Under Armour (NYSE:UA) and IMG Worldwide, announced an exclusive partnership highlighted by the development of a unique comprehensive athletic training platform that will establish a global measurement standard for improved sports performance, health and fitness called "Combine360".
By utilizing the performance and training expertise of Under Armour and IMG Performance, Combine360 will measure and record sport-specific ability and mental aptitude, nutritional level, ability to communicate and a variety of other performance disciplines allowing athletes of all abilities from across the world to compare their scores.
"Consistent with Under Armour's global mission to make all athletes better, IMG Performance is a pioneer in the field of athletic and character development for competitors of all ages," said Kevin Plank, CEO and Founder, Under Armour. "This partnership represents a marshalling of the most passionate, scientific and innovative thinkers in the sports performance space and, together, we will establish the ultimate benchmarks by which all athletes, trainers and coaches will be measured. We have always said that the combine is the one true measure of an athlete’s potential, and we believe each athlete's Combine360 score will be as universal as an SAT score in terms of making all athletes better."
As part of this new venture, beginning in early 2010, Under Armour and IMG Performance will host over 100 combines at regional sites across the country. Staffed by some of the world's top performance specialists from Under Armour and IMG Performance, the combines will lay the foundation for a consistent platform for athletic analysis. This partnership will also help establish testing metrics, training methodology, certification standards and continuing educational programs to maximize athletic development and performance potential. The focal points of this integrated training platform are at three levels: 90 (Core Physical), 180 (Sports-Specific Physical) and 360 (Advanced Elements). These tests will include physical conditioning, muscle regeneration, nutrition, sports medicine and anthropometric assessments.
"We are very pleased to have teamed with Under Armour to develop a unique and highly effective sports performance measurement system that we believe will become the benchmark by which all athletes will be measured," said George Pyne, President of IMG's Sports and Entertainment group. "Under Armour has become the dominant company in athletic combines and the addition of this revolutionary new tool takes that business to the next level."
To kick off the partnership and showcase the multi-sport applications of this joint initiative, Under Armour and IMG Performance hosted a special grassroots combine for dedicated football, soccer and rugby players (ages 8-18) on October 24th at London's Finsbury Park Stadium in conjunction with the NFL game in London between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over 250 talented athletes participated in this first-ever program.
In addition to the London combine, Under Armour will provide apparel, footwear and accessories to IMG Academies, a division of IMG Worldwide. Under Armour also will utilize the IMG Performance Institute at the Academy to test its newest innovations. IMG and Under Armour’s partnership will have multiple retail and consumer extensions, with both parties working to develop sports-specific training programs, equipment, instruction and online content.
"Under Armour shares our passion to improve performance and the lives of those who pursue athletic development," said Sam Zussman, Senior Vice President of IMG and Managing Director of IMG Performance. "IMG Performance, through its world renowned academies has been developing on and off the field training that served over the past 30 years to not only build champions such as Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Paula Creamer and Freddy Adu, but also help junior athletes develop into successful adults and pursue their college of choice. Together with Under Armour, we will be able to bring our proven athletic training and measurement to a broader population and help them improve their athletic performance and overall health."
(Source: IMG)
