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NAIA Announces Select Sport America as Provider of Official Soccer Ball

Select Sport and NAIA Enter Three-Year Partnership
June 29, 2012

The NAIA has partnered with Select Sport America to name Select's Super Elite NAIA ball the Official Soccer Ball of the NAIA.

The three-year agreement includes naming rights for the NAIA men's and women's soccer coach of the year awards as well as for the NAIA Champions of Character awards associated with the men's and women's soccer championships.

Select Sport has developed the Super Elite NAIA match ball, which will be used for all NAIA soccer championships as well as NAIA conference championship play. NAIA soccer coaches will be eligible for special offers, direct from their usual dealer, for both the match ball and Select training balls, the Royale and the Numero 10.

"We are especially pleased to partner with Select Sport America because of their commitment to character and to the NAIA Champions of Character program," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO.

Select's soccer balls, which all meet international match standards set by FIFA, are all hand crafted. Select also has a special aid program for these workers in which Select provides medical assistance and educational options for them and their families.

"Select Sport believes it is critical to support the educational and medical needs of those who craft our balls," said Select Sport America Director of Sales, Scott Williams. "One of the reasons the NAIA and Select make great partners is that we share the same values of integrity and respect for others."

Select is a Danish company founded in 1947 by Eigil Nielsen, the former Danish national goalkeeper. Nielsen's four children still own Select, which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of hand-sewn soccer balls. Select produces more than 2.5 million balls a year that are exported to more than 50 different countries. Even with those large production numbers, Select's return rate in 2011 was 0.2 percent, noted as among the lowest in the industry.

NAIA soccer coaches may order the Select soccer balls now with delivery of practice balls immediately and delivery of match balls in late August.