba) visits with Taylor Curtis (MHT MidSpan)
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
From right: Jim Steinkirchner (Zike) and Dale Donaldson (Mallard’s Source for Sports) participate in the Official NSGA Golf Tournament
From left: Jeff Rosenthal (President & CEO, Hibbett Sports), Mark Sullivan (Executive Editor, Formula4Media) and Michael Kercheval (CEO of International Council of Shopping Centers) discuss how retail and shopping will change in the future 3
MEMBERSHIP NOW
Volunteer Opportunities for NSGA Members Your contribution makes a difference By Elvira L贸pez, Membership Services
As a member of NSGA, you are part of a very elite group that understands the importance of being involved in something bigger. In that spirit, we welcome you to take advantage of the volunteer opportunities that are available to you as a member. NSGA creates opportunities for you to make a meaningful impact on the sporting goods industry. Depending on where your interests lie, you can help make a difference by impacting policies that affect your profits, influencing younger generation interest in the industry and much more.
NSGA All-Star Awards Committee
The NSGA All-Star Awards honors individuals and organizations that support their communities or implement measures to advance and spark innovation in our industry. NSGA All-Star Awards Committee members are able to nominate and vote on who has made the biggest difference in the past year. Committee members are individuals who have an interest in promoting outstanding accomplishments and contributions that deserve to be honored and repeated throughout the industry. From left: Mickey Newsome - Hibbett Sports, David Beckerman - Starter, Curt Mueller - Mueller Sports Medicine, Ralph Parks - RT Parks, Inc., Conny Klimenko - Conny Klimenko, LLC. at the 2015 NSGA Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Dinner
Serve on a Committee or Advisory Board Help honor the pioneers, innovators and leaders who built the sporting goods industry. The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee is charged with encouraging nominations and promoting the Hall of Fame to others in the industry. The Hall of Fame Committee is made up of a geographically diverse group of retailers, team dealers, manufacturers and media in the sporting goods industry. COMMITMENT: The committee meets at the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit to discuss and determine who the inductees will be for the following year. The committee reviews nomination materials prior to and during the meeting. Additional meetings may be necessary throughout the year. INTERESTED? If you are interested in potentially participating on the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee, please contact NSGA Marketing and Communications Director, Katie Nemec, at knemec@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1070. 4
COMMITMENT: Due to the geographic diversity of committee members, most communications are conducted over the phone or by email. All committee members are expected to attend the Awards Luncheon at the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit where the awards are presented to each recipient. INTERESTED? If you are interested in potentially serving on the NSGA All-Star Awards Committee, please contact NSGA Membership Director, Meghan Beach, at mbeach@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1280.
NSGA Chairman Randy Nill, Nill Bros. Sports with Garnet Alexander, Bauer Hockey and the Industry Catalyst All-Star Award
November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
Become a Speaker for GET IN THE GAME Get In The Game* is a program created by sporting goods industry leaders designed to educate students about the exciting and rewarding careers in sporting goods that are available to talented individuals. We need volunteers to visit colleges and universities to speak to students about these opportunities. You can help the next generation to get excited about our industry by sharing your experiences and, providing advice and sharing new possibilities. Mentoring opportunities are also available as part of this program. Commitment: Presenters need to be available to speak to at least one university classroom during the school year.
Eve Mayer delivers a presentation on social media during the Team Dealer Summit at the 2015 Conference & Summit
Interested? If you are interested in becoming a Get In The Game speaker, please contact NSGA Public Affairs Director, Larry Weindruch, at lweindruch@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1290. *Registered service mark of Dunham’s Athleisure Corp
NSGA Team Dealer Advisory Committee The NSGA Team Dealer Advisory Committee gives team dealer members an opportunity to address concerns and discuss topics that are related specifically to sporting goods team dealers. Committee members are also involved in the selection process of speaker topics for the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit.
Advocate on Behalf of the Industry
COMMITMENT: The committee meets four times a year. Specifically, three times via conference call and once during the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit. INTERESTED? If you are interested in potentially participating on the NSGA Team Dealer Advisory Committee, please contact the NSGA Team Dealer Director, Marty Maciaszek, at mmaciaszek@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1260.
Let Your Opinion Be Heard Help make a difference at NSGA. We encourage all members to provide feedback on how we are serving your needs and the needs of the industry. You can express your opinion by participating in NSGA member surveys and focus groups, or by simply giving us a call. You can also help educate fellow members on industry issues and challenges by publishing an article in our NSGA NOW magazine or NSGA Scoreboard newsletter. COMMITMENT: Varies. INTERESTED? If interested, please contact our Membership Director, Meghan Beach, at mbeach@nsga.org or (800) 8155422 x1280. NSGA NOW November/December 2015
NSGA acts as a consensus builder, bringing together the interests of the sporting goods industry in order to make a meaningful impact on the policies and rulemaking bodes that affect your bottom line. Let your voice be heard.
From Left: NSGA Director of Public Affairs Larry Weindruch, Congressman Steve Womack, NSGA Member Brian Davis of Kimmel Athletic and NSGA President & CEO Matt Carlson during a NSGA lobbying day
COMMITMENT: Dependent on advocacy effort. INTERESTED? If you are interested in advocating on issues that matter most to you, please contact NSGA Public Affairs Director, Larry Weindruch, at lweindruch@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1290.
We want you to stay excited about your membership and continue to stay engaged. These opportunities are an important next step that allow you to contribute your time and talents and to show your willingness to support the sporting goods industry on a higher level. If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved with NSGA, please contact NSGA Membership Director, Meghan Beach, at mbeach@nsga.org or by calling (800) 815-5422 x1280.
If you are looking to increase the significance of your membership, get involved today! 5
FEATURE
Greg Miller, new President of Universal Athletic
A Changing Universal
New President and Headquarters for Prominent Team Dealer By Marty Maciaszek, NSGA Director of Team Dealer Division/HDA Director
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November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
Greg Miller’s days as a quarterback at Montana Tech University gave him an understanding of how game plans change. Just look at how his post-graduate plans changed after he finished school at Montana Tech in Butte. From there he went 85 miles east to Bozeman to work as a retail clerk at Universal Athletic in September 1984. “I was more interested in getting into coaching and I thought it would be a temporary stop since my wife was finishing her degree at Montana State (in Bozeman),” Miller said. “I didn’t plan on being here that long or making a career out of the sporting goods industry.” But 31 years later, Miller is still at Universal and fully entrenched in the industry. Miller achieved one of his goals by becoming the leader of the largest independent team dealer in the Larry Aasheim, United States when former President of he officially took Universal Athletic and over as president co-founder in mid-October for retiring co-founder Larry Aasheim. Miller had a one-year transition period into his new role, which was not made public, after his replacement of Aasheim was approved by Universal’s board in October 2014. Aasheim will continue to work at Universal until his retirement in June. Miller’s move was not the only significant change for Universal. It also moved its Bozeman corporate headquarters and retail and warehouse facilities into a brand new building in early October. “It’s a lot of change all at once and it’s definitely a transition period,” Miller said. “Actually, the new building is going to help with the transition.” It is a long way from Aasheim doing a lot of the sales out of the trunk of his car after forming Universal with Dick Harte in 1971. When Miller started, Universal had six locations in Montana and another just south of the border in Gillette, Wyoming.
Universal Athletic’s new headquarters, retail and warehouse facility in Bozeman, Montana
Now Universal’s footprint of 13 retail locations extends to Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, North Dakota and South Dakota. Miller said the territory Universal salesmen cover encompasses nearly 38 percent of the United States. A sizable portion of the 250 employees are similar to Miller. They have been with Universal for more than two decades because it is much more than just a place to go to work. “A lot of it has to do with being around like-minded people who all came from mostly athletic backgrounds and enjoyed competition,” Miller said. “Part of being in this business is competing. If you have that as part of your makeup and you are willing to grind it out every day you can find success. “That’s part of our culture at Universal. A lot of similar-minded people ready to go out and compete and get after it.” That mindset helped Miller quickly develop a passion for the industry and maintain his passion for athletics. His responsibilities the last 15 years also extended to project development and the renovation and remodeling of some of Universal’s retail stores.
super-efficient, and we had two offsite warehouses. To get the inventory all under one roof is huge.” And every edge is crucial in a changing landscape for the sporting goods industry and team dealers. Having three warehouses within its retail footprint allows Universal to fulfill next-day team orders. Miller said the business model of combined wholesale and retail gives Universal a unique synergy. It’s all part of the “big but local” advantage Universal has over some of its competitors. And the mindset behind that mantra, which Miller saw firsthand when he arrived to work for Aasheim and Harte, won’t change under Miller’s leadership. “One of Dick’s comments was, ‘The more things change the more things stay the same,’” Miller said. “It all comes back to customer service, delivery, quality products and fair pricing. “Things have changed a great deal and we’ve done a pretty good job of staying abreast of that. But relationships are huge. A big part of the business. We sell sporting goods but we are in the relationship business.”
“That set the stage for this project, which was the biggest one I had to tackle,” Miller said. “Moving the warehouse was the biggest challenge because we had never done that before. “We were at our old place for 45 years, with a ‘downtown Main Street’ location, and we had warehouse space in the basement and on the third floor. We had to use a freight elevator, so that wasn’t Special event at Universal Athletic’s new headquarters, retail and warehouse facility
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
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November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
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HE NEVER MISSED A GAME. (BECAUSE THERE WEREN’T ANY.)
OPERATIONS NOW
NSGA Next Generation Leadership Program Q & A with Candace Bingham, Director of Purchasing, Johnny Mac’s By Angela Mennecke, NSGA Marketing & Communications Coordinator
industry, I am well aware of its peaks and valleys. With a year to complete each track and each course lasting only an hour, it’s flexible enough to allow me to maintain my focused priority as a buyer as well as my encompassing role of Director of Purchasing for Johnny Mac’s. NSGA: Which session did you find to be most valuable? CB: Managing Supplier Relationships, Conducting Internal Analysis, Managing & Understanding Change. NSGA: Did the Program provide all that you anticipated? Was there a topic not addressed that you would have liked? NSGA: Why did you sign up for the Next Generation Leadership Program? Candice Bingham: This past spring I attended the NSGA Management Conference. While there, the Next Generation Leadership Program booklet was on a table in one of the seminars. I skimmed it and was instantly engaged. I had never seen a program that spoke directly to the industry. When I noted my interest to Johnny Mac’s President, Bob McArthur, he agreed and encouraged me to look into it further. NSGA: What do you see as the biggest advantage of the Next Gen Program? CB: The fact that I can access the program and work at my own pace was the deciding factor for my enrollment. When I initially considered the program, I questioned whether I could afford to say yes to another project. To strike a work/ life balance is always my continuing challenge. However, after a little thought, it seemed simple to execute with little risk. NSGA: Do you prefer this self-paced approach as opposed to monthly or weekly deadlines? CB: The self-paced approach ultimately is what determined my enrollment in the program. My day-to-day schedule is ever changing. Knowing the flows of the
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
CB: I cannot think of one topic that was not addressed. The program is definitely well-rounded in scope. I’ve been at Johnny Mac’s for 24 years and was worried I wouldn’t benefit from the program, but this program has opened my eyes to how other companies work, which has been a great learning experience for me as a business professional. NSGA: What would you tell the readers of the magazine about enrolling in the Next Gen Program? CB: I would tell anyone interested in The Next Generation Leadership Program to just say “yes” to the program regardless of whether or not they believe they can benefit from it. The fact is, we don’t know what we don’t know. We can always grow with continuous training and evaluating of what we do and how we do it. This program offers a core foundation of business and industry knowledge as well as insight to challenge individuals to consider various thought processes. If you take this course and walk away with just one new or challenging idea, it is well worth the time investment.
CB: I would recommend The Next Generation Leadership Program for anyone interested in broadening their skills as well as those wishing to move forward with the next step of their career. NSGA: How do you think your organization, Johnny Mac’s, benefits from your involvement in the program? CB: I know Johnny Mac’s will benefit from my involvement as it has challenged me to question and review our processes with a renewed perspective. As we are all aware, the sporting goods industry is ever evolving. Now, more than ever, we are thrust into a fast-paced mode of change. To tackle the status quo is vital and to layer it on a groundwork of sound business practices is essential. The Next Gen program has coupled both seamlessly. As a long-standing employee, it has provided me with an outward perspective of invaluable industry insight. I will no doubt utilize the knowledge gained to aid our team’s business practices in order to maintain a nimble mindset and continue to engage the evolving sporting goods environment head on.
Interesting in learning more about the NSGA Next Generation Leadership Program? Please contact NSGA Education and Strategic Planning Director Chuck Suritz at csurtiz@nsga.org or (800) 8155422 x1300 to find out more or enroll today!
NSGA: Who would you recommend the program to? Individuals in what stage of their career? Do you feel that individuals in all stages could benefit from some portion?
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OPERATIONS NOW
Protect Yourself This Holiday Season By Lara Bergman, Marketing Communications Specialist at Sword & Shield Enterprise Security and Meghan Beach, NSGA Membership Director
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November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
As we all gear up for another season of holiday purchasing, here are some tips to follow that will help reduce the chances of your business being a target of credit card fraud. Businesses need to be aware that even with the new EMV chip-enabled cards, the same precautionary safety measures must be in place to fully protect your business from liability. The harsh reality is EMV chip-enabled cards are no more secure than older cards with magnetic strips. Card issuers in the United States are not requiring personal identification numbers (PINs) along with the new chip technology, even though PIN and chip cards have been implemented globally for decades and with much success. Together, PIN and chip cards have directly reduced credit card fraud by 70% in European countries. Despite these criticisms of chip-only cards, Europay, MasterCard and Visa still held fast to their liability switch deadline in October. As a business owner, that means the responsibility lies on you.
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
What You Can Do to Protect Your Business First, you need to transition your payment terminals to EMV-ready devices, if you have not done so already. According to the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business index survey, 46% of business owners who do not plan to swap their payment terminals say their main reason for not switching is costs associated with the upgrade. NSGA has stepped in to provide the best EMV switch solution at the most affordable price. In addition to great pricing on EMV-ready equipment, NSGA and Payment Alliance International (PAI) have entered into an agreement to provide NSGA members the most competitive transaction processing fees in the sporting goods industry. PAI can help you transition to the new devices in a cost-friendly and efficient manner. Do not let the potential expenses of new EMV-ready machines cost you even more if you are held liable during a breach.
Second, Sword & Shield Director of PCI and EI3PA Services, John Harmon, advises that merchants should also continue strong safety measures at the point-of-sale, regardless of whether you are handling magnetic strip cards or EMVenabled cards. “One of the biggest things that both consumers and merchants can do during the holiday season is for merchants to ask for ID when using payment cards, even if they are using the EMV card type,” he said. Ideally, your customers will thank you “for checking and helping to reduce payment card fraud.” NSGA is here to help you protect your business and limit liability for fraudulent charges. For more information on transitioning to EMV-ready terminals, please go to www.nsga.org/pai. For more information on how you can protect yourself, your data and your cybersecurity, go to www.swordshield.com/alliances/nsga.
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November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
INSIGHTS NOW
Fitness Spotlight: Working Out at a Club/Gym/Fitness Studio By Nick Rigitano, NSGA Research & Information Analyst
According to NSGA’s annual participation study, 151 million people participated in at least one of the fitness activities tracked by NSGA during the year 2014. The seven activities NSGA includes as part of the fitness segment are Aerobic Exercising, Exercise Walking, Exercising with Equipment, Running/Jogging, Weightlifting, Work Out at Club/Gym/ Fitness Studio, and Yoga. The 2014 figure represents an increase of 0.5% vs 2013.
more time working out on their own (87%) compared to females (72%), whereas females spent more time in a class led by an instructor/trainer (23%) than males (8%). The amount of time spent working out with a personal trainer was the same across both genders (5%).
This year, NSGA took a closer look at the behaviors of people who Worked Out at a Club/Gym/Fitness Studio. Specifically, participants were asked about the percent of time they spent working out by themselves, working out with a personal trainer, or working out in a class with an instructor/trainer.
Figure 2 further illustrates the participation habits among the people that Worked Out at a Club/Gym/Fitness Studio last year. As shown, 92% of participants worked out on his or her own, 32% of participants worked out in a class led by an instructor/ trainer, and 14% of participants worked out with a personal trainer. Note the percentages add up to over 100% because it is possible that one person could participate in more than one type of workout being surveyed.
As seen in Figure 1, 79% of time was spent working out on one’s own, 16% of time was spent working out in a class led by an instructor/trainer, and 5% of time was with a personal trainer. Males spent
Figure 2 also shows some differences in habits among gender. A higher percentage of males (95%) worked out on their own compared to females (89%), whereas a higher percentage of females (45%)
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
worked out in a class led by an instructor/ trainer compared to males (18%). Lastly, the percentage of males (13%) and females (15%) who worked out with a personal trainer was similar. Figure 3 shows the gender makeup of each of the types of workouts surveyed. Of the participants who worked out on his or her own, 48% were male while 52% were female. For the participants who worked out in a class led by an instructor/ trainer, 74% were female whereas 26% were male. Lastly, of the participants that worked out with a personal trainer, 58% were female and 42% were male.
For more information on NSGA’s Sports Participation reports, please visit www.nsga.org/research, or contact Dustin Dobrin, NSGA Research and Information Director at ddobrin@nsga.org or (800) 8155422 x1170.
Type of Work Out - Time Spent
Total
Male
Female
Work out on own
79%
87%
72%
Work out in a class lead by instructor/trainer
16%
8%
23%
Work out with a personal trainer
5%
5%
5%
Type of Work Out - Participation by Gender
Total
Male
Female
Work out on own
92%
95%
89%
Work out in a class lead by instructor/trainer
32%
18%
45%
Work out with a personal trainer
14%
13%
15%
Type of Work Out - Gender Makeup
Male
Female
Work out on own
48%
52%
Work out in a class lead by instructor/trainer
26%
74%
Work out with a personal trainer
42%
58%
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
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LOCKER ROOM NOW
New USA Baseball Bat Standard Goes Into Effect in 2018
Wilson Launches New Brand Campaign; Russell Wilson Joins Advisory Staff
USA Baseball announced a new bat standard, which will apply to bats classified below the NCAA and NFHS levels, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018. The new USA Baseball bat standard (USABat) will allow youth baseball organizations in the United States to establish a wood-like standard. National member organizations that have currently decided to implement the new standard are: American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC), Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Babe Ruth Baseball/ Cal Ripken Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Little League Baseball and PONY Baseball. USA Baseball concluded that recent advancements in science, engineering, technology and the materials available to fabricate non-wood bats now allow manufacturers to construct youth bats that can perform at a wood-like level through the entire range of lengths and weights of wood bats. Current league-approved bats can be used through Dec. 31, 2017. According to USA baseball, it is the intention of bat manufacturers to make the new bats available in the fall of 2017 and in time for the 2018 season. “USA Baseball is pleased, with the support of our participating national member organizations, to announce the USABat standard,” said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler. “Beginning with the launch in 2018, we will take another step forward in making our game more uniform at the youth level and ensuring the longterm integrity of the game.” Similar to the NCAA and NFHS BBCOR standard, which helped to eliminate discrepancies with different length bats and thus provide a more direct measure of bat performance, the USABat standard will allow youth baseball organizations in the United States to reach their goal of establishing a woodlike standard. USA Baseball said waiting until 2018 to implement the USABat standard will allow bat manufacturers sufficient time to conduct the appropriate research, design, testing, manufacturing and shipping needed to get new bats into retail outlets. This date also allows participating national member organizations adequate time to educate their memberships of the USABat standard. If you have any concerns or additional questions regarding USA Baseball’s decision, please contact NSGA Team Dealer Director Marty Maciaszek at mmaciaszek@nsga.org or (800) 815-5422 x1260. 16
Image provided by Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
Wilson Sporting Goods Co., announced it has launched a new large-scale brand marketing campaign, called “My Wilson.” The campaign is designed to cast the spotlight on the powerful relationship between athletes and their equipment and the journeys and stories they create together. Wilson architected the campaign to create a conversation amongst youth athletes – across a wide range of sports – and celebrate the role their equipment plays in their lives as they pursue their personal ambitions in the sport they love to play.
The new “My Wilson” campaign has a heavy emphasis on social and digital media. At the heart of the campaign is a video, called Nothing Without It, that features amateur athletes alongside some of the world’s best professional athletes recounting the ups and downs of their journeys. Wilson Advisory Staff Members featured in the video include many of the biggest names in sports today – tennis stars Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov, baseball star Dustin Pedroia and beach volleyball standout Kerri Walsh Jennings. Through Dec. 31, 2015, Wilson will donate new sports equipment, up to a total of $250,000, for every original consumer video and photograph posted to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #MyWilson. Wilson will give this equipment to national and community-based organizations that seek to provide young athletes with access to sports equipment and champion youth sports participation. Wilson also announced in September that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has joined its Wilson Advisory Staff. Russell Wilson’s Passing Academy and Wilson Labs, the innovation hub at Wilson Sporting Goods, will partner to develop and test new football technologies aimed at improving player experience and performance. Russell Wilson joins the Company’s prolific Advisory Staff program that was established more than 85 years ago and is comprised of more than 10,000 professional athletes, coaches, teaching pros and advisors across a wide variety of sports around the world. Wilson Sporting Goods has also launched three new high performance, next generation tennis products designed for today’s modern game.The new products include the Pro Staff 97S racket, which was developed in collaboration with Wilson Advisory Staff Member Grigor Dimitrov, a line of extreme power rackets called ULTRA XP, and Element string. Wilson and Luxilon developed Element to achieve optimum power and comfort, while offering increased spin potential. For more information go to www.wilson.com.
November/December 2015 NSGA NOW
High School Sports Participation Increases for 26th Consecutive Year The number of participants in high school sports increased for the 26th consecutive year in 2014-15 – topping the 7.8 million mark for the first time – according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Based on figures from the 51 NFHS member state high school associations, which includes the District of Columbia, the number of participants in high school sports reached an all-time high of 7,807,047 – an increase of 11,389 from the previous year. While boys participation dipped 8,682 from the previous year, girls participation increased for the 26th consecutive year with an additional 20,071 participants and set an all-time high of 3,287,735. The boys participation total of 4,519,312 is No. 2 all-time behind the 2013-14 total of 4,527,994. Six of the top 10 girls sports registered increases in participation this past year, led by competitive spirit squads (5,170 additional participants) and cross country (3,495). While track and field remained the No. 1 sport for girls with 478,726 participants, volleyball (432,176) moved ahead of basketball (429,504) to secure the No. 2 spot. Ten years ago, basketball was No. 1 for girls, followed
by track and field, and volleyball. Among the top 10 boys sports, soccer registered the largest gain with an additional 15,150 participants, while wrestling (11,306) and 11-player football (9,617) had the largest declines in participation. Besides soccer, other top 10 boys sports that had increases in the number of participants were baseball (3,938) and basketball (425). “Overall, we are pleased with this year’s participation report indicating an increase for the 26th consecutive year,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “And while football participation dropped this past year, the decrease is not that significant when you consider more than 1.1 million boys and girls are involved in the sport at the high school level. “Despite other out-of-school opportunities that exist in some sports, this year’s survey is yet another confirmation that our model of education-based sports within the high school setting is the No. 1 choice for boys and girls nationwide. We applaud the more than 19,000 high schools across the country for continuing to provide these important programs despite the funding challenges that exist in some areas.”
Eleven-player football remains the runaway leader in boys participants with 1,083,617, followed by outdoor track and field (578,632), basketball (541,479), baseball (486,567) and soccer (432,569). The remainder of the top 10 is wrestling (258,208), cross country (250,981), tennis (157,240), golf (148,823) and swimming/diving (137,087). After outdoor track and field, volleyball and basketball, the remainder of the top 10 girls sports are soccer (375,681), fast-pitch softball (364,103), cross country (221,616), tennis (182,876), swimming/diving (166,838), competitive spirit squads (125,763) and lacrosse (84,785). The top 10 states by participants remained in the same order as last year, with Texas and California topping the list with 804,598 and 797,101, respectively. The remainder of the top 10 was New York (389,475), Illinois (340,972), Ohio (319,929), Pennsylvania (319,562), Michigan (295,660), New Jersey (279,377), Florida (267,954) and Minnesota (235,243). The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associations.
Manufacturers Now Have Second Option For Approved Football Gloves and Hand Pads Manufacturers of football gloves and hand pads now have a second option of getting their products approved for use in play by the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) and NCAA. Retailers and team dealers should be aware that in addition to the current NOCSAE program, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has developed a football glove and hand pad specification program.
the Director of Sports and Sports Medicine for NFHS, said the NFHS is not looking in the future to make any changes, so NOCSAE-certified inventory of gloves and hand pads will not become obsolete. Colgate said the addition of the SFIA glove and hand pad specification will be officially approved as a rules change for 2016 at the NFHS Football Rules Committee Meeting in January.
As of Dec. 1, 2015, football gloves and hand pads meeting either standard and with an approved mark may be used at the high school level. Bob Colgate,
NSGA conferred with the staff at NOCSAE. Mike Oliver, the NOCSAE Executive Director and General Counsel, said “I haven’t seen the standard they
NSGA NOW November/December 2015
(SFIA) intend to use, or the testing and enforcement protocols. But I can deduce the standard will not be as rigorous, since it was created by the manufacturers as an easier alternative to the NOCSAE standard.” NOCSAE will require third-party certification of football gloves meeting NOCSAE standards starting Dec. 31, 2015. The SFIA program will allow manufacturers to maintain selfcertification of football gloves and hand pads and all products will be verified by an independent, third-party test lab with SFIA governing compliance. 17