A Letter From the President & CEO of SFIA, Todd Smith
To our valued SFIA Members,
2024 has been a remarkable year for our industry, and we are immensely grateful for your engagement as SFIA members. Since joining SFIA on October 1st, I have been deeply impressed by your steadfast dedication and efforts to advance our industry and promote sports and fitness participation. Thank you for all you do.
This year has been a year of achievement and transition for SFIA. Below you will find highlights from the many programs and services SFIA provided to our members and the industry throughout 2024. Within each section, you can select the “Read More” button for the full list of accomplishments made within each respective area. Please reach out if you would like additional details on any of the items listed.
I am both humbled by our organization’s accomplishments throughout 2024 and energized by the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead in 2025. As we begin the new year, please know of my unwavering commitment to building upon SFIA’s strong foundation while driving new initiatives that address our industry’s evolving needs. I welcome your feedback and input throughout this process.
It is a privilege to represent you. I look forward to working closely with you as we advance our industry together in 2025.
Have a happy and safe holiday season!
-Todd Smith
President & CEO, SFIA
2024 SFIA Highlights
Member Services Highlights
- In 2024, SFIA proudly expanded our membership base by welcoming 48 new member companies, representing diverse sectors from established brands to innovative startups.
- In early 2024, SFIA, in partnership with ExpertVoice, launched the Pro Deal Marketplace. This initiative helps members save money on sports products and sells to professionals within the sports and fitness industry.
- Delivered tailored State of the Industry presentations at various member companies’ sales and strategy meetings, providing valuable insights and strategic guidance.
- Continued our partnership with Good Sports to provide an excess inventory solution, providing support to kids in underserved communities and giving them the opportunity to be equipped for sports and physical activity.
Committees & Councils
- Our committees saw increased engagement with industry leaders across the full member spectrum.
- Key developments:
– Managing three active committees:
— MarCom & Events- focusing on industry communication and event thought leadership
— People & Culture – overseeing the successful Excelerator Program
— Committee member involvement included Adidas, Bridgestone, Brooks, BSN, Franklin, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, New Balance, Nike, Rawlings, Riddell, True Fitness, USA Football, USTA, and US Youth Soccer. - At the 2024 Team Sports Conference, SFIA hosted engaging in-person Council meetings for Baseball/Softball, Football, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Soccer, Wrestling, Running, and Basketball. These sessions provided a platform for discussing the current landscape, fostering collaboration to grow each sport, and provided opportunities to discuss equipment rules changes and communicate with NFHS, NCAA, and other sports governing bodies.
- Hosted four Pickleball Council meetings (two in-person and two virtual) to bring together the pickleball industry. At our last meeting, we heard an update from USA Pickleball on their PBCoR paddle standard, launched our 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report, and hosted a “Future of Pickleball” panel with USA Pickleball CEO Mike Nealy, RacketPro CEO Dan Santorum, and ACE Pickleball Club’s VP of Strategic Partnerships, Mookie McDevitt.
- SFIA continued to serve as a vital link between Council members, sport governing bodies, and standards organizations, achieving millions of dollars in savings for its members.
Excelerator Program
- The 2024 program reached new heights in participation and programming:
– Engaged 10 Associates from leading member organizations (Adidas, Brooks, BSN, Capelli Sports, Clarks, Franklin Sports, Good Sports, New Balance, Rawlings, and Riddell) alongside 10 corporate sponsors. - Delivered comprehensive professional development workshops hosted by major sports organizations, a leading academic institution, and
– NFL-led sessions on industry leadership
– MLS workshops on sports league marketing
– Babson College led- program on negotiations
– Boston Bruins sessions on retail, merchandising, and philanthropy
– New Balance’s Ray Hilvert (SFIA Board Member) leading a session on purpose-based leadership
- Implemented monthly Brunch N’ Learn series featuring executive insights from industry leaders and focused discussions on current market trends, leadership, and career development.
- Created a structured mentor program matching 10 industry leaders with program participants, including specialized mentor/mentee workshops.
Career Fair
- Hosted the first-ever SFIA Career Fair in partnership with Teamwork Online at Babson College (Wellesley, MA).
- Over 75 students participated with member panelists from Franklin Sports, New Balance, Rawlings, and SFIA.
Thought Leadership Highlights
Delivering exceptional education and strengthening industry community
- Hosted our 8th Annual Start-Up Challenge, showcasing 11 innovative companies (Volley, Prorizon, New Stream, iPlayMe2, MAAREE [Winner], LZRD Tech, Total Motion 360, FabLittleBag, Alphabeats, Activate, and PickFit) and highlighting startups that have collectively raised over $310 million since the beginning.
- Conducted six specialized webinars addressing critical industry topics:
– Current tariff impacts and strategies
– Sports participation trends analysis
– Comprehensive state of the industry review
– Supply chain optimization
– Aluminum extrusion tariffs update
– Forever chemicals regulations and implications
2024 Team Sports Conference:
- SFIA members, sporting goods brands, professional leagues, and governing bodies came together for the annual event in April to discuss the youth and school team sports market. Attendance increased 8.7% in 2024 with more than 150 attendees representing more than 50 companies.
- 12 SFIA Council and Committee meetings took place on day one, and on day two, attendees participated in a series of panel sessions on team sports mission and environment, with the SFIA State of the Industry Session and The Influence of State Associations on High School Athletics Session being rated as the top presentations.
- Additional sessions covered topics including the growing influence of women in sports, NIL, how technology is changing the team sports experience, and the marketing potential of global sports events held in the US.
Super Regionals
- Produced four dynamic Super Regional events in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, and Boston, attracting over 300 attendees and featuring exclusive hosting by Wilson Sporting Goods and Rawlings Sporting Goods.
- These gatherings brought together SFIA Members for unparalleled education and networking opportunities. Read more below.
- Panel Topics and Presentations included – State of the Industry, Start-Up Challenge Finalist Pitches & Judging, Arthur Blank’s Value-Based Leadership Session, CEO Conversations with Joe Dudy, CEO, Wilson Sporting Goods, Adam Franklin, Franklin Sports, and Ron Ostrowski, President, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Professional Sports Teams Driving Youth Sports Engagement, Empowering Youth Through Community Sport, New Frontiers in Athlete Endorsements, The Future of Investing in Girls and Women’s Sports, Risk Management in Youth Sports, The Value of Multi-Sport Investment.
Research Highlights
- Established leadership in pickleball market analysis:
– Generated hundreds of media citations throughout 2024
– Released the second annual “State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report” in partnership with Pickleheads
– Introduced first-ever pickleball market size data in our Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report - Released the second annual “State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report” in partnership with Pickleheads. This pioneering report continues to provide an in-depth analysis of pickleball participation and facilities data.
- For the FIRST TIME, we have included pickleball market size data in our Manufacturer’s Sales by Category Report. By adding more specific pickleball data, we aim to empower the industry with greater knowledge, leading to more actionable results. We will continue to seek opportunities to add sport-specific data to enhance our reports further.
- Published five comprehensive research reports on participation trends, sport-specific insights, and business intelligence data, available to SFIA members at no cost.
- Introduced a NEW single sport participation report for 7v7 Football in 2024, increasing the total number of single sport participation reports to 91. These reports offer in-depth analysis of sports participation, segmented by gender, age group, income level, geographic region, education level, and ethnicity, providing valuable insights for our members.
- Collaborated with USTA to include tennis data in our “Trends in Team Sports Report” for the FIRST TIME EVER, enhancing the report’s comprehensiveness and offering new insights into tennis participation trends.
- Delivered more than 15 tailored data presentations and report analyses to SFIA member companies, supporting their product development, business planning, and forecasting efforts.
- Continued our collaboration with The Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, which uses SFIA data as a key benchmark to track and measure the success of this nationwide effort.
- Offered SFIA’s Participation Dashboard, allowing members to easily compare participation rates across multiple sports and activities with the click of a button.
- Remained an active leader in the Physical Activity Council (PAC) partnership, the nation’s top source for sports, fitness, and recreational activity participation data.
- SFIA research and programs are frequently cited by major news outlets, with mentions appearing in news articles more than once a day. Prominent publications referencing SFIA data include The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The LA Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, WWD, USA Today, MLB, NBA, CNN, Yahoo, AP, and more.
- Launched the third-ever member satisfaction survey to gain deeper insights into the value of an SFIA membership and to identify ways to enhance our benefits and services for the association.
- Provided discounted running reports through Running USA that cover in-depth analysis of Gen Z runners and race trends.
Government and Public Affairs Highlights
Lowering Participation Barriers
- Spearheaded the introduction of the Youth Sports Facilities Act to increase federal resource allocation for youth sports facility development.
- Advanced the PHIT Act to reduce the cost barrier to activity through the use of pre-tax medical dollars to pay for activity expenses.
- Secured language for Bureau of Economic Analysis “Youth Sports Economic Impact Study” to highlight economic benefits to support youth sports policies.
Preserving Supply Chains
- Ensured no labor stoppages at ports, railroads, trucking, and delivery services to disrupt supply chains.
- Encouraged the U.S. to protect shipping in the Red Sea.
Promoting Tariff Relief
- Pressed for renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for duty-free imports from 119 countries.
- Requested the re-opening of a transparent Section 301 Tariff Exclusion process for Chinese-made consumer goods and inputs.
Protecting IPR
- Worked to make online platforms follow the same rules as brick-and-mortar retailers regarding the authenticity of products sold.
- Sought to close the De Minimis loophole that bypasses CBP inspections for counterfeits.
Standards & Compliance Highlights
Working cooperatively with certification, testing, and sport governing bodies to create equitable and effective standards for equipment
- Created a groundbreaking standard for pickleball protective eyewear in collaboration with ASTM and The Vision Council, addressing safety needs in this ever-evolving sport.
- Worked with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to develop a standard for Football Arm Sleeves.
- SFIA represented the team equipment industry in fee negotiations with the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment
(NOCSAE). - Worked with USA Pickleball to create equitable standards development process for pickleball paddles.
- Continued to grow the SFIA Football Glove Specifications, now with 25+ licensees.