leagueapps, Author at Challenger Sports

Reward your players! Great ideas for the end of soccer the season

leagueapps — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:55:24 +0000

How do you end your season? How did you make sure everyone is happy? We spoke to Kevin Nutting, Challenger Teamwear Vice President who has some simple yet genius ways to make sure EVERY PLAYER finishes on a positive!

After a long hard season it’s always nice to end the season on a positive note. It’s the perfect time to celebrate and thank the players (and parents) for all their time commitment and hard work.

Holding a small awards ceremony is a great way to highlight both individual achievements and those of the team, and there are many different ways you can recognise and reward players’ contributions.

While some players may have excelled on the field, others may have been fundamental to team success in other ways. With younger players in particular, it’s a good idea to include every player so that everybody comes away feeling valued and looking forward to the next season.

To help end the season on a positive note, here are some soccer award ideas to acknowledge each player’s individual contribution over the season.

Soccer Award Ideas

It’s not unusual for leagues to have a small budget set aside for buying awards and there are quite a lot of things you can do to reward your players without breaking the bank. Or if this is just for your team the options are often inexpensive.

Challenger Teamwear has a full selection of End of Season awards and here are some ideas for prizes and awards that you could hand out at the end of the season:

Contact a sales rep about the options above

While kids certainly enjoy receiving these rewards for their hard work and commitment, the words that accompany them are just as important as it’s often the positive recognition that they will remember.

However, ‘kids will be kids’ and so a physical award will certainly be appreciated!

You can contact one of our team to look at any of the options Kevin talks about above by clicking here.

To learn more about other Challenger Teamwear products and services please click here.

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Challenger Teamwear can help you with more than just soccer!

leagueapps — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:53:06 +0000

We know you’re probably soccer mad if you’re on this website but we also appreciate that there are other sports out there! We spoke to Trent Sanders, Challenger Teamwear Regional Director about ALL your uniform options…

Did you know that your favorite soccer uniform company is more than just a soccer uniform company? That’s right – Challenger Teamwear can provide uniforms for your other sports leagues as well! We may have started as a strictly soccer-specific company, but over the years we have expanded into different sports with great success. We are excited to become a one-stop-shop for multi-sport programs across the country by offering these products across several sports.

BASKETBALL – Single-Sided Jersey Sets

Bolt Jersey & Osage shorts: Our longest-standing basketball jersey with a classic look, the Bolt jersey is the perfect jersey for your basketball leagues. It is a lightweight, two-color sleeveless jersey with a traditional basketball cut, and pairs perfectly with our Osage basketball shorts. The simple and practical design allows the jersey to be customized with your league’s logo and style.

Blast Jersey & Slam shorts: The second single-sided basketball uniform to join our line in 2018 was the Blast jersey and Slam shorts. Made from our EVERsoft fabric with a chevron stripe on the side seams and a contrast trim on the shoulder, the Blast jersey has an elevated, modern look. A matching chevron stripe on the side seam of the Slam shorts completes this sharp-looking combination.

Intensity Jersey & Charge shorts: The newest addition to our basketball line, the Intensity jersey and Charge short are our take on a traditional, throwback basketball uniform. With the tri-color design, accent trim and side panels on both the jersey and shorts, this uniform provides a timeless, professional style that will always be on trend.

BASKETBALL – Reversible jerseys

Rocket Reversible: A classic, two-ply mesh reversible jersey, the Rocket reversible has been an absolute hit across the recreational basketball industry over the years. It is the perfect jersey for large leagues searching for a clean, universal look across their leagues while keeping their uniform order simple.

Rebound Reversible: Made with our newly developed single-ply polyester fabric, the Rebound reversible has quickly become one of our most popular basketball jerseys. Treated with our moisture wicking technology, the Rebound is extremely durable, yet lightweight and comfortable. It comes in six different colors, with each color having a complimenting heathered reversible side.

Crossover Reversible: The newest addition to our basketball line, the Crossover jersey, is a two-ply sleeveless reversible basketball jersey with 6 unique color combinations that can make basketball uniforms standout amongst the crowd. The simple and fresh design provides the perfect platform to customize one-of-a-kind jerseys by adding your logo and personal touches to the product.

VOLLEYBALL

Calamity Jersey: The first of our two ladies-cut volleyball specific jerseys, the Calamity jersey features an athletic design with a contrasting color V-neck, armhole piping, set-in trim on the shoulders, and complimenting side stripes. The Calamity has been our best selling volleyball jersey for years as our customers absolutely love this product, and we know you will, too.

Montana Jersey: With a sleeveless ladies-cut and stylish detail inserts with a contrasting color, the Montana jersey has a great, unique look. It is made with our cooling polyester fabric, and it features high-cut sleeve openings and a narrow rib V-neck. Practical yet stylish, the Montana jersey is the perfect option for your volleyball players.

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

Ambush Jersey: Our latest addition to our baseball line, the Ambush jersey boasts professional styling with a cool-mesh in the lower portion of the neckband as well as the underside of the sleeve and down the top portion of the side seam. It is completed with a two-button placket giving the jersey a complete, sophisticated look that is perfect for any baseball team.

Mustang Jersey: The Mustang jersey is our longest standing baseball jersey and has been a hit with all of our baseball clients over the years. Made with our lightweight moisture-wicking material, this authentic baseball cut classic henley jersey with a two-button placket features stylish, contrasting piping on the front and back of the jersey.

UTILITY JERSEYS

Sioux Jersey: One of our most versatile jerseys available in both a Men’s and Women’s cut, the Sioux jersey is a traditional polyester jersey with a V-neck cut that can be used for several different sports. Whether you’re looking for a jersey for your softball teams, flag football or soccer leagues, this jersey is a fantastic and practical option.

Seneca Jersey: The Seneca jersey is our long-standing utility jersey versatile enough to be used for several different sports. Made with moisture wicking, 100% polyester fabric, it is a lightweight and comfortable jersey perfect for any of your programs from summer baseball to flag football. It is available in 20 different colors as well, so it is a great option for larger leagues with several teams.

Kickapoo Jersey: Our first ever long-sleeve 100% polyester jersey, the Kickapoo jersey features our EVERsoft fabric and is available in 8 different colors. Whether you prefer long-sleeve jerseys for your volleyball or flag football leagues or are in need of a lightweight warm-up shirt, the Kickapoo can provide exactly what you need.

Ranger Jersey: Available in 16 colors, the Ranger jersey is one of our most versatile jerseys with a classic V-neck look and an armhole accent trim for breathability. A popular option for baseball and flag football, the Ranger is made with our moisture wicking fabric and features comfortable raglan sleeves that allow for maximum range of motion.

To learn more about Challenger Teamwear products and services please click here

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Preparing for the spring season – Uniforms, Goals & Nets

leagueapps — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:50:56 +0000

Are you ready for spring soccer? Challenger Teamwear has excelled as a one-stop soccer shop since 2001 and that has given us an excellent vantage point on what you need to do to be ready. My name is Andy Bureman, I have worn just about every hat in our business model over the last 10 years and have seen the ups and downs of our industry. Yes, here at Challenger Teamwear we provide a high quality performance garment, but our main point of difference has always been our sales team.

After one of the most challenging times in uniforms and equipment, what can clubs do to prepare better this Spring?

I have come up with some things to try and follow to ensure success that we also try and have our sales team implement with you BEFORE it becomes an issue.

Uniforms

Get orders in early
1. Send off the main bulk order before the stragglers
2. If you have most of what you need … Send it!
  1. Charge new players a premium if they are late to order their new uniforms.
  2. Consider setting deadlines, or if you have a team store, implement these timelines and share them on a calendar.
3. Most companies have a 4-6 week turnaround time.
  1. Challenger Teamwear is working for 3 weeks or less on all bulk orders.
  2. We sometimes offer incentives for ordering early.

Ensure you have a pre-order sent in to reserve stock. Send in past quantities, or your best guess for what’s going to be ordered.
1. Nobody has a magic crystal ball, but we rely on pre-orders to ensure we have what you need for the next season.
2. If for some reason we do not have the stock, we can detect the issue and provide a solution.

Any new Artwork needs to be submitted EARLY, so there is no excuse to not have the order ready to be worked on.
1. Submit artwork in Vector format (.Ai / .EPS / .PDF)
  1. This ensures your artwork is original and will not have to be re-drawn by our art team
    1. If you do not have this, our art team can design / redraw anything you may have. Our sales team can also help conceptualize your dream design.

Be prepared to be flexible on inventory and availability
1. Most if not ALL uniform providers are facing holes in their inventories.
  1. We adopt a solution mindset and solve these issues by moving a team into a different style that matches their current style as closely as possible in the same color.
  2. This can also include upsizing or downsizing, if the exact size is not available.

Have your order paid for at the time it is submitted, so there is no reason to not be completed / being worked on.
1. Unless you have agreed terms with us, we don;t ship without payment – Sorry! We accept credit cards, checks and ACH.

Consider choosing Challenger Teamwear
1. Supply chain is still hurting for everyone, including ourselves. So, if available from our inventory, consider our line of teamwear as we have direct control and can provide up to date information regarding incoming shipments.

Goals & Nets

For your goal needs, we recommend PEVO, KwikGoal, BowNet, & FoldAGoal. We help clubs and organizations of all sizes in all corners of the US. I personally have sold each of their products and can say with confidence you are going to get a quality goal for the best deal possible. I’ve also received feedback many times regarding how clients prefer us to do the heavy lifting for them and be the point person for communication with vendors.

Turn around time for most goals is about 2+ weeks.
1. It’s imperative to get these ordered early

There are many different factors to consider when purchasing your soccer goal. The main contributing factors are level of play and age
1. Do you need a Castlite Channel & cemented poles, or velcro straps?
2. Unpainted, or powder coated
3. Round or Square
4. KwikGoal has a great Size & Standards guide Here

One question I always get – What size goals do we need & How do I measure existing goals?
1. Soccer goal width is measured from the inside edge of the vertical uprights, and height is measured from the ground to the bottom edge of the horizontal crossbar.
2. AGES 2 and 3. Kids that are 2 or 3 years old use soccer goals that are sizes 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 ft.
3. AGES 4 and 5. Soccer players that are 4 or 5 years old use goals that are at least 4 x 6 feet, but no bigger than 5 x 10 ft.
4. Ages 6 and 7. Six and 7 year old children use soccer goals that are either 5 x 10 ft. or 6 x 12 ft. tall.
5. AGES 8 TO 11. Soccer players that are 8, 9, 10, or 11 years old use goals between 6 x 18 and 7 x 21 ft.
6. AGES 12 AND OLDER. Finally, 12 year olds and older players use the regulation 8 x 24 ft. goals.

Just need nets?
1. Challenger Teamwear provides an entire selection of nets.
2. Contact our sales team today to order and they ship quickly out of Kansas.

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Challenger Teamwear and the Blue valley CAPS Program

leagueapps — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:33:01 +0000

Hear from Challenger Teamwear HR Director, Lillian Slimp, on our recent involvement helping the young minds of the future…

If you haven’t had the chance to visit the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies in Overland Park, Kansas, it’s understandable. It may not be on your radar. But should that opportunity arise…take it. You’ll find yourself walking into a facility that allows the young minds of the future, who are undoubtedly going to change multiple facets of the business world, experience education in an environment that is nothing less than nurturing and innovative. It’s an environment where students gain real-world experience and develop professional skills. Think of it as a blend of college campus meets tech company. To put it in perspective, when I walked into the lobby for the first time, a group of engineering students, high school students, were working on building a full-sized plane.

Challenger Teamwear’s collaboration with the BV CAPS program was first presented to CEO, Paul Lawrence, through a friend who had first-hand knowledge of the program and was nothing less than amazed and impressed by what these students were capable of. He described the program first, for what it was. The BV CAPS is open to juniors and seniors living within the Blue Valley School District attendance boundaries with 6 strands that are aligned to high growth, high demand careers in Johnson County, KS. The strands are Business, Technology & Media, Engineering, Medicine & Healthcare, Human Services, Bioscience, and Accelerator. That’s the cut-and-dry version.

Beyond the basic structure of the program, you delve deeper into what these students are accomplishing. Some examples include; preventing traumatic brain injuries in older patients by addressing fall risk, relocating a car dealership into the metaverse providing real 3D lidar scans of car dealership lots translated to be viewed with a mobile or VR device, the creation of the app “Credo” in order to educate the community on both cryptocurrencies and cryptography, to name a few. The program’s success has led to the creation of the CAPS Network, in order to link multiple other school districts that have replicated the program. There are now 80 CAPS programs around the country and overseas, and BV CAPS was the original one.

Most people who walk through the main doors of the Challenger headquarters don’t realize that inside the building we house our offices, art department, production facility and warehouse. This allows Challenger to be able to offer a unique internship experience to students through the ability to encapsulate the full cycle of the sporting apparel industry from the marketing of the product, the design process, the sale of the product, the entry of the order, the picking of the order, the billing process, the production cycle, the shipment, and any follow-up or customer service needs. Students can help formulate a specific experience that is tailored to their areas of interest.

Challenger Teamwear was able to provide two CAPS students, Drew Dombrosky and Gabe McGee, internships that gave them insight into the finance and accounting side of the business and the inventory and operations aspect of Challenger. They faced the burdens of global challenges, for example, navigating the current unreliability of the supply chain due to COVID outbreaks in other areas of the world and how that affects Challenger’s inventory and order placement process. As their internship experience drew to a close, Drew and Gabe were tasked with a final project to provide t-shirts for their fellow classmates. Through the knowledge and full-circle experience they gained, as well as the relationships they built, they were able to take the reins and work their way through the company to determine a design their target audience would desire, place the order, pick their order in the warehouse, and hand-print and heat press their design.

Happy customers all around!

Learn more about Challenger’s Foundational work here.

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How Challenger has expanded their recruitment to this side of the pond!

leagueapps — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:14:56 +0000

Challenger Sports employs hundreds of coaches across North America every year

I worked 3 years of camp myself out in the States from 2006 to 2008 but never had a lot of experience working with any coaches outside of the UK. Therefore I wanted to quiz 3 of my colleagues who have had much more experience with the North American based portion of our coaching staff, in the hope that I could appeal to any coaches who haven’t yet committed to a role this summer. For anyone else, this will hopefully still be a nice trip down memory lane if you’ve been involved with our camps before….

Firstly I started with Alex Green, current Vice-President of Challenger Sports who oversees US recruitment. For him one of the most important features is finding people with passion- “we know everyone won’t be perfect, but we also know we can improve them as coaches and as long as they have that passion, the experience our staff deliver to the kids on the field will be fantastic”.

Given Alex’s experience in recruiting countless staff over the years- for those of you know him, he loves a quiz but even he doesn’t know exactly how many it has been- one of the most satisfying parts for him is seeing “those kids who were once on our camps returning to one day coach for us- that’s a reflection of the passion and love for the game that we hope we were partly responsible for….so it comes full circle and that’s the kind of bond you make with the company and the concept of the camp coach”.

It sounds cheesy, but some kids at times will look up to our coaches so much that they want to be them when they grow up!

I knew it was important to also get the perspective of a US- based coach. Therefore I enlisted the help of Rory Watters, originally from Rhode Island who was Challenger’s Rookie Coach of the Year as recently as 2020. Rory now works out of our New England office, where amongst other duties, he oversees our programs across Canada.

Rory’s first response when I asked him what makes working on a Challenger camp so special was the support network- “learning from the other coaches, what I like to call the ground troops, was priceless and then you also always know you have the backing of the office staff to fall back on as well.

He went on to talk about what he learnt about himself as an individual- for him it was the ability to see things from a different perspective. He was not one of our most experienced recruits, but quickly learnt that he became more aware of his surroundings and the need to be responsible for others, not just himself! When asked what advice he would give someone else, Rory response’s was succinct and to the point (and might be our next recruitment slogan!)-

”Trust the process”

As managers it’s great to hear this as we know that our tried and tested recruitment and training process continues to have its desired effect! Rory was unique and one of the first of our US-based staff to take up the traditional role of traveling around like the foreign-based staff have always been used to- see below….

Lastly I wanted to get the thoughts of my colleague Sophie Dewar, a Challenger veteran of both working camps but also managing staff, who now oversees our US-based recruitment with specific focus on the summer….if you’re based in North America and want a job this summer, then she’s the girl to talk to!

She speaks to potential staff from lots of different backgrounds and one of the major differences she identified was how the experience can differ depending if you travel or stay local, or whether you are an International student looking for a summer job vs someone who is based permanently in the US like Rory was. In short, the sheer size of our operation means that there will be something for everyone.

When speaking to Sophie it’s clear that the passion that all of us felt working on the camps herself is alive and well- I mean when you think about it, you have 50 states and 10 provinces at your disposal if you apply early enough!

Recently Sophie has also taken the lead on our online training for all staff, and for our US-based staff this is vital. We all recognize that you learn so much on the field, but recently we have started to help prepare our coaches throughout the spring before they start their work as the summer camp coach. We do this through an online learning platform, CoachBetter, which not only prepares our coaches to work for us, but also includes Continuous Professional Development modules. The leverage of technology has certainly upped our game when it comes to recruitment, but even Sophie points out (as Alex and Rory did) that it always comes back to the individual and their attitude….”Combine that with our training and curriculum and we know we’ll have the right people, doing the right things, in the right way”.

If you would like to learn more about working with us you can email recruitment@challengersports.com or visit www.challengersportsrecruitment.com

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