Industry Press Room - Athletic Business

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Synthetic Turf Council’s Enhanced Certification Program Recognizes Highly Recommended Companies

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Synthetic Turf Council

ATLANTA – For buyers, end-users and anyone interested in learning more about synthetic turf, the Synthetic Turf Council’s (STC) Enhanced Certification Program recognizes well-qualified companies whose products and services come highly recommended. “Our goal is to ensure certification criteria is rigorous enough to have real value to members and the marketplace,” said Rick Doyle, president of the Synthetic Turf Council. “The certification program promotes the quality reputation of synthetic turf systems, products and services while providing customers with additional assurance and recourse, if necessary, that the system purchased will be as agreed and specified.”

STC Certified companies have voluntarily committed to deliver products or services that meet or exceed customer specifications, and conduct themselves in a responsible, business-like manner. To qualify, each applicant must have a minimum of two years of experience in providing their specific product or service, provide up to 20 customer references that are independently verified and agree to abide by the STC’s Code of Ethics. The association’s board of directors recently approved several key program enhancements, such as allowing members to apply in more than one category and detailing new eligibility criteria within six overall categories: Builders, General Contractors & Installers, Independent Professionals & Consultants, Testing Labs, Material Manufacturers & Suppliers, and Specialty Manufacturers & Service Providers.

The STC Certification Program is an exclusive benefit for the STC's member companies.

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Axon Sports to Give Away 25,000 Cognitive Baseline Tests to Young Athletes

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Axon Sports

WAUSAU, Wis. — Axon Sports has announced it will give away 25,000 cognitive baseline tests to schools, clubs and youth sports associations across America: 100 sets of 250 tests. The announcement underscores the company’s commitment to broaden access to cognitive baseline testing as an important tool in the evaluation and management of sports-related concussions.

“With concussions on the rise across all sports, it’s important that athletes have access to concussion management programs that include cognitive baseline testing,” said Polly James, Axon Sports president and CEO. “This giveaway extends our efforts to encourage the inclusion of baseline testing in concussion management programs and our belief that every athlete should have access to a baseline test every year.”

Baseline testing is recognized as a best practice by both the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. As early as 2001, it was considered a “cornerstone” in concussion evaluation at the International Conference on Concussion in Sport.

“U.S. athletes have been underserved with viable options for baseline testing that are accessible, convenient and affordable,” added James. “Our tool also integrates education for the athlete and the parent with the needs of the medical community and the school or sports organization.”

Axon Sports Computerized Cognitive Assessment Tool (CCAT) measures an athlete's brain speed and accuracy. The online baseline test is taken before the sports season begins to provide a benchmark for comparison after a suspected concussion. The test measures brain function — including attention, working memory, speed and accuracy in thinking. Results are stored in the athlete’s online account for 15 years and can be shared, as needed, with certified athletic trainers, coaches and doctors.

Medical providers use the Axon Sports CCAT as one of several decision-support tools to help determine when it’s safe for an athlete to return to class, practice, or competitive play following a concussion.

To enter your school, team, club or association, go to axonsports.com.

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Thursday, April 07, 2011

TRX® Online Directory Connects Consumers with Trainers

Posted by AB Editors

Source: TRX

SAN FRANCISCO – TRX®, the creators of Suspension Training® bodyweight exercise, has announced the launch of the online TRX Directory. This first-ever database of trainers qualified in TRX Suspension Training and facilities that offer TRX training programs will serve as the international hub that connects consumers and businesses with TRX Professional Education Course graduates and qualified facilities in their area.

The TRX Directory will also be a valuable marketing asset for fitness industry professionals and facilities as it will provide more visibility and exposure to expand their business and client base. The database will provide more than basic trainer contact information, but also provide their background and expertise.

“The TRX Directory will prove to be an invaluable tool that further testifies TRX’s commitment to not only supplying physical training products, education and exercise programs, but also hosting a convenient platform where consumers can seek out local trainers and locations that are well versed in this method,” said TRX inventor and CEO Randy Hetrick. “We have been conducting thousands of education courses for trainers across the country and are excited to introduce the directory to the public so they can connect with these trainers and learn more about Suspension Training, wherever they are.”

In an effort to provide comprehensive search results for TRX qualified trainers and facilities, the directory will include only the 30,000-plus TRX Professional Education Course graduates worldwide and will initially include only qualified host facilities of TRX Professional Education courses and TRX R4® licensed facilities.

About TRX

At TRX, our mission is to democratize world class training. We are committed to helping our customers achieve peak physical condition by creating exceptional physical training products and exercise programs that can be used anywhere. We will earn the trust of the world's most demanding consumers by creating best-in-class products that deliver results, not promises.

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Tuesday, April 05, 2011

National Drowning Prevention Alliance Continues Partnership with Pool Safely Campaign in 2011

Posted by AB Editors

Source: National Drowning Prevention Alliance

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (April 5, 2011) – The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) will continue its partnership with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign—the federal government’s public education and information campaign to promote pool and spa safety— during 2011. NDPA will help deliver the campaign’s safety messages to the public by distributing materials, posting information online, holding events, and incorporating the campaign into existing public safety outreach programs.

"I am proud that so many national public and water safety advocate organizations have partnered with the Pool Safely campaign this year," said Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "As we build on the successful campaign kick-off in 2010, we look forward to fully realizing the potential of our partner network, which will help us continue to drive the national conversation on pool and spa safety. The Pool Safely campaign has a simple, but important message—practice as many water safety steps as you can in and around the water."

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance posted the campaign’s Pool Safety game on its website and NDPA members are distributing Pool Safely printed materials at local, regional and national child safety events. Some of these include:

March 29: A Water Safety Day in Chandler, Arizona, for more than 1,000 first-grade students

April 14-15: The NDPA Annual National Symposium, Colorado Springs, Colorado

May 14-15: Drowning Prevention Weekend at Sesame Place, Langhorne, Pennsylvania

"NDPA members are pleased to include Pool Safely materials in our public education and outreach," said NDPA President Bob Ogoreuc, assistant professor at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. "Drowning is swift and silent, but it is preventable. That’s why we urge everyone to incorporate several layers of protection in all aquatic environments."

Campaign Safety Partners are typically national organizations with established networks and a proven track record on health and safety campaigns. Campaign Safety Leaders are generally more focused on a local or regional audience.

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Women’s Sports Foundation Awards $100,000 to Aspiring Athletes

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Women's Sports Foundation

Grants provide financial fuel for future champions

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (April 5, 2011) – The Women’s Sports Foundation today announced that its Travel & Training Fund awarded $100,000 in grants to 19 individuals and five teams, representing 21 sports. In partnership with Gatorade®, the 2010 recipients each received financial support ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to help cover coaching, specialized training, equipment, attire or travel expenses. Many of the athletes have aspirations to compete at upcoming world competitions, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Travel & Training Fund has a long legacy of helping to develop world class athletes. Since 1984, the fund has awarded more than 1,200 grants to more than 950 women athletes and 250 women’s teams in a diverse array of sports. Past recipients have captured national, world championship and Olympic medals, including figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi, gymnast Kerri Strug, diver Mary Ellen Clark, soccer star Michelle Akers, wheelchair table tennis player Jennifer Johnson and the U.S. Rowing Association.

“As the first charitable organization to offer grants to female athletes with elite potential in both Olympic and non-Olympic sports, we are pleased to have the opportunity to support these athletes, as they move one step closer to achieving their dreams,” said Kathryn Olson, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. “These women have put in long hours of training and the Women’s Sports Foundation is committed to ensuring athletes competing in all sports have the opportunity to take their years of hard work and dedication to the next level. We look forward to following the Travel & Training Fund recipients along the road to success.”

Past recipient Michelle Kwan (Figure Skating), current and past Women’s Sports Foundation Presidents Laila Ali (Boxing) and Jessica Mendoza (Softball), and current Foundation trustee Angela Ruggiero (Ice Hockey), also serve as athlete ambassadors for the program.

“I’m fortunate to have been a recipient of the Travel & Training Fund and understand what a huge impact that financial support makes in helping women achieve their dreams,” said Kwan. “This is just one example of the many ways that the Women’s Sports Foundation continues to have a profound impact on female athletics.”

As national sponsor of the Women’s Sports Foundation, Gatorade® is the first corporate partner to designate an annual gift to support the program, refreshing the program after a six-year hiatus.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to refuel this program and provide support to women athletes through our partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation Travel & Training Fund,” said Sarah Robb O’Hagan, President of Gatorade North America and PepsiCo Global Chief Marketing Officer for Sports Nutrition. “The Gatorade Company is committed to ensuring women have the resources they need to reach peak levels of achievement and to fueling their future accomplishments.” In addition to the monetary grant administered by the Women’s Sports Foundation, athletes will have the option to receive specialized consultation in conjunction with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). Established in 1985, GSSI employs a team of MS and PhD scientists and researchers who are trained in exercise physiology and sports nutrition. GSSI conducts and publishes research, as well as educates sports health professionals and athletes on sports nutrition and exercise science. The information provided to athletes helps them understand how they can fuel themselves to not only perform better, but also feel better when training or competing.

The following list details the recipients of the 2010 Travel & Training Grantees. Additionally, with the advent of two new Olympic sports confirmed at the upcoming Summer Games, women’s boxing (London 2012) and rugby (Rio de Janeiro 2016), the grant committee is proud to note grantees in these sports, as well:

CALIFORNIA
Emily Vinson, Chula Vista, Sprint Kayak
Dagny Knutson, Fullerton, Swimming
Amy Haapanen, Manteca, Track and Field - Hammer Throw
US National Water Polo Team, Orinda, Water Polo
Katie Davis, Sacramento, Judo

COLORADO
Rachael Flatt, Colorado Springs, Figure Skating
Tricia Downing, Denver, Triathlon/Duathlon/Handcycling
Rebecca Sorensen, Fort Collins, Skeleton

FLORIDA
Ishika Lay, Neptune Beach, Boxing
Team Tunnicliffe, Plantation, Match Racing - Sailing
Jennifer French, St. Petersburg, Paralympic Sailing

GEORGIA
Elana Meyers, Douglasville, Bobsled

ILLINOIS
Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr., Wheaton, Speedskating

MASSACHUSETTS
Amy McGuire, Jamaica Plain, Cycling

MINNESOTA
Team Pottinger, Eden Prairie, Curling

NEW JERSEY
Ibtihaj Muhammad, Maplewood, Fencing

NEW YORK
Phaidra Knight, Bronx, Rugby
Alexis Page, New York, Rhythmic Gymnastics
Maria Michta, New York, Track and Field- Race Walking

OHIO
Christina Gao, Cincinnati, Figure Skating

TEXAS
Christina Loukas, The Woodlands, Diving

UTAH
Alissa Johnson, Park City, Ski Jumping

WASHINGTON
Seattle Lady's Wheelchair Basketball Team, Seattle, Wheelchair Basketball
Pocock High Performance Team, Seattle, Rowing

Athletes interested in applying for the 2011 grant cycle may review the application, criteria and guidelines for the Travel & Training Fund at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org/TravelandTraining. The official deadline for the first, 2011 grant cycle is May 6, 2011. A second grant cycle will follow in fall 2011.

About Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded in 1974, is the leader in promoting sports, health and education for girls and women. With Billie Jean King as its founder and ongoing visionary, the Women’s Sports Foundation continues to have a profound impact on female athletics, from its vigorous advocacy of Title IX legislation to providing grants and scholarships, grassroots programs for underserved girls, and groundbreaking research. An agent for change, the foundation has relationships with more than 1,000 of the world’s elite female athletes and is recognized globally for its leadership, vision, strength, expertise and influence. For more information, visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.

About Gatorade
The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), provides sports performance innovations designed to meet the needs of athletes at all competitive levels and across a broad range of sports. Gatorade Thirst Quencher® is backed by more than 40 years of research and is scientifically formulated and athletically proven to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes, and provide carbohydrate energy to enhance athletic performance. The company's product portfolio is built around the G Series™, a 1-2-3 approach to athlete nutrition and hydration before (Gatorade Prime 01™), during (Gatorade® Perform 02 and G2® Perform 02), and after (Gatorade Recover 03™) training or competition. For more information, please visit www.gatorade.com.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo’s people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo’s promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Posted At 3:53 PM • Comments (0)

Kwik Goal Extends Partnership with US Soccer

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Kwik Goal

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (April 5, 2011) — U.S. Soccer and Kwik Goal, Ltd. are pleased to announce that their longstanding partnership has been renewed through 2014. In addition to continuing as U.S. Soccer’s Official Supplier of goals, nets, mobile seating, soccer field and training equipment and coaching accessories, Kwik Goal has also been newly designated as a Technical Partner to U.S. Soccer.

As a Technical Partner, Kwik Goal will be supporting U.S. Soccer’s development of a comprehensive coaching education curriculum meant to provide guidance on all aspects of player development to the country’s coaches. In addition, Kwik Goal will be working with U.S. Soccer’s technical staff in designing new training products and will be supporting U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy.

“In this day and age, the word “partner” is often overused. That is certainly not the case when it comes to the outstanding relationship that Kwik Goal has enjoyed for many years now with U.S. Soccer,” said Anthony Caruso, President of Kwik Goal. “We take great pride in supplying our country’s national teams and are committed to meeting U.S. Soccer’s equipment standards for quality and safety for years to come”.

“Supporting the soccer coaching community has been a key pillar for Kwik Goal since our company’s founding thirty years ago,” added Done Wetmore, V.P. of Sales and Marketing. Having an opportunity to work with U.S. Soccer as a Technical Partner is a tremendous opportunity for Kwik Goal and very much in line with our company’s heritage and customer focus”.

“From my earliest days of playing for the Men’s National Team, Kwik Goal equipment was used during our training and at the many domestic stadiums we played in,” said Claudio Reyna, U.S. Soccer’s Youth Technical Director and former Men’s National Team captain. “We’re looking forward to Kwik Goal working closer with the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and providing the best young players in the country with access to the highest quality equipment in soccer.”

Kwik Goal was founded in 1981, and is celebrating its 30th year as a soccer goal manufacturer. For about half of that time, Kwik Goal has been working with U.S. Soccer and the National Teams. Kwik Goal is also an Official Supplier to U.S. Youth Soccer and Molde FK in Norway.

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Synthetic Turf Council Calls for Entries for 2011 Field of Dreams

Posted by AB Editors

Source: Synthetic Turf Council

Synthetic Turf Council’s Third Annual ‘Search for the Real Field of Dreams’ Contest recognizes the power synthetic turf has to transform the lives of youth and enhance public wellness.

ATLANTA, Ga. (April 5, 2011) — Behind every synthetic turf field, park or installation, there could be a sports team winning against the odds, kids improving their fitness and self-esteem or a community hosting a local Special Olympics event. The Synthetic Turf Council recognizes these powerful stories and more with its annual Search for the Real Field of Dreams Contest. Starting today, the 2011 Search is now accepting nominations from the United States and Canada.

“More than 6,000 synthetic turf fields are open across North America, along with numerous parks, playgrounds and public installations,” noted Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. “Our Search for the Real Field of Dreams Contest aims to show what can be accomplished when people are willing to dream big.”

Established in 2009, the Search for the Real Field of Dreams is open to schools (K-12 and college), parks, playgrounds, businesses and municipalities in the United States and Canada. Interested students, coaches, faculty, parents, parks and recreation managers, and local supporters can easily nominate an installation. Submissions are due by June 15, 2011 and will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges. A cash prize will be awarded to the winning entry and other national finalists.

About the 2010 Winning Entries

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, the 2010 national finalists shared amazing stories. Using synthetic turf to create safe, barrier-free play zones, a community park serves over 17,000 children with physical and cognitive challenges. Kids in economically-challenged urban areas now have safe play spaces instead of rundown, concrete school yards. A community came together to survive an F-5 Tornado with their new synthetic turf field as a rallying point of local pride.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council (STC) was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The STC is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.

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