Latest Print Issue

Roaring Back

There is no denying that participation and sales for most team sports, male and female, experienced setbacks during the key pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 — but 2022 thankfully marked a bit of turnaround.

Read More

Sponsored Content

Brand Focus FSG America

In an industry where there are hundreds of options on where people can spend their money, FSGA has focused on value and quality.

Read More...

Team Insight

Magazine Archives

Team Sports Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Team sports participation trends in the U.S. are solid, but not spectacular, but at least they are improving. That’s perhaps the best way to summarize the most current figures in the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2022 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report.

Read More

Four Quarters

There’s a natural ebb and flow to the game of football that is familiar to everyone. After all of the pre-game pageantry, pep talks and refreshments, there are four quarters of action punctuated by some timeouts, two-minute warnings and injuries.

Read More

Kick Start

Soccer has long been touted as America’s sport of the future and has been one of the fastest-growing team sports in the country for a generation now. As the nation’s demographics continue to evolve, the data is finally catching up to those claims.

Read More

Going for the Goals

Goals/nets vendors address the major issues facing the team business in 2023. Big surprise: Pickleball is hot!

Read More

On The Road Back

In its first high school sports participation survey in three years, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) reported a total of 7,618,054 participants in high school sports for 2021/22, down four percent from its 2018/19 figure of 7,937,491.

Read More

One-on-One With Laura St. George

In a milestone rarely reached by any companies, team sports equipment supplier Gared has been celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2022. To mark the occasion, Team Insight sat down with Laura St. George, VP at Gared and Executive VP and Managing Member of Gared Holdings...

Read More
Subscribe to newsletterArchives

California Makes Girls’ Flag HS Sport

In a significant move in a state with the largest number of high school athletes, California recently approved a plan to make flag football a girls’ high school sport.

Read More

PHIT Act Re-Introduced in Congress

In a continued effort to make youth sports and other recreational activities more affordable, this week the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was re-introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Read More

NSGA Supports Ban On Non-Competes

The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) recently asked its members and others in the industry to indicate how the association should respond to the recent proposed ban of non-compete agreements by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Read More

Obituary: Hall of Famer Jim Chick, 76

James M. Chick, a powerful and well-respected retailer in sporting goods before he sold his southern California chain to Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2007, passed away March 7 at age 76.

Read More

OrderMyGear Names Goodwin VP-strategy

OrderMyGear (OMG) has named Mykayla Goodwin as VP–strategy, where she will play a pivotal role in identifying growth opportunities for OMG and guiding company strategy through market research and strategic planning.

Read More

Lzrd Tech, NexTex Develop High-Tech Arm Sleeves

True to its entrepreneurial spirit, NexTex Innovations, an Atlanta-based textile technology developer that builds strategic partnerships with brands, entrepreneurs and manufacturers to bring textile innovations to market, has teamed up with Lzrd Tech...

Read More

Team Insight

EXTRA Archives

MLS and Adidas Renew Partnership

In one of the more successful and long-running partnerships in professional sports, Major League Soccer and Adidas recently signed a multi-year extension that continues Adidas’ role as the official supplier for the league, its clubs and youth academies.

Savannah Bananas Partner With Wilson

With a commitment from all parties towards developing a fruitful partnership, the wildly popular Savannah Bananas began their world tour last month sporting a bunch of new equipment thanks to a partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods.

Obit: Augie Nieto, 65, of Life Fitness

Augie Nieto, a 2008 inductee of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame and one of the most successful innovators in the fitness industry who turned his efforts toward finding a cure for ALS after he was diagnosed with the disease 18 years ago, passed away February 22 ...

Selkirk Enters Pickleball Partnership with US Sports Camps

In this issue’s pickleball news, Selkirk Sport has entered a partnership with US Sports Camps, the official provider of Nike Sports Camps.

SFIA, NFHS, and the NCAA Hosting Team Sports Conference

In one of the more important meetings on the team sports calendar, the SFIA, NFHS and NCAA will be hosting the annual Team Sports Conference April 17–18 in Indianapolis, IN.

Wilson Unveils 3D Airless Prototype Basketball

The recent NBA All-Star Game was the setting for the unveiling of a truly unique new product — the Wilson 3D Airless Prototype Basketball. It was used during the first round of the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest by the Houston Rockets’ KJ Martin.

Russell Athletic Signs NIL Deal With Softball Star

Jumping feet first into the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) game, Augusta Sportswear and its Russell Athletic brand have entered into an NIL player partnership with All-American NCAA champion softball player Tiare Jennings.

NFHS Approves Rules Changes for Upcoming Seasons

A number of important rule changes that will impact team dealers were recently passed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

ASICS Partners With BSN Sports for Youth Sports Contest

ASICS and BSN Sports recently launched a nationwide Sound Mind, Sound Body Contest targeting youth programs. Four awards of $12,000 each will be distributed with a focus on teams who support the sports of cross-country, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.

TinyMobileRobots Named Robotic Line Painting Partner of the NFHS

This news certainly got our attention — and should pique the interest of team dealers as well. Recent news out of Denmark – yes, Denmark – announced that TinyMobileRobots...

PHIT Act Re-Introduced in Congress

In a continued effort to make youth sports and other recreational activities more affordable, this week the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was re-introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Read More

NSGA Supports Ban On Non-Competes

The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) recently asked its members and others in the industry to indicate how the association should respond to the recent proposed ban of non-compete agreements by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Read More

Obituary: Hall of Famer Jim Chick, 76

James M. Chick, a powerful and well-respected retailer in sporting goods before he sold his southern California chain to Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2007, passed away March 7 at age 76.

Read More

OrderMyGear Names Goodwin VP-strategy

OrderMyGear (OMG) has named Mykayla Goodwin as VP–strategy, where she will play a pivotal role in identifying growth opportunities for OMG and guiding company strategy through market research and strategic planning.

Read More

Lzrd Tech, NexTex Develop High-Tech Arm Sleeves

True to its entrepreneurial spirit, NexTex Innovations, an Atlanta-based textile technology developer that builds strategic partnerships with brands, entrepreneurs and manufacturers to bring textile innovations to market, has teamed up with Lzrd Tech...

Read More

MLS and Adidas Renew Partnership

In one of the more successful and long-running partnerships in professional sports, Major League Soccer and Adidas recently signed a multi-year extension that continues Adidas’ role as the official supplier for the league, its clubs and youth academies.

Read More

Team Insight

EXTRA Archives

NFHS Approves Rules Changes for Upcoming Seasons

A number of important rule changes that will impact team dealers were recently passed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

ASICS Partners With BSN Sports for Youth Sports Contest

ASICS and BSN Sports recently launched a nationwide Sound Mind, Sound Body Contest targeting youth programs. Four awards of $12,000 each will be distributed with a focus on teams who support the sports of cross-country, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.

TinyMobileRobots Named Robotic Line Painting Partner of the NFHS

This news certainly got our attention — and should pique the interest of team dealers as well. Recent news out of Denmark – yes, Denmark – announced that TinyMobileRobots...

Blake Bolden’s ‘emBolden.her’ Partners With Play It Again Sports

Supporting girls’ and women’s youth sports, Play It Again Sports and Winmark are partnering with Blake Bolden, a trailblazer in women’s hockey who competed in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and is a pro scout for the Los Angeles Kings...

Outdoor Cap Names Head Of Customer Experience

Michelle Thomas has joined Outdoor Cap as the new head of customer experience. Thomas began her career at J.B Hunt Transport and for 20 years she grew her background in customer care and experience managing accounts to become a senior business analyst.

NFHS Names 2021-22 National Coaches of the Year

Perhaps one of the 23 high school coaches from across the country that have been selected as 2021-22 National Coaches of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association is one of your customers....

Abby Wambach Joins Score Sports

Taking a step up in its leadership team, Score Sports, the maker of youth team sports uniforms and equipment, has added FIFA World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach to its Board of Directors.

Obituary: Gary Niland, 68

We are sorry to report that a good friend of Team insight and to many others in the sporting goods industry, Gary Niland from Schutt Sports, passed away last week.

Membership Strong at USA Pickleball

We couldn’t go an entire TeamInsightExtra newsletter without our regular insight into the growing sport of pickleball. This issue we delve into the annual growth report provided by USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport.

Sporting Goods Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open

The deadline is quickly approaching – March 31, 2023 to be exact – for nominations for the Class of 2024 Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.

PHIT Act Re-Introduced in Congress

In a continued effort to make youth sports and other recreational activities more affordable, this week the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was re-introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Read More

NSGA Supports Ban On Non-Competes

The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) recently asked its members and others in the industry to indicate how the association should respond to the recent proposed ban of non-compete agreements by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Read More

Obituary: Hall of Famer Jim Chick, 76

James M. Chick, a powerful and well-respected retailer in sporting goods before he sold his southern California chain to Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2007, passed away March 7 at age 76.

Read More

OrderMyGear Names Goodwin VP-strategy

OrderMyGear (OMG) has named Mykayla Goodwin as VP–strategy, where she will play a pivotal role in identifying growth opportunities for OMG and guiding company strategy through market research and strategic planning.

Read More

Lzrd Tech, NexTex Develop High-Tech Arm Sleeves

True to its entrepreneurial spirit, NexTex Innovations, an Atlanta-based textile technology developer that builds strategic partnerships with brands, entrepreneurs and manufacturers to bring textile innovations to market, has teamed up with Lzrd Tech...

Read More

MLS and Adidas Renew Partnership

In one of the more successful and long-running partnerships in professional sports, Major League Soccer and Adidas recently signed a multi-year extension that continues Adidas’ role as the official supplier for the league, its clubs and youth academies.

Read More

Team Insight

EXTRA Archives

MLS and Adidas Renew Partnership

In one of the more successful and long-running partnerships in professional sports, Major League Soccer and Adidas recently signed a multi-year extension that continues Adidas’ role as the official supplier for the league, its clubs and youth academies.

Read More

Savannah Bananas Partner With Wilson

With a commitment from all parties towards developing a fruitful partnership, the wildly popular Savannah Bananas began their world tour last month sporting a bunch of new equipment thanks to a partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods.

Read More

Obit: Augie Nieto, 65, of Life Fitness

Augie Nieto, a 2008 inductee of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame and one of the most successful innovators in the fitness industry who turned his efforts toward finding a cure for ALS after he was diagnosed with the disease 18 years ago, passed away February 22 ...

Read More

Selkirk Enters Pickleball Partnership with US Sports Camps

In this issue’s pickleball news, Selkirk Sport has entered a partnership with US Sports Camps, the official provider of Nike Sports Camps.

Read More

SFIA, NFHS, and the NCAA Hosting Team Sports Conference

In one of the more important meetings on the team sports calendar, the SFIA, NFHS and NCAA will be hosting the annual Team Sports Conference April 17–18 in Indianapolis, IN.

Read More

Wilson Unveils 3D Airless Prototype Basketball

The recent NBA All-Star Game was the setting for the unveiling of a truly unique new product — the Wilson 3D Airless Prototype Basketball. It was used during the first round of the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest by the Houston Rockets’ KJ Martin.

Read More

Russell Athletic Signs NIL Deal With Softball Star

Jumping feet first into the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) game, Augusta Sportswear and its Russell Athletic brand have entered into an NIL player partnership with All-American NCAA champion softball player Tiare Jennings.

Read More

NFHS Approves Rules Changes for Upcoming Seasons

A number of important rule changes that will impact team dealers were recently passed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Read More

FOOTWEAR INSIGHT INDEX

With the second quarter closing next week, ominous signs remain for the U.S. economy in this persistent pandemic environment as the number of active U.S. cases rose for a 10th straight day on June 22 to 1.26 million and 23 states reported increases in the number of cases. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the U.S. economy will generate $8 trillion less in economic activity over the next decade than it predicted months ago. And a report in The Atlantic suggests four factors — a great business die-off, the household fiscal cliff, state and local budget shortfalls and the persistent pandemic crisis — put the U.S. risk for a depression. Amid this backdrop, the Dow generated nearly 59 percent of its weekly 261.80-point gain for the week on the period’s final day, June 22. The action helped the Dow post a 1.02 percent increase for the period, about even with the Segment’s 1.06 percent increase as 12 stocks rose and eight declined. Aside from Mizuno, which benefited from currency effects, Nike and Deckers were the period’s biggest gainers. The Swoosh received four stock price target hikes from investment banks ahead of its scheduled fourth-quarter earnings report on June 25. Meanwhile, Nike and Puma are merging running technology and style into styles for the golf course, including The Cat’s RS-G and The Swoosh’s Air Max 270. Shoe Carnival reported that its 389 re-opened U.S. and Puerto Rico stores experienced a 28.1 percent rise in second quarter comparable store sales through  June 22, with brick-and-mortar up 4.0 percent and e-commerce gaining nearly 470 percent year-over-year. Under Armour Founder Kevin Plank has sold his Washington, D.C. mansion for $17.3 million after a reported two years on the market at a 41 percent discount from his 2018 asking price of $29.5 million. — Bob McGee 
The Footwear Insight Index tracks 20 of the most important publicly traded companies that have a substantial footwear business (6 retailers, 14 brands).
Index base of 100 is key to the closing prices of 12/29/17

INDEX: 123

1.06%

Weekly Review

Company name
(Ticker Symbol)

% Change over week
Price 06/15/20 • Price 06/22/20

ASICS Corp.
7936.T

0.35%

$11.38 • $11.34

Boot Barn
BOOT

1.09%

$22.84 • $22.59

Crocs
CROX

2.46%

$31.71 • $32.49

Designer Brands
DBI

4.49%

$7.13 • $6.81

Genesco
GCO

6.41%

$22.51 • $20.73

Mizuno
8022.T

14.12%

$18.41 • $21.01

Puma
PMMAF

1.65%

$72.90 • $74.10

Shoe Carnival
SKVL

0.26%

$27.02 • $27.09

Steve Madden
SHOO

0.13%

$23.30 • $23.33

VF Corp.
VFC

0.82%

$63.12 • $62.60

Company name
(Ticker Symbol)

% Change over week
Price 06/15/20 • Price 06/22/20

Adidas
addyy

0.72%

$132.53 • $133.49

Caleres
CAL

5.71%

$8.58 • $8.09

Deckers
DECK

3.71%

$193.55 • $200.73

Foot Locker
FL

0.99%

$29.23 • $29.52

GEOX
GEO.MI

4.49%

$0.89 • $0.85

Nike
NKE

1.72%

$97.83 • $99.51

Rocky Brands
RCKY

2.74%

$20.78 • $20.21

Skechers
SKX

5.66%

$33.20 • $31.32

Under Armour
UAA

3.55%

$9.86 • $9.51

Wolverine
WWW

0.26%

$23.08 • $23.14

TOTAL
Week over week

1.06%

$849.49 • $858.46