The new Real Madrid [home] kit stands out for its sleek design. Gold is the chosen color for the details, including the adidas logo and the three stripes; a brand new feature which represents the many successes in the clubs history. For the first time since its foundation, the club has decided to include gold in the design of its uniforms. Players’ names and numbers will be golden too, matching the details on the jersey.

Kaka' in the 2011 Real Madrid Home kit

The badge has an innovative 3-D design, which reduces the weight of the garment, giving it an added feature. This jersey gets back to the classic polo collar, which carries the initials of the club on the reverse side.

Shorts and socks have the same classic lines as the jersey and include the  initials of the club:”RM”.  This jersey features adidas’ exclusive Climacool(tm) Technology which ensures body temperature control and ventilation, thanks to the use of technically advanced fabrics.

Chelea’s away kit includes turquoise squares are on a black background to create a striking design, while the shorts also feature a turquoise strip and the famous three adidas stripes in white. The socks include a revolutionary design that features anatomically placed cushioning and an Achilles protector.  The playing shirt features the adidas TechFit(tm) technology which will help
improve speed, increased endurance capabilities and enhanced awareness. This works by stabilizing and focusing the muscles’ energy to generate explosive acceleration and deliver maximum power output.

Frank Lampard in the Chelsea FC 2011 Away Kit

The replica shirt incorporates adidas Climacool(tm) technology, a mixture of  heat and moisture controlling materials, ventilation channels and 3D fabrics which improve air flow to the skin in the key heat zones.

The new kit will be worn for the first time when Chelsea play Hong Kong champions Kitchee in their opening game of the Barclays Asia Trophy on July 27.

Mark Van Bommel, Clarence Seedorf and Luca Antonini

See below for the official release:

Somewhere between innovation and tradition, true to the style of adidas and AC Milan – for the 2011/12 jersey, the three-stripe label has decided to combine its most innovative technology with a design reminiscent of the Rossoneri strips of the early twentieth century.

The launch, too, was structured along the same lines – journalists from the traditional media and bloggers gathered at adidas Italy’s Brand Center in Monza but Milan fans from across Italy and the world were also able to attend the unveiling of the new strip and to ask the guests in attendance questions by means of live streaming at adidas.com.

Guests at the event

• Adriano Galliani – CEO and Vice President of AC Milan
• Salem Obaidalla, – Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Europe and Russian Federation) of Emirates
• Jean Michel Granier – CEO of adidas Italy

The star models of the new kit were Rossoneri players Clarence Seedorf, Mark Van Bommel and Luca Antonini.  The event was hosted by familiar television personality, and avid AC Milan fan, Daniele Bossari.  The strip will be worn for the first time on May 15th for the penultimate game of the league against Cagliari.

Design of the strip

AC Milan Jersey

• Reverting once again to the thinner 2cm-wide stripes compared to the 9cm-wide ones of last year
• There are 21 stripes in total, 11 of which are black and 10 red
• The white crew neck stands out with three stripes on the sleeves, which are white for the first time, on a red inset
• The back of the collar bears the words “Associazione Calcio Milan” underneath the Italian flag to highlight the fact that Milan is one of the best-known symbols of Italy around the world
• Reference to the colors of the Italian flag can be found on the insets at the sides on the front of the shirt as well as on the shorts
  and socks

Technology:

Next season, AC Milan players will be able to choose whether to wear the TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB uniform as a single layer or
whether to wear the base layers under the FORMOTION(tm) uniform, which has a traditional fit.

TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB is the most innovative technology used for sportswear. Thanks to the use of special compression fabrics and the application of TPU strips at specific areas of the body, the TECHFIT(tm) layers are able to concentrate muscular energy to the maximum to give the athlete explosive power, acceleration and resistance, whilst reducing muscle vibration, improving the athlete’s posture, the feel of their body and level of core stability in order to guarantee not just any performance but record-breaking performance.  Worn all together (shirt, shorts and socks), the TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB kit is able to increase players’ power by 5.3%*, their jump height by 4%*, their sprinting speed by 1.1%* and their efficiency by 0.8%*.   adidas TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB kits, worn as a single layer, are 45% lighter than the classic two-piece kit worn together.

The ForMotion(tm) strip sees the use of three-dimensional and elastic fabrics which adapt perfectly to the body of the player and subsequently improve the fit of the
strip in order to optimize movement, comfort and increase freedom of action.  The addition of adidas ClimaCool(tm) and adidas FlowMapping(tm) ensures optimum breathability and helps the Rossoneri players to maintain an ideal body temperature, even under pressure.

adidas is the leading brand in world football and provides the official ball for all major tournaments organised by UEFA, FIFA and the IOC. The partnership between adidas and AC Milan is one of the most solid and long-lasting relationships – having begun in 1998, it has been renewed up until 2017 with an extension to the rights as
Master licensee. A new feature is to be added to the many synergies already in place, from the Milan Junior Camp to the activities which help to make Fondazione Milan projects a reality.

The new campaign, launching March 16, captures the passion athletes, musicians and artists put into their “game” and takes a gritty, authentic look into the visceral nature of raw passion. Directed by Romain Gavras and featuring the song “Civilization” by French electronic band Justice, the campaign features
NBA star Derrick Rose, soccer stars David Beckham and Lionel Messi, pop icon Katy Perry, hip hop artist B.o.B., University of Notre Dame football and skateboarders Silas Baxter-Neal, Lem Villemin and Jake Donnelly.

“Today’s consumers are not one-dimensional,” said Patrik Nilsson, president of adidas America. “They live across the cultural spectrum and that’s where adidas has its edge. The adidas brand extends beyond sports and ‘all adidas’ celebrates this breadth of passion from athletes, musicians, artists and beyond. The new campaign allows us to create stronger, truer connections with the consumer by encouraging and celebrating a mix of interests and passions central to their lives.”

The campaign is built around a 30- and 60-second TV commercial and a two-minute extended online
version. Fans can continue the conversation online through social platforms including ww.facebook.com/adidas and www.YouTube.com/adidas, where adidas will serve up in-depth content to consumers.

At the heart of the all adidas campaign is the celebration of the game face – the look of glory or
defeat we reveal at the most pivotal moment in the game. adidas is asking fans to submit their own best game face photo for a chance to be on a special TV commercial with other adidas stars during the MTV Movie Awards on June 5. Fans can visit www.facebook.com/adidas to submit their photo.

Montreal-based agency Sid Lee created and produced the global campaign. Sid Lee was hired as the global advertising agency for lifestyle label adidas Originals at the start of 2008 and developed the global campaigns for Originals in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, Sid Lee was announced as the global lead-agency for the
entire adidas brand.

# # #

adidas designs and develops a broad range of athletic and fashion footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group that includes adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport.

Final verse of the Star Spangled Banner:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

On the gear front, it was an equally exciting year.  AVID Soccer had the chance to test gear from most of the major manufacturers and many smaller ones.  ASER tested products as diverse as the Microsoft Kinect to the Jabulani ball to a Chelsea anniversary scarf.  The best rose to the top and now receive their accolades.

Winners were selected in five categories:

Best Boot Nominees:

• Puma PWR-C 1.10
• Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II
• Pele Sports 1962 (Value Boot of the Year)
• adidas Predator X TRX (Boot of the Year)

Best Ball Nominees:

• Wilson Avanti NCAA Official Ball
• Select Brilliant Superball
• Nike Total90 Tracer
• adidas Jabulani/Jo’bulani World Cup Ball (Best Ball Winner)

Best Kit Nominees:

• Nike Serbia National Team Kit
• Puma Côte d’Ivoire National Team Kit
• Nike Netherlands National Team Kit
• adidas Spain National Team Kit (Best Kit Winner)

Best Lifestyle Product Nominees:

• Pele Sports Track Jacket
• EA Sports FIFA 2011
• Microsoft Windows Phone
• Puma Project Pink WPS Jersey (Winner Best Lifestyle Product)

Innovative Product of the Year Nominees:

• Microsoft Kinect
• TactX Training Animation System
• adidas miCoach Training System (Winner Innovative Product of the Year)

ASER would like to congratulate all of the nominees and winners of this years awards.  All of the testers and readers are looking forward to what 2011 will bring.

“It’s easy to forget about the problems going on outside our own lives, so we’re rolling out This Is Not A Shirt as a reminder and as a simple and fun way for students to contribute,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. “Kids can feel great about giving to the Haiti relief, but also know they’re helping themselves and their community by giving back to their own schools.”

Starting January 22, This Is Not A Shirt t-shirts go on sale for $20 at adidas Sport Performance, Originals and Factory stores in Southern California. $10 goes to Soles4Souls Haiti efforts rebuilding schools and $10 goes to a high school of the buyers choosing.

After purchase, the shirts can be registered online at www.WearsMyShirt.com and digitally passed to friends. Shirt threads will be tracked on the site and each schools progress will be shared via a leader board system. The winning school will be selected based on number of shirts purchased, number of shirts passed, video or picture submissions, use for donated funds, and overall program enthusiasm and participation. The winning school receives an exclusive grand prize event in February.

This program is all about helping kids help themselves and their high schools, said Nic Vu, vice president of retail, adidas North America. We’re providing the incentive and avenue for young people to work together to raise money for two great causes. It’s fun to realize that something as basic as a t-shirt can generate this amount of positive action.

Soles4Souls has donated shoes in more than 125 countries and provided relief efforts during natural disasters such as the Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and last year to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. To date, Soles4Souls has donated nearly 13 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes to those in need.

# # #

Iker Casillas Receives the Golden Glove

Herzogenaurach, Germany (December 14, 2010) – Today, adidas Group players Diego Forlán, Thomas Müller and Iker Casillas were presented with their adidas Golden Awards from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ during an event at adidas Group headquarters in Germany. The event marked the end of a successful FIFA World Cup™ campaign for both the players and the adidas Group.

Iker Casillas, captain of the winning federation, Spain, received the adidas Golden Glove Award, saying “It gives me huge satisfaction to receive the adidas Golden Glove Award and it is the perfect way to round off an unbelievable 2010 season. I hope that the success will continue in 2011″.

The adidas Golden Ball, Boot and Glove Awards, which are awarded to the best player, Diego Forlán, the highest goal scorer, Thomas Müller, and best goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, were presented to the players during a media and employee event by adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer and FIFA Executive Committee member Franz Beckenbauer.

Diego Forlan receives the Golden Ball

“The adidas Golden Awards are very prestigious awards recognizing outstanding talent on the world’s greatest football stage. I am honoured to be able to present them to the players,” commented former Germany international and FIFA Executive Committee Member Franz Beckenbauer.

The adidas Golden Ball Award, which is awarded to the best player of the tournament, has been won by many of the world’s best players including Pele (1970), Johan Cruijff (1974), Diego Maradona (1986) and Zinedine Zidane (2006). “There are many great players to have won the adidas Golden Ball Award and it is a great privilege to receive this award and be part of this select group of players,” commented Diego Forlán.

Thomas Müller was awarded with the adidas Golden Boot Award for his five goals and three assists and follows in the footsteps of German team mate Miroslav Klose who won the award in 2006. “Winning the adidas Golden Boot is a great honor for me and something I didn’t expect going into the World Cup. I hope to be able to continue scoring goals for my club and country in 2011.”

Thomas Muller receives the Golden Boot

2010 has been the most successful year in the history of the adidas Group having produced record sales in the football category as a highlight. Contributing to the success, the adidas Group delivered the highest scoring boot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the F50 adiZero, the winning federation, Spain, and the best player, best goalkeeper and highest goal scorer of the tournament.

“Today’s adidas Golden Awards presentation with Iker Casillas, Diego Forlán and Thomas Müller, underlines the adidas Group’s dominance of football and highlights once again our position as a clear winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer.

Awards:

Golden Ball award (best player): Diego Forlán of Uruguay

Golden Boot award (highest goal scorer): Thomas Müller of Germany

Golden Glove Awards (best goalkeeper): Iker Casillas of Spain

 ###

Street Soccer/Freestyle Soccer Demo at Soccer Nation

It seems like almost every other variant of soccer have been legitimized. Futsal has professional and amateur leagues around the world. Beach soccer has already had a televised world cup. Indoor soccer is common in many places. Even small-sided leagues have become more common. Still, street soccer or Calle Futbol remains unrecognized by FIFA or national associations.

Companies like Nike and adidas have created street balls and have excellent indoor shoes. Calle Republic and Monta are dedicated to the streets with full lines of apparel, shoes and balls. Some urban areas are converting empty parking lots and alleys to street courts. Unused tennis or basketball courts are being used for pick-up games. Even EA has a street soccer game.
We think it is time to set down some standard rules. We propose two main variants: 4 sided games with no keepers and 5 sided games with a keeper.

Four-a-Side Street Soccer – Laws of the Game

Failing a specific variation below, all FIFA Futsal rules will be enforced

• Court Size:
  • Basketball or Tennis Court
• Time:
  • 20 minute half
  • 5 minute half-time
• Goal:
  • Small pop-up style nets
  • With a 6 foot / 2 meter semi-circle arch for a basketball style key
• 5 Second Rule:
  • Basketball style restriction preventing any player from standing inside the arch for more than five seconds
  • Players violating the rule must take a lap around the court before re-entering
  • Play continues while the offending player runs
• Off-sides Rule:
  • No more than three players on the offensive side of the court
  • No shots are allowed from the defensive side of the field
• Restarts:
  • All restarts are from the ground
  • Restarts from the defensive side of the court must be passed to another player on the defensive side
• Substitutions:
  • A player may be substituted at any time (except where the Powerplay rule applies)
  • The departing player must leave the court before the arriving player can enter
  • All players must enter from the defensive end
• Powerplay rule (Optional):
  • A ball that is kicked far out of bounds must be retrieved by the player that kicked it
  • The opposing team may restart the game immediately and take advantage of the missing player
  • The retrieving player cannot be substituted
  • The player may re-enter to the game as soon as the ball is returned

Did we miss a rule?  Are you ready to start a league?  Tell us what you think and get out and play.

Core to the new agreement is a dedicated focus on youth development and programming to help shape the future of the sport in North America.

“The United States is a breeding ground for athletic talent and we need to ensure our homegrown athletes have viable opportunities to play soccer at the highest level,” said Patrik Nilsson, president, adidas America. “We need to accelerate the model for soccer development in North America to attract and keep elite talent engaged and excited about professional opportunities in the sport. We share a long-term vision with MLS to develop the game and are excited to foster the next generation of American soccer stars.”

adidas has been a partner of MLS since the league’s inception in 1996. In 2004, adidas and MLS announced an exclusive partnership agreement that named adidas the official athletic sponsor and product supplier, outfitting all league teams and supplying the league’s official match ball.

“One of the major reasons Major League Soccer has become one of the top soccer leagues in the world is due to the support and commitment of adidas,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “They have a clear vision for the sport in North America, and they see MLS as a cornerstone of that vision. Our extension with adidas is a major statement by an internationally respected brand that MLS is increasing in value and that our commitments to stadium construction, strategic expansion, player development and improvement in the overall quality of play are playing dividends.”

adidas is the global leader in soccer and partners with many of the world’s greatest soccer clubs and federations including Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Germany and Japan. adidas is an official partner of FIFA, UEFA and the Confederations of African Football. adidas also sponsors world-class athletes like Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Altidore, Fredy Montero, Lionel Messi, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Michael Ballack, Xavi, Frank Lampard and Andres Guardado, among others.

###

About adidas

adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. MLS kicked off its 15th season on March 25, 2010. MLS features 16 clubs each playing 30 regular season matches in 2010. Those teams include Chicago Fire; Colorado Rapids; Chivas USA; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; Kansas City Wizards; Los Angeles Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; 2009 MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Toronto FC; and, in their inaugural season, Philadelphia Union. Expansion teams in Vancouver and Portland will debut in 2011 and in Montreal in 2012. For more information about MLS, log on to the League’s official Web site at www.MLSsoccer.com.

It all started in the early 1980′s while serving as a missionary in Chile, South America.  During my year and a half there I never saw a grass soccer field.  They were all dirt!  I wondered why.  It finally came to me that grass just could not grow when the fields got so much use.  Many of the players had no shoes, but this didn’t seem to matter.  The sport looked simple enough, so I began to join in.  I soon gained a great respect for what these kids could do with their feet.  I found that after a year and a half I could barely keep up with kids between the ages of 10 and 12.  I was 23 at the time!

When I returned home to the US, I found a group of mostly Hispanics playing “Baby Football” ([futsal] played on a basketball sized court) at the local YMCA.  I was the worst players out there!  Within a few years an adult league was forming and I was asked to play Keeper.  I had good hands from my High School [American] Football days.  It took years, but I was invited to play on the field and found that I was a decent defender.  One day, a top club asked me to join their team as a defender.  I was honored, and felt that all my soccer aspirations had materialized.  They actually wanted ME to play for them.

About this time, my children were getting old enough to play.  I decided to lend a hand as an Assistant Coach.  I found that I knew much more about the sport than many of the other AYSO coaches, and was one of the few that had ever played, or was now playing.  My boys were very athletic, and were willing to put forth a great effort.  I felt like I needed to clone them and have them all over the field… but soon learned that if I could help the other players around them improve, we could work better as a team.

That became my philosophy: “Take each of the players on the team, and leave them better than I found them.”  I concentrated on teaching them the basics many times, because bad habits had not been recognized or corrected in the past.  Some of these young kids were like “old dogs” that didn’t want to learn any new tricks.  Slowly but surely they began to trust and listen to me.  My favorite player is the one that will take instruction and try to implement it.  I have had some less talented players who would do whatever they were asked to do.  And, I prefer them to the very talented player that will not listen.  Over the years, we developed several championship teams, and saw a lot of growth among the players.  Over time the kids recognize that it isn’t just kicking a ball.  There can be so much more to it.  The more they learned, the more they realized they still needed to master.  This is a sport that just gets better and better.  I love every aspect of the game.. from playing, to coaching, to watching great soccer on TV.  With the World Cup right around the corner, we just got our cable turned on and the only reason is to watch the greatest game ever played.  We will turn it back off once a champion is named.

I now have the pleasure of playing adult league soccer with 4 of my oldest children.. They now coach me!

PORTLAND

“As the world’s biggest sporting event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a great time for fans of all sports to get excited about soccer,” said Antonio Zea, director of soccer for adidas America. “We’re calling on the biggest names in sports to generate excitement here in the U.S. Reggie Bush is going to be traveling to South Africa and Dwight Howard, Dale Jr. and BJ Upton will be tweeting and posting throughout the tournament.”

Zea continued, “It’s going to be a month-long extravaganza and fans will be getting to experience it not just through the games on TV, but also through the eyes of their favorite sports stars.”

adidas and the athletes will create World Cup videos, quizzes, tweets and more in order to bring American sports fans closer to the tournament. In addition to the pre-kickoff material, Bush will travel to South Africa to witness the 2010 FIFA World Cup first-hand. From the moment he lands in South Africa, he will relay his unique look at the 2010 FIFA World Cups through texts, photos and videos via www.facebook.com/adidasSoccer.

“I’m flying half way across the world to see the World Cup with my own eyes,” Bush said. “Soccer players are incredible athletes and I’m excited to be on the ground to see the action first hand and share the excitement with my fans back home on Facebook and through my tweets. This is like a month-long Super Bowl! Go team USA!”

• “EVERY TEAM NEEDS A FAN” VIDEO CONTENT
  • Leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, adidas will post exclusive video content featuring Bush, Earnhardt, Jr. and Upton as they prepare for the tournament. The athletes will show off their own soccer skills, offer their support for the U.S. National Team and preview some of the content that will be featured on Facebook.
• “EVERY TEAM NEEDS A FAN” TEST YOUR SPORTS KNOWLEDGE
  • Fans will get the chance to test their sports knowledge against Bush, Howard, Earnhardt, Jr. and Upton through an interactive quiz on Facebook. The quiz will feature sport crossover-related questions to the four athletes and lets users guess if the athletes will answer them correctly.
• REGGIE BUSH IN SOUTH AFRICA
  • Bush will not only attend World Cup matches and provide commentary on the tournament, but he will take part in local community tours of service, teach South Africans about American football and even go on a safari. From the moment he touches down in South Africa, Reggie will provide photos, videos, text messages and Tweets via Facebook.
• HOWARD, EARNHARDT JR. AND UPTON DURING WORLD CUP
  • Howard, Earnhardt, Jr. and Upton will cheer on the US team, provide commentary on the matches and pick their favorite plays and post exclusive videos and photos to Facebook.
• FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW U.S.
  • Bush, Howard, Earnhardt, Jr. and Upton will compete against each other during the tournament by seeing who can get more fans to support the U.S. National Team in South Africa. The athletes will send video invitations to their fans on Facebook asking them to “Like” the “Go US” Facebook page on their behalf and when fans link through the athletes earns points. Fans will also be able to leave messages of support for the U.S. players.

Editors Note: You can also “Like” AVID Soccer on Facebook, view extra photos from our testing and events, and participate in discussions./p>

Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona

Lionel Messi will be the first player to wear the distinctive chameleon purple, white and electricity colorway during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The FIFA World Player of the Year says “I am amazed at how light the new F50 is; I can barely feel them on my feet. Speed on the pitch is a really important part of my game and wearing the world’s lightest boot will hopefully make me faster and enhance my performance during the most important games of the year!”

David Villa, who will wear the black and sun version, added “Speed is such an important part of my game and I am so excited about being even faster when I’m playing in South Africa against the best in the world in just a few weeks time.”

The need for speed in modern football has never been greater, where millimeters or a fraction of a second can make the difference between winning and losing. adidas has responded to this athlete request by reinventing the rules of speed and turning the iconic F50 boot into the lightest adidas boot ever made.

Aubrey Dolan, Senior Product Manager for adidas Football comments “Players like Lionel Messi and David Villa consistently told us they wanted boots that would enable them to be faster. Players wanted to be first to the ball, so we decided that the best way forward was to make a lightweight product which could be used at the highest level.”

The F50 adiZero will be worn by players during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The chameleon purple, white and electricity boot will be worn exclusively by Lionel Messi with Steven Pienaar (South Africa), Jozy Altidore (U.S.A), Shunsake Nakamura (Japan), Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast), Arjen Robben (Holland) and Lukas Podolski (Germany) wearing the sun, black and collegiate gold colourway and David Villa (Spain), Samir Nasri (France), Jermain Defoe (England) and Johan Vonlanthen (Switzerland) wearing the black and sun version. The boot will hit retail on May 24th 2010 in all adidas Sport Performance stores, as well as at leading e-retailers and selected sports retailers around the world.

adiZero (Jozy Altidore - Yellow and Leo Messi - Purpule)

HOW IT WORKS / THE SCIENCE

The F50 adiZero has been revolutionized, incorporating the industry’s lightest fabrics and leading technologies to reach the ultimate weight of 5.8 ounces*. To achieve the target weight, the boot has been developed on a lightweight last which offers a wider footbed and heel to distribute forces optimally throughout the boot – which is critical in a lightweight product.

• 5.8 ounces (165 grams) at US size 9

The sleek new SprintSkin upper has been created using an innovative single layer microfiber Polyurethane (PU) synthetic to reduce the overall weight and to ensure the shoe fits like a second skin increasing the comfort of the boot. The F50 adiZero uses asymmetric parallel lacing which creates a large, clean kicking surface for optimal ball contact while a perforated Ultra Light insole has been developed to reduce weight and increase speed.

The innovative new last is complemented by a new exclusive Sprint Frame outsole which is crafted using three-dimensional bridges to create stability and support in the midfoot. Taking inspiration from a running sprint spike, the outsole features a new revolutionary triangular stud configuration which provides maximum acceleration and optimum support for the critical lateral and medial movements. Football is not only about straight-line speed.

To add stability and to support the player, the upper features an internal network of Thermo Polyurethane (TPU) bands, as well as a single TPU bottom frame on the boot which offers stability and support in the lateral and medial movements and protects the upper against abrasion providing a sleek, stylish, iconic look.

See the launch Commercial on YouTube

The name ”JO’BULANI” is inspired by the name “JABULANI”, which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu, one of the eleven official languages of the Republic of South Africa spoken by almost 25 percent of the population. The name “JO’BULANI” is also a tribute to the host city of the final, Johannesburg, or Jo’burg as it is commonly referred to. Designed in white and gold, the “JO’BULANI” is a compliment to both the color of the FIFA World Cup™ trophy and Johannesburg, the “City of Gold.”

Like the “JABULANI”, the “JO’BULANI” features the iconic South African-inspired design along with the newly developed “Grip’n’Groove” profile, providing the best players in the world with a ball that allows exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions. Comprised of only eight, completely new, thermally bonded 3-D panels, which for the first time are spherically molded, the ball is perfectly round and even more accurate than ever before.

This is the second time adidas has designed a special ball for a FIFA World Cup™ final, the first final ball was the golden “TEAMGEIST BERLIN”, which was used on July 9th, 2006. The “JO’BULANI” will be available at specialty retailers throughout the US and on shopadidas.com starting April 21st.

adidas World Cup Final ball called the Jo'bulani

adidas always involves world-class athletes in the development and testing of its products. For the adidas “JABULANI”, adidas partners AC Milan, FC Bayern München, the Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town tested the ball in 2008, contributing to improvements in the surface structure and material composition. The involvement of our players continues to help bring the best soccer products to market going forward.

adidas continues to use innovative technology to extend its global leadership position in soccer production, thus strengthening its position as the authentic symbol of high-performance sporting goods for professionals and amateurs alike. adidas also will continue to unveil more revolutionary innovations in match ball production for future UEFA, FIFA and CAF competitions. The adidas innovation team (ait) is already working on innovations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

More pictures are available on the AVID Soccer Facebook page and the official unveil video is available here (www.thenewsmarket.com/adidas)

• Know a dedicated coach?
  

  AVID Soccer Contest Sponsors

• Are you a rabid fan?
• Have you left everything on the field?
• Do you guard the net?

AVID Soccer has partnered with some of the biggest names in football to reward your dedication.   Write and tell us why you, or someone you know is a dedicated coach, faithful fan, committed player or  unshakable goalkeeper.  Nike, adidas, Calle Republic and Reusch want to join AVID Soccer and share your passion.

The rules are pretty basic:

• Entries must be a unique and original story between 200-500 words with at least one picture.
• Entries must be submitted electronically to AVID Soccer (Contest@avidsoccer.com) or added to the AVID Soccer
  Facebook discussion for the respective category.
• Entries should describe why someone meets the qualifications (write about yourself or anyone you know).
• There is no limit to the number of entries, but each must be a unique and original story.  Contestants can enter for each appropriate category, but can only win once.
• Entries must be received between March 29, 2010 and May 28, 2010.
• Winners will be announced the week of June 21st.
• The contest is open to US Residents over the age of 18. Youth entries must be submitted by a parent or guardian.  Some prizes may not be available in all sizes.
• All entries become the property of AVID Soccer.
• Winners will be selected by a committee and all decisions are final.
• Winners will be contacted by AVID Soccer for size and shipping information.
• Prizes will be shipped by the manufacturer four to six weeks later.

The Categories:

AVID Soccer Coach presented by Nike (http://www.nikesoccer.com)

The award honors a coach’s dedication to his/her players, organization and soccer. The selection committee will choose the story that represents this ideal. The winning selection will receive a pair of Nike’s amazing Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II boots valued at $400.

AVID Soccer Fan presented adidas (http://www.adidas.com/soccer)

The fan award pays tribute to the fanatical supports that keep the clubs and the press going. Tell the story of that pride and dedication. What better way to celebrate than with the $150 Jabulani ball (Zulu for celebrate).  It is the official ball for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

AVID Soccer Player presented by Calle Republic (http://www.callerepublic.com)

Players give their heart and soul to the game. Tell the story of a player who left it all on the field. Calle doesn’t just leave it on the field; they take it to the streets. They have put a package together valued around $150.

AVID Soccer Goalkeeper presented by Reusch (http://www.reuschusa.com)

The goalkeeper is the last line of defense and the first point of attach. No team can compete without a force in the net. Tell the story of that keeper and Reusch will give the winner a pair of their Magno Deluxe M1 Ortho-Tec professional gloves retailing for $150.

PORTLAND, Ore. – March 25, 2010

adidas TECHFIT: Chicago Fire (front)

adidas TECHFIT: DC United (back)

Until recently, TECHFIT PowerWeb has been more commonly worn under a player’s uniform as compression apparel; but the new adidas MLS uniforms offer TECHFIT built into the actual jersey giving players the benefits of TECHFIT in a single layer.

“At adidas we are all about equipping athletes with the most innovative gear and apparel on the planet,” said Antonio Zea, Director of Soccer, adidas America. “With TECHFIT now built into their jerseys, we are helping athletes from Chicago Fire, D.C. United and LA Galaxy play to their highest potential and we look forward to watching them perform at the top of their game this season.”

TECHFIT PowerWeb is a cutting edge athletic apparel technology that improves muscular endurance and responsiveness, and reduces muscle vibration, ultimately maximizing the athlete’s performance. Through the use of compression fabrics and strategically placed TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) bands, located in key areas to enhance muscle power, TECHFIT is proven to increase a player’s power by 5.3 percent^*, vertical leap by 4 percent^*, sprint speed by 1.1 percent* and enhance endurance by 0.8 percent^*.

The TECHFIT jersey as worn by the players on the pitch will be specially packaged and retail for $150 starting in July.

adidas TECHFIT: LA Galaxy (detail)

All other MLS teams will wear the adidas FORMOTION uniform. FORMOTION is engineered to move naturally with the athlete’s body resulting in an ideal fit and comfort while in motion. It also features adidas CLIMACOOL technology which combines a moisture wicking fabric and mesh construction in the player’s highest heat zones to improve body ventilation and keep the athlete at optimum temperature. The FORMOTION uniform is designed to partner with traditional TECHFIT PowerWeb compression apparel.

adidas, the number one soccer brand in the world, is the official athletic sponsor and licensed product supplier to MLS. adidas TECHFIT PowerWeb uniforms will also be worn this summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. adidas will outfit 12 federations at the 2010 FIFA World Cup – more than any other brand – with the ultimate in personalized soccer uniform kits. Federations with the option of TECHFIT uniforms include South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Germany and France.

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While we at AVID Soccer cannot substantiate the performance claims, they do seem reasonable.  The most dramatic example of this was the Speedo swimsuits worn in the last Summer Games  The reduced vibration will not have the same effect in the air that it does in the water, but it will focus the players energy.  From personal observation, we have found that compression clothing not only helps with endurance, but improves recovery.

^* Proven research from adidas Global Research and the University of Calgary.

Winners are selected in each category based on value, quality and desirability.  Other criterion is category specific.  Winners are selected by a combination of votes from editors, testers and readers.  Details are available at http://blog.avidsoccer.com.

The Best of 2009 are:

• Coolest Lifestyle Product – Nominees include Nike’s Holland Anthem Jacket, the adidas Hero Hoodie.  The winner is the Calle Republic Rilo street shoe.  Calle one over great products from adidas and Nike by creating a shoe ideally suited to the soccer lifestyle and street soccer.
• Best Boot – Nominees include the adidas Predator X and Puma v1.10.  The winner is the Concave PT+.  Any of these boots could have finished first and there was a strong argument for each.  In the end, better grass roots support for the Concave PT+ pushed it ahead of the competition.
• Best Ball – Nominees include the adidas Jabulani and Nike Ascente.  Both are world class professional quality balls, but we selected the value priced (relatively speaking) Puma King XL as our winner.
• Best Kit – Nominees include the Sarson Bonn and adidas Russian National team kit.  The winner is a balance between high quality and value in the Diadora Ermano.
• Innovative Product of the Year – The first nomination for our most important award go to the Woman’s Professional Soccer league for changing the way soccer franchises are marketed in the US.  The second nomination goes to Lotto Team Sports for changing the way uniforms are designed and produced.  Our winner is the Concave striking plate.  It changes the way we think about hitting the ball.  The Concave striking patch may be the equivalent to the oversized golf club.

About AVID Soccer:

AVID Soccer is a grass roots organization that provides information and training to individual players, groups and teams. AVID Soccer consists of coaches and trainers dedicated to improving the image of soccer; the level of training; and the level of play.  http://www.avidsoccer.com

The AVID Soccer Equipment Review (ASER), one of the largest independent review sites, provides objective testing services, reviews and information on soccer equipment and related products. The AVID Soccer Equipment review web log was founded in March 2006.  http://blog.avidsoccer.com

AVID Soccer News presents product announcements, player gossip, team transfers, lifestyle, etc. In short, we present the news and views of the soccer world. Articles are compiled from original content, press releases and reprinted publications.  http://news.avidsoccer.com