Under Armour and USA Football team up

Under Armour, Inc. which outfits and warms some of the top athletes around the world, just signed a deal to dress youngsters playing football.

Vienna-based USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, had no previous outfitter prior to the deal with the Baltimore-based sportswear apparel company (NYSE: UA).

“It’s a partnership that goes through 2009 with a mix of cash, performance apparel and media,” said Steve Alic, director of communications for USA Football. “Under Armour represents a ground-breaking outfitter partnership for USA Football’s national team program.”

USA Football recently picked Chicago-based Riddell as its official football helmet and protective equipment partner.

USA Football will conduct more than 100 football training events nationwide this year that UA will provide apparel for.

USA’s members that benefit from the training sessions include coaches, game officials and league administrators, who reside in every state and D.C.

The partnership also gives UA the exclusive right to outfit USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team, America’s first high school-aged national team in football. It will compete this summer, dressed in Under Armour uniforms, against seven other nations at the world championship in Ohio.

UA will also participate in USA Football’s grant program, which awards uniforms and equipment grants each year to youth leagues and high school football programs, based on merit and need.
UA’s existing youth partnerships include the Under Armour High School Football All-America Game, and it recently amped up its relationships with universities.

Late last year, Under Armour inked a deal to spend $11 million over five years to outfit the entire Texas Tech University athletic program.

In September, Under Armour and the University of Maryland athletic department announced a five-year, $17.5 million all-apparel pact.

Source: Washington Business Journal