TO YOUR HEALTH
THE MALEY WAY TO MENTAL WELL-BEING
IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
DIVE INTO TEAM SPORTS PARTICIPATION
CEO NOW
It is no secret that hard work is the foundation of your success in the sporting goods industry.
If you have been in business for a long time you have put in a lot of long hours and extra effort to get where you need to be. You have made a lot of sacrifices along the way.
But one area none of us can afford to sacrifice, especially as we get older, is our health. It’s not something you can cut corners on mentally or physically and it’s a topic we look at in this issue of NSGA NOW.
Burnout is a word we’ve heard used quite often by people in the industry the last few years. The struggle to find people to fill all the positions on your team leads to others working harder than ever. Customers are more demanding in a 24/7/365 society that expects immediate responses to inquiries and fulfillment of orders. And it’s a big concern for the leaders of our industry.
One of the things about our industry is most of the people in it come from athletic backgrounds. They’re accustomed to pushing themselves to the proverbial limit and beyond. And they are also used to doing so without any excuses, complaints or letting someone know if they are having a problem.
Jim Maley fit that profile as a talented basketball player and ultimately successful high school coach and teacher in the Chicago area. A high achiever who seemed to have everything going for him. But underneath the surface were mental health challenges that have been part of his life since he was a teenager.
Maley ultimately had to walk away from coaching and the pressures that can even be consuming at the high school level. But he’s turned it into a positive by helping others — kids and adults — understand the importance of recognizing the signs of trouble when it comes to mental health. It’s a real-life perspective that is relatable to all of us.
And we can’t forget the impact stress and strain has on our physical health. Quite often we may feel we don’t have enough time to get the proper amount of sleep, eat right, exercise, take a break and see a doctor if something doesn’t seem right. But it’s imperative not to dismiss warning signs because your health is one of the biggest assets to your success.
NSGA OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
GORDON GEIGER
Geiger’s, Lakewood, OH
TREASURER/CHAIRMAN-ELECT
BOB FAWLEY
Capitol Varsity Sports, Oxford, OH
PAST CHAIRMAN
PAT DONNELLEY Twin Falls, ID
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KEVIN BEZANSON
Cleve’s Source for Sports, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
TROY FREEMAN
Play It Again Sports, Minneapolis, MN
COLE JOHNSON
Johnson-Lambe Sporting Goods
Raleigh, NC
JUSTIN MILLER
Scholastic Sports Sales, Manlius, NY
MICK MONTGOMERY
Denver Athletic Supply, Englewood, CO
RON RUGAL
B&R Sporting Goods, Shelby Charter Township, MI
JOHN SCIPIO
SV Sports, Pottstown, PA
NSGA TEAM LEADERS
MATT CARLSON
President & CEO
HAYLEY FANSLER
Director, Business Development
MARTY MACIASZEK
Director, Team Dealer Division, Communications
JULIE PITTS
Director, Public Affairs and President, NSSRA
NICK RIGITANO
Director, Insights and Analysis
JENNIFER SHAFFER
Chief Financial Officer
Best regards,
MATT CARLSON PRESIDENT & CEO
The National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) is a NSGA member and provides important information and updates on football helmets and other equipment.
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CONFERENCE NOW
>> Futurist Crystal Washington’s 2024 presentation was a big hit.
Register today to get an experience unlike any other event in the sporting goods industry. Check out what some of our attendees have to stay about the networking, education, recognition and more that you’ll get at the NSGA 2025 Leadership Conference!
>> Speed Networking helps build industry connections.
>> Rawlings’ Mike Thompson from the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
RECOGNITION NOW
AS EASY AS 1-2-3
1
A GAME-CHANGER
You see it on the field, the court, the ice or the slopes all the time. Advancements to make the best equipment helps bring out the best in every athlete. Innovators who also changed the way we play by making competition and recreation safer.
REASONS YOU SHOULD NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE SPORTING GOODS INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME
2
INDUSTRY IMPACT
Someone may have developed a new technology or system so you can do business more smoothly and efficiently. Through their efforts they raised the bar for everyone in the industry.
3
EXCELLENCE
Many of the biggest names in our industry were built by leaders who were driven to succeed with integrity and dignity. They provided tremendous service that benefited the sports community and made sure to give back through philanthropic efforts. They are leaders deserving of recognition.
Take a look through the previous inductees on NSGA’s Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame page at www.nsga.org/hall-of-fame/. It may be a spark and inspiration that you worked with someone in the industry who is worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. It’s also the place where you can find all the details on qualifications and how the nominating process works.
>> From left to right, inductees
Bill Hunt (CHAMPRO), Kent McKeaigg (OrderMyGear), Tom Keen (representing his late father James Clifford Keen of Cliff Keen Athletic), Jeff Lynn (Dunham’s) at the 2023 induction ceremony.
AS THE OLD SONG GOES, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN
BY RITCHIE SAYNER ADVANCED RETAIL STRATEGIES
There are dozens of song titles that contain the word MONEY.
A good example is a song recorded by Indie rock group the Stereophonics entitled, “Every Day I Think About Money.” The title of this song will surely resonate with most retailers and is a great segue into our continued focus on the topic. Cash is so important to a retailer that I wanted to continue the discussion that I began in the November-December 2024 issue of NSGA NOW.
I recently spoke with a retailer who confessed they were having serious cash flow difficulties. Operating expenses were in line, the initial markup was above average and the gross margin was particularly good.
Probing further, a sizable portion of their bloated inventory was tied up in old merchandise. By old, I mean over six months old and out of season. Clearly stock turnover in this operation was well below industry average and the store was experiencing declining traffic. Out-of-season inventory, poor cash flow and a reduction in revenue are all red flags of a slow-turning store.
Now before I get emails telling me how slow a specific category of sporting goods turns, the units needed to cover all brands or the seasonal carryover you decided to keep from last year, let me just say, I get it!
It is not the perfect merchandising scenario, and I do understand there can be exceptions. This is not to justify or explain away overbuying due to poor planning or missed markdowns, but sometimes a small percentage of seasonal carryover will not kill you unless it is destroying your cash. Then it can kill you. If this is the case, you have a systemic planning problem.
I asked the owner to outline his markdown philosophy. He replied he did not believe in markdowns because he did not want to create the image of being a “sale store.” He was also enormously proud of the gross margin percentage on his financials.
So, to recap, we have a store with too much dated inventory that is losing business, does not like to run sales, is terrified to see a reduction in margin, and has no cash. Got it? He asked me if I had any suggestions for him. Boy, do I ever. This is what I told him — “Take the Money and Run” — which is also a 1976 hit by the Steve Miller Band.
First off, I asked him when customers come in what do they ask to see?
“Well, they want to see what has come in since their last visit,” he said.
“Okay,” I replied, “so I presume that several customers must ask to see what is old or from last year that they might look at, is that true?”
He looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, “of course not, no one ever asks that.” To which, I asked him, then why do you have over half of your inventory tied up in old merchandise that no one is interested in? In fact, even though on paper you have way more inventory than you should, you are understocked and missing sales on merchandise people would buy.
I went on to explain that by carrying over out-of-season merchandise and not taking needed markdowns, he was tying up dollars that he should be spending on the merchandise people wanted to buy. However, at this point, he did not have the cash to reorder the good sellers either.
Secondly, forget about the margin! In your predicament this should be low on your list of concerns. If you still believe a margin percentage on a financial statement is worth more than cash in your checking account, try offering it to your vendors in lieu of sending a check and see what kind of response you get. Thirdly, you are worried about image. What kind of image do you think you are creating by carrying a store that is half-filled with old goods no one is interested in? A properly timed and executed markdown cadence will not adversely affect your image as much as not paying your bills, not buying new merchandise, or going out of business will. That’s a fact!
Fourth, that margin on your Profit and Loss statement that you are so proud of is most likely costing you more in taxes than you ever thought. Since you have been reluctant to take timely markdowns, the value of the inventory in your store is overstated and the cost of goods sold (COGS) is lower than it otherwise would be, causing your gross margin to be overstated.
A higher gross margin minus operating expenses equals higher net profit, which leads to higher taxes. Not taking the markdowns has created a taxable situation because of the profit showing on your financial statements. Of course, you do not have the money to even pay the taxes because it is all tied up in the old inventory.
If any of this sounds familiar, you have a planning problem. A well-constructed merchandise plan would plan sales volume and inventory levels (and yes markdowns, too) at the classification level. This way you would know exactly how much to buy, when to best time deliveries, and when to mark down what isn’t working.
Once you implement and begin following the discipline of a merchandise plan, the percentage of old merchandise diminishes replaced by new merchandise, customers begin finding their way back to you because your “image” is improving. Best of all you have cash in the bank to pay your bills.
RITCHIE SAYNER
Sayner has spent the past four decades helping independent retailers improve profitability. In addition to speaking to retail groups nationwide, Sayner is a regular contributor to retail industry publications. Prior to embarking on his retail consulting career, he was the general merchandise manager for an independent department store in the Midwest. Ritchie is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. He is also the author of the book, “Retail Revelations-Strategies for Improving Sales, Margins, and Turnover.” He can be reached though his website at www.advancedretailstrategies.com. @RitchieSayner
INSIGHTS NOW
DIVING INTO ORGANIZED TEAM SPORTS PARTICIPATION
BY NICK RIGITANO NSGA DIRECTOR OF INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS
Organized participation is a very important component of team sports participation because it directly cultivates opportunities for sales of uniforms, equipment, apparel, footwear, training aids, field equipment and more.
As you may be aware, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) started providing an overview of organized (high school team, park district team, regular league, etc.) vs. recreational (just playing with family and friends) participation in select team and individual sports as part of its Sports Participation in the US report in 2019. Included in this overview is a snapshot of the percentage of time spent participating in the two varieties of play as well as the percentage of participants participating in each and/ or both categories.
Figure 1 looks at the total number of participants playing the given team sports in some form of an organized manner during 2023. As seen in Figure 1, basketball (13.8 million) and soccer (10.5 million) were the sports with the most organized participants.
Baseball (8 million), volleyball (7.2 million) and softball (6.2 million) were next in line followed by tackle football (5.5 million) and flag football (4.5 million).
Ice hockey (2.8 million) had the lowest number of organized participants out of the sports listed, which falls in line with expectations considering it is a smaller sport in terms of overall participants (3.5 million).
In terms of growth, flag football (+29%) and tackle football (+26%) experienced the highest percentage increase in organized participants during 2023 compared to the prior year. Basketball (+22%), soccer (+20%) and volleyball (+16%) also experienced similar healthy increases while ice hockey grew more modestly (+2.4%). In contrast, baseball (-1.8%) and softball (-7.7%) saw a decline in the number of organized participants.
The last column of the chart also illustrates how organized participation has fared since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. As shown, flag football (+14.7%) has experienced the largest percentage increase compared to 2019 out of the sports listed. Similarly, organized volleyball (+7.8%), soccer (+7.3%) and ice hockey (+3.1%) participation also surpassed 2019 marks but at more modest rates.
In contrast, while basketball (-7.6%) and tackle football (-7.1%) have seen growth in organized participation in recent years, these sports have not yet recovered to 2019 levels. Furthermore, baseball (-15.6%) and softball (-17.1%) were the two sports experiencing declines in their most recent year and thus moving further away from 2019 levels.
Continuing to find ways to promote and increase participation in organized sports will remain a core objective in the sporting goods industry. Stay tuned to www.nsga.org/research and all NSGA communications vehicles for the release of the 2025 edition of the Sports Participation in the US report containing updates to these figures.
Figure 1
INDUSTRY NOW
“THE MALEY WAY”
FORMER BASKETBALL PLAYER, COACH PROVIDES PATH TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH
For a long time, the Maley way was not all that great. Jim Maley admits to that freely.
Maley’s life appeared ideal, all-American, almost out of a storybook. The suburban-Chicago native played for a state-qualifying high school basketball team, earned a place on a Big Ten Conference college roster, worked as a financial trader, coached and taught high school students and married and had four children.
But things aren’t always as they seem. Few people saw the Maley who wanted to blow out his knee ligaments so he couldn’t play basketball again. Or the Maley who would stare at a blank computer screen for four hours, trying in vain to get his thoughts in writing. Or the Maley who hoped he would fall asleep one day while driving and never wake up.
Clinical depression runs in Maley’s family. It’s run through Maley, too. Now, Maley is attempting to stop or slow that advance — among the teenagers he
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JIM MALEY
teaches, but also among others well into adulthood.
“The Maley Way” is the presentation Maley has been making to various groups on a regular basis since late last year. He covers his history but also the stigma that surrounds mental illness, effective self-help strategies and ways for those who are suffering to seek professional assistance.
“The one thing I do know is it’s pretty tough to do it alone,” said Maley, 40, who teaches physical education and health at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. “I tried to do it alone for a long time, and it didn’t work out.”
Problems began in earnest for Maley when he was 17. He sustained a concussion during his senior basketball season at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois, next door to Maley’s hometown of Western Springs.
>> Former college basketball player and high school coach Jim Maley is sharing his battles with depression with other students and adults through “The Maley Way.”
BY NICK VLAHOS
The Lions finished in fourth place in the 2001 Illinois Class AA state tournament, and Maley averaged 12½ points during his team’s final four games. But something wasn’t quite right.
“For the rest of my senior year, I was not sleeping, getting irritable,” Maley said about his post-concussion life. “I just kept playing. I lied to (my coach), lied to my parents, lied to everyone. Looking back, it got me into a major depressive episode.”
Another episode happened during Maley’s freshman year at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The sadness became so overwhelming that Maley lost his will to play basketball. He confided in his coach, Bill Carmody. According to Maley, he was unlike the drill-sergeant coaching stereotype.
“He was ahead of his time,” Maley said. “He was like, ‘I think you’ve been dealing with depression for a month now.’ When I walked out, he said, ‘You’re just a stubborn Irishman.’ He was right. I was stubborn.
“Stubbornness to me was a great thing for a long time. It allowed me to be a great student and a great athlete. But when it came to mental health, stubbornness just kind of destroyed me for a while. I wasn’t willing to admit it.”
Maley left Northwestern for the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., where he became just a regular student. After graduation, he migrated from banking to coaching basketball at high schools in the Chicago area, including Conant. But his depression persisted and magnified.
No longer could Maley hide his mental-health problems from his family.
His behavior helped influence his mother, Pat, who died in 2018, to share with him her battles with depression.
“My wife saw me curled up in a ball under a blanket, crying. That’s kind of when my mom and dad realized what was going on,” Maley said. “She told me her story. Dad was crying. He said, ‘Jimmy, this is exactly what your mother looked like 35 years ago, when we got her help for the first time.’”
Counseling and medication helped Maley for a while, but even then he would have ups and downs. A profound downswing happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools across the country suspended in-person classes.
Maley called his COVID-era depression bout his worst. He pondered suicide, unlike previous episodes. It frightened Maley to the point of hospitalization.
“I was so scared to do that,” he said. “I thought it would be like ‘One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest.’ Actually, it was a way to reset me and find out what things would permanently work for me.”
A change in medication, to something his mother used, was one.
“It can do some damage to your kidneys, but if it means 10 years off my life so I’m never thinking about leaving my kids again, I’ve got to take that risk,” he said. Drinking more water every day also has proved to help. Medical studies have shown a link between dehydration and depression. Maley realized he’d been dehydrated his whole life. That included drinking insufficient amounts of water during basketball practice.
“You were almost like a wuss if you drank water,” Maley said.
But perhaps the best treatment for Maley required no ingestion.
About six years ago, Maley started speaking to Conant classes about his struggles. The talk sprang from the eulogy he gave at his mother’s funeral. He shared publicly for the first time his depression battle and how his mom had helped him through it. So has his wife, Katie, who also went to Lyons Township.
One of the funeral attendees was a Conant colleague who pleaded Maley’s case for addressing the student body. Initially, Maley spoke for eight consecutive class periods, about 40 minutes a crack. It was kind of exhausting, but talking has been more effective for Maley than medicating.
“It sounds weird, but it’s been my form of therapy,” he said. “I do throw a lot of humor in the presentation. I don’t want it to seem like it’s all doom and gloom.
“I get kids coming up to me all the time asking if I can talk to them (one-onone). I tell them I’m not a professional, but they like knowing I’ve experienced what they’ve experienced. I try to convince them to go to a mental-health professional. I’m kind of like an avenue to get them into that door.”
Maley makes his Conant presentation every two years, to avoid students hearing it two years in a row. Before COVID, he also talked with students at Hinsdale Central High School in suburban Chicago, where one of his sisters works.
In 2024, Maley posted on social media video clips of his Hinsdale Central talk. The posts included a link to the fundraising page for a co-worker who was running a marathon to benefit Erika’s Lighthouse, a Chicagoarea organization that helps combat adolescent depression.
The response to those video clips persuaded Maley to take his mental-health talks beyond the classroom. By early 2025, Maley made about a dozen presentations, all in the Chicago area. Schools have been among the sites, but Maley also has addressed a church group, a men’s group and a parents’ group.
Maley said his new avocation has been kind of cool. But his basketball experiences also have helped him pave a new, better way.
“When I was a coach, I used to tell players to screen selfishly, (because) when you screen, you’re helping your teammates but you’re also getting yourself open,” Maley said. “Now I want them to share selfishly.
“By sharing my story and sharing what I’ve experienced with mental health, 90 percent of the reason is to help others, but there’s that 10 percent where I think it helps me. That’s why I encourage kids to share with someone else, because it could help someone else.”
NICK VLAHOS
Nick Vlahos has spent most of the last 40-plus years covering sports for newspapers in Illinois, Missouri and North Dakota. He was a columnist and high school sports editor at the Peoria (Illinois) Journal Star, where he worked for more than 34 years. Vlahos is a graduate of Bradley University and the University of Missouri. He also is a hopeless Chicago Cubs fan, as if there is any other kind.
>> Jim Maley coaching the boys basketball team at Conant High School in suburban Chicago.
INDUSTRY NOW
THE HEALTH OF YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES IS CRUCIAL TO THE HEALTH OF YOUR BUSINESS
BY MARTY MACIASZEK NSGA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Dick Vermeil was only 46 years old and a few years removed from leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl when he made a shocking announcement to a room filled with sports reporters and TV cameras.
The seemingly indefatigable, highachieving and emotional Vermeil announced he was leaving coaching. The reason?
“I’m physically and emotionally burned out,” Vermeil said in January 1983.
The term “burnout” used by Vermeil was uncommon at that time. It was one of the first high-profile instances of a high-profile figure publicly admitting he had become overwhelmed by the demands of his job. His legendary drive to succeed through 20-hour workdays and routinely sleeping in his office finally caught up with him.
Vermeil became a broadcaster before returning to coaching after a 14-year hiatus and eventually winning the 2000 Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. However, most people in the workforce don’t have the luxury of a nice broadcasting fallback because they’re worn out from the daily demands of success.
While burnout is not classified as a medical condition by the World Health Organization (WHO), it was included in a 2019 revision of the International Classification of Diseases as an occupational phenomenon. According to the WHO, it is viewed as a syndrome resulting
from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed and is characterized by three dimensions:
• feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
• increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
• reduced professional efficacy. Burnout can impact your company’s bottom line. Lower productivity, high turnover and absenteeism and potentially higher medical costs can cost up to 15%–20% of total payroll in voluntary turnover costs, on average, from burnout, according to a story from Gallup Workplace, “How to Prevent Employee Burnout.”
The ability to connect with customers immediately at any time via emails or texts can also become a liability for mental health. It has become second nature to check and respond to emails on our mobile devices at all hours. Mental breaks such as reading, relaxing or getting enough sleep can make you and your team members more effective and efficient, according to the Gallup story.
We hear “work-life balance” used frequently but it matters. Everyone should be encouraged to take their earned vacation time and other days off to get away from the grind and get re-charged.
That leads us to the physical side of handling the stress and strain of the demands of helping your business succeed. A physical break can help during stressful moments. A quick walk
or a short workout can make a big difference in tackling all the challenges that are ahead.
But the demands of work can also lead to putting off visits to the doctor for checkups or to get examined when something doesn’t feel right. Regular visits to a physician are important to help keep potential issues from becoming more serious, according to Comprehensive Primary Care in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
For someone who would be considered generally healthy, a typical adult physical schedule would be once every 2–3 years for ages 19–21, once every 1–3 years for ages 22–64 and every year for anyone over age 65. These timelines may change if you smoke or once smoked or have chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or depression.
The phrase “health of your business” is used to describe how things are going from an operational standpoint. But staying in tune the mental and physical health of yourself and your team members is even more crucial to the success of your business.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
https://comprehensiveprimarycare. com/how-often-should-adults-geta-physical/
https://www.gallup.com/workplace /313160/preventing-and-dealingwith-employee-burnout.aspx
https://hbr.org/2016/11/ beating-burnout
https://positivepsychology.com/ burnout-prevention/
NEWS NOW
NOCSAE ADVANCES YOUTH FOOTBALL HELMET STANDARD TO FINAL STATUS
The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) finalized the first youth football helmet standard at its Winter Standards Committee meeting.
The NOCSAE Standards Committee voted to move ND006-23 from proposed status to a minimum 24-month final status with an effective date of February 7, 2027.
For more than a decade, NOCSAE has researched science and data to support a separate standard for football helmets specific to youth players, according to the NOCSAE website. The NOCSAE Standards Committee voted in January 2020 to formally begin the development process for a youth helmet performance standard.
For purposes of this standard, the definition of youth football is “Football played at a level below high school” and the definition of a youth player as “Any player participating in Youth Football.”
NOCSAE executive director Mike Oliver said he has received no negative feedback from the youth football governing bodies on adopting this standard.
There will be messaging for football organizations, consumers and the industry regarding the youth helmet standard. One of the key messages is existing helmets currently in use or produced during the final status period that meet current NOCSAE standards would not become obsolete once the youth football standard goes into effect.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MAKES FOUR EQUIPMENT RULE CHANGES
Four revisions dealing with player equipment in high school football were among the eight changes
recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 12–14 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
One of the equipment changes next year will permit some additional electronic communication with players during games; however, in-helmet communication is still not allowed. A change in Rule 1-5-3c(2) will permit fixed electronic signs with play signals as well as non-audio methods. However, players between the numbers still are not permitted to watch video. In the same Rule 1-5-3c(3), another new item was added to the illegal equipment listing. Any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device worn by a player during the game is not permitted. No player participating in the game is allowed to wear any device that would record or transmit audio or video.
The remaining player equipment changes focus on tooth and mouth protectors and arm sleeves. The committee approved two new additional requirements in Rule 1-5-1d(5) for tooth and mouth protectors, which are required in high school football. Tooth and mouth protectors a) shall not include any attachment(s) that do not serve a purpose and function in protecting the teeth or mouth, and b) shall not include anything that is a health or risk issue and could pose danger to themselves or other players.
A new item was added to Rule 1-5-2d regarding a change in arm sleeve specifications. The new language, effective with the 2027 season, states that “arm sleeves, whether attached to a shirt or unattached, manufactured to enhance contact with the football or opponent, must meet the SFIA specification at the time of manufacture. Arm sleeves must have a permanent, exact replica of the SFIA arm sleeve
seal (meets SFIA specification), that must be visible and appear legibly on the exterior of the arm sleeve.”
The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), in working with football arm sleeve manufacturers and the NFHS, has developed the new football arm sleeve performance specifications to be effective with the 2027 season. The new specifications closely align with the current NFHS rules for football gloves.
“One of our responsibilities is to properly respond to advancements in equipment and technology. Through deliberate research, debate and input from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and engineers, we are confident the rule changes regarding equipment are a positive move for our game,” said Steve Roberts, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and associate executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TO ALLOW USE OF TEXTURED BALL; RULE CHANGES MADE REGARDING UNIFORMS
Permitting state associations to use a textured volleyball and two modifications related to uniforms were among the volleyball rule changes made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Six rule changes were recommended by the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee in January and were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, state associations will be permitted to adopt the use of a textured ball — which is commonly used in boys volleyball — for boys or girls matches with the addition of Rule 3-2-1 NOTE. The state association adoption also removes restrictions on color and shape of panels for a textured ball. Rule 3-2-1 panel color, number and shape requirements for a smooth ball remain.
Continued on page 27
NEWS NOW
Continued from page 25
Two rules regarding uniforms were modified to address undergarments and number placement. Rule 4-2-4 was amended to note that, beginning in 2029, uniform numbers must simply be centered on the upper half of the uniform. This removes the requirement for the number to be 5 inches from the top and bottom of the garment and the need for officials to measure the distance.
Undergarments were addressed in a change to Rule 4-2-1, which now allows players to wear solid black, white or gray undergarments under the uniform top or bottom if the predominant color of the team uniform cannot be matched. However, all team members, other than the libero, must still wear the same color undergarment.
NCAA MAKES WOMEN’S WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP SPORT
The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport as all three divisions approved the addition at the Association’s annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will be in 2026.
Women’s wrestling now advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another.
“We are thrilled that women’s wrestling will be an NCAA sport, making it the 91st championship that we host,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “We extend a big thank you to everyone who supported this effort and the athletes, coaches and fans for their passion for a fast-growing and exciting sport that brings even more opportunities for women to participate in athletics.”
KAMPUS KLOTHES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS
Kampus Klothes, a team dealer located in suburban Philadelphia, announced it is expanding to two new facilities which are expected to be completed in January 2026.
The brand new Kampus Klothes’ facilities will be about a mile from its current location. The expansion provides a brand new space for employees and a new warehouse to provide more space for products.
“We are incredibly optimistic about moving into our new home, and for what’s to come with this next chapter. We are super-excited for what’s to come and it would not have been possible without each and every one of you and your ongoing support,” Kampus Klothes said in a social media post.
Kampus Klothes is a longtime NSGA member and a NSGA MVP Verified Independent Dealer Tom Gonsiewski is a member of the NSGA Team Dealer Advisory Committee.
NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TEAMS WILL EARN MONEY FOR THEIR CONFERENCES
Beginning this year, teams participating and advancing in the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship will earn financial rewards for their conferences, the Division I membership decided on January 15 at the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
“This is a historic day for women’s sports, women’s basketball and the NCAA,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “We have made investing in women’s sports a priority, and today’s vote means our members have the opportunity to do even more on campus to promote and support female athletes. I can’t wait to see all the incredible things they do.”
The “units” will be earned first with the 2025 tournament and distributed starting in 2026. Last summer, the NCAA Board of Governors approved the funding to establish two revenue distribution categories and to increase their value to $25 million over three years.
The distribution structure for the Women’s Basketball Equal Conference Fund and Women’s Basketball Performance Fund will be similar to that of the Division I men’s basketball tournament.
The funds will begin at a combined value of $15 million in the 2025–26 fiscal year, increase to $20 million for 2026–27 and reach $25 million starting with 2027–28. After reaching the fully funded amount of $25 million, the funds would grow at the same rate as all other Division I funds, which is approximately 2.9% each year. Units earned by participating teams would be paid out to schools’ respective conference offices starting in 2026 on a rolling three-year basis.
STAHLS’ FULFILL ENGINE COLLABORATES WITH OMG
STAHLS’ Fulfill Engine announced a new collaboration with OrderMyGear (OMG). It enables OMG users to tap into the STAHLS’ Fulfill Engine network to efficiently sell and fulfill custom decorated orders of all sizes, including single-unit orders, while also optimizing their workflows for all types of apparel and hard good decoration methods.
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STAHLS’ and OrderMyGear are longtime members and supporters of NSGA.
STAHLS’ HOTRONIX® SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH STAMPINATOR™
STAHLS’ Hotronix®, the world’s leading heat press manufacturer, announces an exclusive worldwide manufacturing, distribution and service agreement with Stampinator™. The Hotronix® and Stampinator™ partnership brings together the best in heat press technology to screen printers who own automatic screen printing presses and want to stay on the cutting-edge of on demand printing.
This agreement integrates Hotronix IQ® heat press technology into the innovative Stampinator™ concept, allowing automatic screen print press users unprecedented flexibility for achieving specialty finishes beyond the limits of traditional screen printing. In addition, it allows screen printers to improve screen print results with underbase stamping to smooth fibers for better opacity and quick cure capabilities, producing very bright soft transfer results on all types of fabrics.
The Hotronix® Stampinator™ fits seamlessly and easily on automatic screen printing presses, transforming the way screen printers operate.
Hotronix® SVP & Chief Manufacturing Officer Ben Robinson explains that with the Stampinator™, “high-speed screen printing is now at your fingertips, ready to plug, press and play.” By incorporating this in-line heat press technology, decorators can achieve full automation, increasing output from 20 shirts per hour to a staggering 480 shirts per hour — all within their existing automatic screen print press setup. STAHLS’ is a long-time NSGA member and supporter.
Ted Stahl is a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
USA HOCKEY ANNOUNCES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH CCM HOCKEY
USA Hockey announced a multi-year partnership with CCM Hockey, a member of the Hockey Dealers Association. CCM Hockey will have designation as an official partner and equipment supplier of USA Hockey. With CCM’s innovation and performance-driven products, USA Hockey’s national teams will be equipped with the highest quality gear to compete at the highest level of international hockey.
CCM Hockey is a member of the Hockey Dealers Association.
FAIRFAX FINALIZES TRANSACTION TO ACQUIRE CONTROLLING OWNERSHIP OF PEAK ACHIEVEMENT ATHLETICS
Peak Achievement Athletics, Inc., the parent company of Bauer Hockey, announced that certain affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited finalized a transaction to acquire all the outstanding equity interests in Peak from Sagard Holdings Inc. and other minority shareholders.
On September 30, 2024, Peak announced Fairfax’s plans to acquire ownership of Peak and its stable of brands, including Bauer Hockey (a member of the Hockey Dealers Association), Cascade Lacrosse and Maverik Lacrosse, and the December 23 closing completes the process.
Bauer Hockey is a member of the Hockey Dealers Association.
MUELLER SPORTS MEDICINE ACQUIRES PRO ORTHOPEDIC
Mueller Sports Medicine acquired the iconic Pro Orthopedic brand, a renowned provider of Neoprene products for both high-level athletes and active individuals to live under the Mueller Sports Medicine family of products.
The acquisition marks a significant benchmark in Mueller Sports Medicine’s long-term strategy to expand its product portfolio and global reach within the professional/institutional market. Since 2019, Mueller Sports Medicine has been the exclusive distributor of Pro Orthopedic Device’s Pro Compression Bandage and Scissors products. By integrating Pro Orthopedic’s advanced technologies and specialized product offerings into the Mueller portfolio, Mueller and Pro Orthopedic will continue delivering cutting-edge solutions to help athletes stay in the game.
“Mueller Sports Medicine couldn’t be prouder to acquire such an iconic brand in Pro Orthopedic Devices, the true inventor of Neoprene sleeves and braces,” said Brett Mueller, CEO of Mueller Sports Medicine. “G.E. “Moose” Detty, amongst the first Certified Athletic Trainers and Founding Members of the prestigious NFL Professional Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS), developed and invented what has grown into an industry in and of itself. Moose’s son, Gerry, has successfully led the brand for many years as the Detty and Mueller families enjoyed the growth in the sports medicine industry together. We are happy and privileged to have Gerry join our team.”
“Pro (Orthopedic) has been manufacturing and selling neoprene products to the sports medicine world for 55+ years,” said Gerry Detty, owner of Pro Orthopedic Devices.
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“We have seen many companies come and go over time. One constant is Mueller Sports Medicine. Pro cannot think of anyone better to take over the distribution of our core products than Mueller, assuring our customers the availability of their favorite Pro products for many years to come.”
Mueller Sports Medicine is a longtime member and supporter of NSGA. Founder Curt Mueller is a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
PRET HELMETS NAMES MARK CAVANAUGH AS CEO
Chief Executive Officer, Allison Boersma, who was previously the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer. Joining them on Riddell’s executive leadership team is Aravind Kashyap, Chief Information Officer (CIO), who assumed the position last fall.
Riddell is a NSGA member.
BRISKIN NEW HIBBETT CEO
ages and skill sets through advanced technologies and continued innovation.
Pret Helmets has appointed Mark Cavanaugh as its new CEO, effective immediately. Cavanaugh replaces Steve Bellefeuille, who joined Pret in June 2017 as president and CEO. In a media release, the ski and snowboard helmet and goggles maker said that Cavanaugh will focus on “driving Pret’s continued global growth, further strengthening the connection with customers and athletes and accelerating the company’s product innovation pipeline within the global outdoor marketplace.
RIDDELL ANNOUNCES
LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS, EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS
Football helmet manufacturer Riddell announced it has promoted Thad Ide to Chief Product Officer and Michael Oller to Executive Vice President of Revenue and Customer Experience. Both appointments were effective on January 1 and made at the direction of the company’s new President and
Jared Briskin has added the CEO title at Hibbett to his responsibilities as president, according to a post on LinkedIn and a story in SGB Media. Briskin, who has been with Hibbett for 27 years, will replace Mike Longo in both positions. Briskin was promoted from COO to President in September 2024, approximately one month after Hibbett was acquired by international sports retailer JD Sports. Briskin had been Hibbett’s executive vice president of merchandising since September 2021 and started with the company as a buyer of college apparel in April 1988.
Hibbett is a long-time member of NSGA.
Mickey Newsome and Cathy Pryor of Hibbett are members of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
CERTOR SPORTS, GUARDIAN SPORTS ENTER STRATEGIC
Certor Sports, the parent company of football brands Schutt and VICIS, and Guardian Sports, creator of the Guardian Cap, have entered into a new strategic alliance. This collaboration is focused, with a shared passion for safety, on providing unparalleled protective performance to football players of all
“Certor Sports admires and appreciates any company who is committed to developing protective technologies, and Guardian Sports is clearly in this category. While we remain highly confident in our industry-leading Schutt and VICIS helmet technologies, we fully support any player, parent, or coach who chooses to utilize the Guardian Cap additional protective device to further their confidence in the safety of the sport,” said Jeremy Erspamer, President and CEO of Certor Sports. “We encourage continuous innovation and believe that all participants should do their research and choose the protective equipment that best meets their personal preferences.
“In doing so we are formally stating, under NOCSAE regulations, all Schutt and VICIS helmets worn in practice or games with a properly installed Guardian Cap remain fully certified and warrantied should the player, parent, or coach choose to do so and if allowable by applicable league regulations.”
REI NAMES BETH LAUGHTON NEW CEO AND ANNOUNCES EXIT OF EXPERIENCES BUSINESS
REI Co-op president & CEO, Eric Artz, announced he will retire in March as CEO, marking a new chapter in the co-op’s 87-year history. Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI Board Director and seasoned retail leader, will join REI as president on February 3, 2025, before assuming full CEO responsibilities on March 31. REI Co-op also announced the exit of its Experiences business, which includes adventure travel, day tours and classes, after 40 years.
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NEWS NOW
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REI Is a longtime member of NSGA and Wally Smith is a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
POSITIVE COACHING ALLIANCE NAMES JASON SACKS NEW CEO
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) president Jason Sacks has been named the organization’s new CEO, effective February 1.
Sacks has been with PCA for 18-plus years and has led PCA’s growth of impact to millions of youth participating in youth sports. Jason has created innovative partnerships across all of youth sports, media outlets, leading brands, including Curry Brand/Under Armour, ESPN, National Women’s Soccer League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Little League International, US Soccer Federation, and many more. Under his leadership, PCA has successfully expanded its reach and impact through partnerships and attracting leading philanthropic organizations to support PCA’s commitment to ensuring youth sports are done right in all communities across the country.
The Positive Coaching Alliance is a collaborator with NSGA.
ARC’TERYX ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS
Arc’teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, has announced the appointment
of Matt Bolte as Chief Merchandising Officer. Additionally, the company named Marissa Pardini as General Manager and Ben Stubbington as Creative Director of its Veilance brand.
Bolte brings nearly 35 years of extensive retail leadership experience to Arc’teryx, spanning multiple global markets. He is a digitally savvy leader adept at managing complex organizations amid the current seismic shifts happening in retail. Prior to joining Arc’teryx, Bolte was a partner at ThenWhat, Inc., where he focused on brand consulting and launching innovative apparel brands. Before that, his 17-year tenure at Nike included leadership roles in product and merchandising across key product categories including men’s performance, sportswear, over multiple geographies. In his role at Arc’teryx, he will oversee the strategic direction of merchandising, planning, programming and business development across all product categories.
Pardini joins Arc’teryx from Vans where she most recently served as Chief Product & Merchandising Officer — a newly created role at the time where she oversaw the company’s global apparel and footwear product and merchandising function. While with the company, she helped Vans reach more than $1 billion in direct-to-consumer sales, ascending the organization’s ranks from buyer to director roles in footwear to VP of Merchandising. She brings a wealth of experience in driving business growth and operational excellence having held roles at Vans sister company, The North Face, as the Americas VP/GM and as a buyer at Bloomingdale’s. In her new role as General Manager, she will oversee Veilance’s global strategy, ensuring alignment with the brand’s mission of delivering precision-engineered apparel for urban environments.
Stubbington brings his extensive expertise in design and product development, as well as his experience in
leading design teams for nearly 20 years. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Design for Lululemon where he oversaw Men’s, Men’s and Women’s Lab, and overarching Creative Direction for the business. Under his leadership, the men’s business grew over five times. Prior to Lululemon, Stubbington was Creative Director, Men’s for Theory for nearly eight years. Known for his visionary approach to integrating aesthetics and functionality, Stubbington leads the creative direction for Veilance, shaping its product offerings and brand identity. Stubbington is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
ESCALADE NAMES NEW CEO AND PRESIDENT
Escalade, Inc. announced the appointment of Armin Boehm as Chief Executive Officer and President following an extensive search process as part of a planned succession. Boehm will succeed Walter P. Glazer, Jr., who in August 2024 announced his plans to retire as CEO and President. Boehm will begin as Escalade CEO and President on April 1, 2025.
“Armin is a visionary leader with a deep understanding of the sporting goods industry,” Glazer said. “His extensive global experience, combined with his collaborative and dynamic approach, makes him the ideal CEO to guide Escalade into its next chapter of growth and innovation.
“His strategic mindset, respect for our company’s heritage, and passion for delivering exceptional consumer experiences position him well for success. I look forward to supporting Armin as he takes on this new leadership role while I continue to serve our shareholders as Chairman of the Board of Directors.”
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Boehm brings over three decades of leadership experience across premier global brands and three continents. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer and a member of the Global Leadership Team at Gibson Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, where he played a pivotal role in driving growth for the company’s renowned musical instrument and sound solutions portfolio, including Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer.
NJCAA, ZEPHYR EXTEND HEADWEAR PARTNERSHIP
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced a partnership renewal with Zephyr to continue as the NJCAA’s Official Headwear Provider.
“Zephyr hats have become a core part of our national championships,” said Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. “The hard work from Zephyr has provided so many lasting memories for NJCAA student-athletes, and I couldn’t be more excited for our continued partnership.”
Through this agreement, Zephyr will continue to provide the official NJCAA National Championship hats for winning teams while providing discounted team prices for NJCAA members throughout the regular season.
KT TAPE ACQUIRED BY BRIDGES CONSUMER HEALTHCARE
Bridges Consumer Healthcare LLC, a consumer healthcare platform made up of nine over-the-counter and personal care brands, acquired KT® Tape, the leading kinesiology tape brand
designed to provide drug-free pain relief and support for muscles, tendons and ligaments.
The strategic move diversifies and strengthens Bridges’ portfolio of specialty OTC brands, increasing its scale and positioning for accelerated organic growth and further add-on opportunities. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
S+S ACTIVEWEAR REINFORCES CANADIAN COMMITMENT
S&S Activewear is reinforcing its commitment to Canada with significant investments in its Canadian division. As part of this initiative, the company announced a new commercial structure and key leadership appointments, effective February 1.
To drive continued growth and enhance customer support, Craig Ryan has been appointed vice president of commercial Canada. In this newly developed role, Ryan will lead the Canadian market’s strategic direction, overseeing all sales operations and working closely with dedicated functional leaders. With a deep understanding of the Canadian apparel distribution industry, Ryan has served as vice president of sales at alphabroder since 2013 and played an integral role in the recent integration with S&S Activewear.
Additionally, Steven Clune has been named national director of sales for Canada, reporting directly to Ryan. In this role, Clune will strengthen sales efforts nationwide, ensuring comprehensive coverage for the S&S product portfolio. With extensive industry expertise, he is well-positioned to support the sales team and enhance the customer experience for the region’s thousands of decorators, retail brands, merchandisers and more.
“This is an exciting time for S&S Activewear in Canada,” Ryan said. “With this new structure, we are reinforcing our focus on the Canadian market and strengthening our ability to serve customers with the best products, service and support.”
S&S Activewear is a NSGA supporter.
WILSON LAUNCHES
TENNIS SHOE DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
WOMEN
Wilson Sporting Goods launched the Intrigue™ Tour, the brand’s first high-performance tennis shoe built exclusively for women. Engineered for comfort, style and a fast-paced modern game, the Intrigue offers a fit informed by extensive athlete feedback and advanced technology, empowering women to play with grace and win with grit.
“At Wilson we are committed to empowering the female athlete at every level, especially in the sport of tennis. The game continues to grow and evolve, and we are committed to innovating and delivering the best products for our players to thrive,” says Gordon Devin, President, Wilson Sportswear. “The Intrigue redefines what it means to play fast, and it will undoubtedly give women tennis players the bold advantage they need to dominate on court.”
Developed in close collaboration with Wilson athlete Marta Kostyuk, the Footwear Team at Wilson worked on an expedited timeline to build Kostyuk a sneaker that is not only responsive and comfortable, like a running shoe, but allowed her to play a more dynamic, aggressive style of game.
Wilson Sporting Goods is a NSGA member.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT NOW
GIVE ME 5 WITH TATE MATHEWS
PRESIDENT, MATHEWS TEAM SPORTS | Franklin, Tennessee
1
FAMILY TRANSITION FROM ONE FIELD TO ANOTHER
My father coached college football for 20 years (the last 11 at the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University) and purchased a sporting goods business in 1991. He named it Doug Mathews’ Team Sports. After college I spent one year as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee State University and one year coaching high school football. I realized I enjoyed being around coaches and teams but that the business world was more suited for me. I went to work for my father after that and have been in the industry ever since.
2 PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS STAY SAME AMIDST CHANGE
In 2013, my father wanted to retire from sporting goods and that is when Mathews Team Sports was founded. I believe we have always done a great job at the sales part of the business. We take developing relationships with the coaches and the vendors very seriously. I believe that helps us in two ways: our customers want to purchase from us because they trust us and our close relationship with the vendors keep us ahead of the curve on products and trends in the industry. We have also always been willing to grow our infrastructure to support the sales as we have grown.
3WHAT MAKES THE INDUSTRY FUN
The relationships. Relationships with the coaches, the manufacturer reps and our team at Mathews Team Sports. Most of my closest friends all come from this industry. I also still enjoy being involved with young people and there is no better setting to watch young people grow than team sports.
4
NAVIGATING THE BIG CHALLENGES
Product availability and the timeframe it takes for us to receive it concern me. I feel that most team dealers are very good at what they do. We are set up to execute our orders in a timely manner. Many times we are at the mercy of outside circumstances that cause delays. When we receive our orders on time and correctly we take care of the rest and everyone is happy!
5
BENEFITS OF NSGA MEMBERSHIP
NSGA is another avenue to develop relationships with a variety of vendors. I like that there are always vendors that attend the Leadership Conference that we might not have come in contact with otherwise. NSGA also does a great job of keeping us informed with what is happening in the industry.
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