Ever since I was a small boy, I played soccer. In grade school, we made it a daily activity using the trees and fences to mark our field.  I tried out [for the high school team] my freshman year, but I could not make the team.  I dedicated myself to practice more during that next year just to find I did not qualify for the second time. I was quite disappointed that I was not allowed to participate in something I loved so much. I found myself the least played player both my junior and senior year, first on JV then on the varsity squad. [Editor's Note: Sometimes the bench is the best place to watch the game and learn.]

I spent hours daily practicing my skills. I trained in the garage, at the park, on my driveway, with or without anyone else. One might think, “wouldn’t you just give up” after failing so much, but I couldn’t. Something was born inside of me years ago.

The AVID Fan 2011 Presented by Calle Republic

I saw a match on television, where Wayne Rooney scored a magnificent goal.  The whole stadium was filled with an awestruck noise. It was like a hiss.  Though some were amazed, it was the sound of disbelief. I remembered that sound.

Many say that one can express themselves through various methods like music or art, but the most vibrant display of enthusiasm, passion, and dedication is on the pitch. From the sounds I hear in stadiums to the gasps of announcers as the incredible occurs, I am inspired.

For me, the joy of futbol is not just one of a spectator sport.  Feeling those butterflies in the stomach before the game and the impulse to cry after the loss of an important match are part of what makes this sport one to be animated about.

Trying out a new juke in a game, or creating a new one by instinct is joyous.  I love the diversity, I have played with people from Africa, South America, Central America, Europe, and Asia. Even if we can’t speak the same language we have a special connection: the dance of the ball. I love that you can play futsal, or a professional sized field, on cement, sand, turf, or dirt, and every surface gives the game a new twist. I love the game and everything it includes.  You have just got to love it.

My passion as a player was largely driven by dreams. Personal success and satisfaction was the ultimate goal.  My motives as a coach are different. I want to see kids enjoying soccer. That is my desire. They should be learning and aspiring to reach the highest level that their ability, focus and opportunities will allow.

Soccer is such a vibrant sport that captivates a huge audience. I love the way it brings families together. It’s so inclusive and can be enjoyed by all.  The culture and carnival like atmosphere at many tournaments could be described as an art form and theatre.

I don’t believe that many sports can rival soccers pace and freedom. They instead often have too many rules and an over reliance on tactics. Thus losing a certain dynamism, energy and magic.

No other passion of mine can be enjoyed 24/7 on the street, back yard or college field. There is no need for expensive equipment, teams or referees. I was happiest when practicing soccer with my brother before, during and after school. My dad would join in too. I always wanted to make him proud of the way I played. I can vividly remember the first pair of boots he bought me – such an exciting moment!

Soccer will always play a powerful and emotional role in my life. It’s popularity and Universal appeal will continue to grow.  I will keep working hard to coach the next generation. This is the best way I can give something back to a sport that has provided me with so much.

——————–

Contest Rules

• Entries must be a unique and original story between 200-500 words with at least one picture
• Entries must be submitted electronically directly to AVID Soccer (Contest@avidsoccer.com)
• Entries should describe why the nominee meets the qualifications (self nominations are encouraged)
• There is no limit to the number of nominations, but each must be a unique and original story
• Entries must be received between April 1, 2011 and May 31, 2011
• 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
• Employees and associates of AVID Soccer and their families are not eligible

AVID Player presented by Pele-Sports; Pele-Sports wants to reward your passion as a player with a prize package worth $400 (http://www.pele-sports.com/)

• “FUTEBOL BONITO” It’s Pelé Sports‘ mantra. Our identity, our philosophy, what our brand is all about. Futebol bonito means the beauty of the game. It honors Pelé’s beliefs and values. Futebol bonito means looking after your teammates, of caring for anyone who kicks a ball. And keeping fit and staying healthy means any player can enjoy the beautiful game more.  Futebol bonito means going back to the sport’s roots. To the street players, to the kids doing their thing on urban courts, dirt pitches, or any patch of ground. It’s football stripped down to its simple, straight-forward best: no frills, no fuss, no compromise: football that’s about free expression, just the way Pelé and the boys from Brazil played it.  Futebol bonito is about reclaiming the game – rediscovering the joy and love for football, feeling the way Pelé played. It’s what football is really all about.

AVID Fan presented by Calle Republic; Calle Republic wants you to look your best on the sideline with a prize package worth over $200 (http://www.callerepublic.com)

• Calle (KAI-yay) meaning “street” in Spanish – bears two massively iconic logos that you will soon see everywhere: The CALLE logotype and the Pigeon.  From Los Angeles to Barcelona, Sao Paolo to Seoul, every great city is filled with pegeons wandering the streets and living off tof the available.  Kinda like us…

AVID Coach presented by Select Sport; Select wants to reward the dedication of a coach (http://www.selectsportamerica.com/index.php)

• Select Sport is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hand-sewn balls and produces approximately 2 million balls per year. SELECT is recognized as an innovator in quality balls and is represented by its own sales network and distributors that export to over 50 different nations. SELECT is credited with the invention of the first laceless soccer ball, the first 32 panel soccer ball, and the first waterproof soccer ball.  Our history of innovation and commitment to success has helped us become the Official Ball supplier to the Danish National Team, the Royal Belgian Football Association, as well several of the top leagues and clubs across Europe and Asia.

AVID Goalkeeper presented by Reusch; Reusch wants to protect the one who protects the net (http://www.reuschusa.com)

• In 1934, when Karl Reusch manufactured his first pair of gloves in a small workshop in Metzingen, he had a vision: to create incomparable, innovative gloves of the highest possible quality.  Since 1974 when Reusch designed the first soccer goalkeepers glove, They have been the premier brand for goalkeepers. They are world renowned for producing goalkeeper gloves with innovative foams, cuts and extraordinary fit. Reusch is first in innovative and patented designs that protect goalkeepers

The contest launches on April 1^st.  Look to AVID Soccer (http://www.avidsoccer.com)  for contest details.

Free to the Public, 20,000 Soccer Fans Expected During the February 12-13 Event

WHAT: Cal South’s Soccer Nation Expo, the countries largest free soccer show, will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center for 2011. The Expo will take place February 12 and 13 and will feature interactive exhibits, gear and equipment displays, coaching clinics and soccer activities that appeal to fans, coaches and players of all ages and skill levels. , Attendance at Soccer Nation Expo is free. More than 20,000 soccer fans, families and coaches are expected to attend the two-day expo. Past Soccer Nation Expo exhibitors and sponsors have included Nike, Jamba Juice, Los Angeles Galaxy, Fox Soccer Channel, and Chivas USA.

WHY: Soccer Nation Expo was founded to provide fans, coaches, players and their families a free opportunity to enjoy a wide range of soccer events and activities. In its seventh year, Soccer Nation Expo has grown each year to more than 100 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees for the 2010 expo. With the rising popularity of soccer in America and especially in the soccer hot bed of Southern California, Cal South officials are planning for continued strong attendance to the delight of sponsors and exhibitors, who increasingly seek marketing channels and opportunities that reach and impact target consumers.
 WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 ( 9:30 am to 5 pm)

Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 (9 am to 3 pm)

WHERE: Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, Calif.

For more information about Soccer Nation Expo 2011, visit www.soccernationexpo.com.

###

About Cal South
The California State Soccer Association – South (Cal South) is a 501c(3) California public benefit corporation and is the official youth and adult state soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. Cal South represents over 230 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising our membership of more than 160,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. The organization, with a service area that extends from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, provides rewarding recreational and competitive opportunities for players of all ages, genders and skill levels. For more information about Cal South, visit www.calsouth.com.

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.

Project Pink is a line of products by Puma that supports Breast Cancer Research.  The line was first seen with the WPS.

Calle Republic always has the coolest clothes.  The dead pigeon guys have done it again with their latest.  We tested these a while ago and they are still favorites.

Pele Sports is the newest member of our family.  They are a new company that is combining old school looks with modern design.

There are a lot more pictures and products from all of these companies.  Check out our Facebook page for the pictures and check in with ASER for the reviews.  Let us know which items are must haves and which are passes.

My name is Jason.  I am 21 years old, and I am from Cookeville, TN.  Soccer has been my absolute passion for my entire life.  I cannot get enough of it.  I strongly doubt I have gone more than one day without touching a ball in the last 10 years of my life.  I have had many crazy and interesting experiences throughout my soccer career.  These have made me both a better player and a better person. Soccer is more than just a passion for me. Soccer is my life, and I don’t know how I could live any other way.

My entire life I have had to deal with a problem that most soccer players around the world don’t have to.  I am from a small town in the USA and almost nobody plays [here].  I don’t know how many times I have been at the park and seen tons of people playing and doing activities, but I am the only one there with a soccer ball.  It is really kind of depressing at times, but I have fought through it.  I constantly practice my skills by juggling and other individual drills.  I quickly became interested in freestyle which has opened up many opportunities for me.  I have been a competitor in the Red Bull Street Style National Finals for the last two years.  I was a part of the Burger King Futbol Kingdom team as well.  These have been fabulous experiences.

The other thing that I have done to find ways to play the sport I love is to play with the different immigrants that are in the area.  I have played with people from all around the world here in Tennessee. For the most part, American soccer players [in Tennessee] consist of immigrants and their children.  I am the exception being a normal [small town] American.  I have played in numerous Hispanic mens leagues being the only white person on the field.  These experiences have brought good and bad.  I was constantly taunted as “gringo” and other negative names for whites, but I also was able to make many friends.  This helped me to learn conversational Spanish, and it was one of the main reasons I decided to study Spanish in College.  I have also played with groups of Africans and various Europeans. The cultural differences do not matter when we are on the field.  We are all united under the one passion for the game.  It definitely helped me realize that all people are basically the same no matter what ethnic group or where they are from.  It doesn’t get any cooler to know that our backgrounds mean nothing when we are on the field together.

AVID Soccer Player Award presented by Calle Republic

Futebol e minha vida.  This is a term I was taught by Brazilians that means soccer is my life.  It’s something I’ll live by forever.  Soccer is just absolutely the most unifying force that exist in the world, and it is a passion that exists for millions in every country.

Over the past few years, they have watching the way people play, dress and live the street game.  That is definitely influencing the way there gear has evolved.  We hear rumors that they are creating a new “street” image that will be separated from both the grass pitch and indoor gear.  We have seen some of of this in the fantastic Rilo street shoes (see the ASER review) and the new Smooth Criminal ball.  The next step is clothes that are unique to the street look.

The marketing folks at most of the manufacturers usually make sure AVID Soccer knows about any big release.  Calle has been holding this one very close to the vest.  They wouldn’t even give us pictures for the big contest giveaway… until now.

Calle Republic Prize Package

We just received samples of the prize package that Calle is providing.  It will be a custom package for the contest winner and includes some of their newest and hottest looks from their collection.  They sent us a florescent green Smooth Criminal ball, ladies Lox v-neck, FTP and Antram tees for the guys, a new ball sack (our favorite light bag) and the Willow shorts.  The ball and shorts are a complete departure from what Calle has done before.  Look for reviews on ASER in the next few weeks.

Want some of this cool swag for yourself?  Get your contest entry in soon.

Enter the contest at AVID Soccer (http://www.avidsoccer.com/2010_contest.aspx) or on the AVID Soccer Facebook page.

• 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.

Soccer Nation Expo 2010

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (February 22, 2010) Soccer Nation Expo is an opportunity for team administrators, coaches and players to meet with manufacturers and vendors. The conference features a full midway, coaching clinics, demonstrations, samples and a futsal tournament.

When we started attending SNE several years ago, all of the major manufacturers were present. The event has shrunk over the past few years, both in the number of vendors and the number of visitors. Last year, there was no sign of Puma, adidas or UnderArmour. This year, there was no sign of Diadora, Xara and others.

The expo has become a great showcase for small to midsized manufacturers and soccer specialty retailers. Companies like Calle Republic, Copa Cabana Beach Soccer and Reusch continue to make their presence known in their respective specialties. Calle Republic, in their 4th year, focuses on street soccer and uses the event to increase brand awareness and promotion partnerships. Copa Cabana is both a promotions company and an organization of beach soccer leagues/tournaments. They lead the beach soccer movement.   Reusch is one of the premier innovators of goalkeeping. They produce a full range of gloves, apparel and accessories.

Little Feet Booth

Uniform manufacturers like Score, Protime Sports and Century also have the opportunity to meet with league and club administrators. These direct-to-consumer manufacturers along with soccer specific retailers use the event to connect with coaches, team administrators and league boards. It is an opportunity for buyers to compare uniforms side by side and set up deals.

The real value is to small manufacturers. This year, we found a couple of note. The first is Little Feet. They are a socially responsible manufacturer with a great story. For every ball they sell, one is donated to a child in need. Another promising vendor was Cleatskins. The skins cover cleats (from almost any sport, not just soccer) for protection and stability off the pitch.

Nike 5 Futsal Regional Championship

Of course, the big underwriter is Nike. They sponsor the Nike 5 US Futsal Southwest Regional Championship. It takes place on fields on the convention floor. The action is fast and fun to watch. In addition, Nike has a shoe trial to allow visitors to try on the latest and greatest. It is a ways for Nike to connect directly with the players and give back to the community.

We spoke to a number of different vendors. In general, the longtime vendors were there to support local stores or sales staff. Most felt that the cost of the show was high for the amount of direct sales they received, but it was an important to be seen and to support the local market. The new vendors were there for the exposure. It is a way to get their product in front of the soccer press and 30,000 soccer players, coaches and administrators.

Street Soccer Demonstration

Additional Resources:

• Calle Republic
• Cleatskins
• Copa Cabana Beach Soccer
• Little Feet
• Nike
• Reusch
• Soccer Nation Expo
• AVID Soccer SNE 2010 Pictures (Facebook)

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

The SPY Awards, emceed by Mike Jerrick, host of Good Day Philadelphia morning news program, were developed to celebrate the best and most innovative soccer products available. Winners of the first annual SPY Awards include:

• Awards & Trophies: Skillzys®, Tagzyz™ & Bragzys™
• Coach/Team Equipment & Training Aids: Kixsports America, Kixkube
• Web & Software Services: iSoccer
• Soccer Balls: Adidas, 2010 Official World Cup Match Ball
• Goalkeeper Gear: Under Armour, Eliminate MPZ Goalkeeping Top
• Goals: GOLME, Golme Professional Training Goal
• Field Maintenance & Equipment: Expand-A-Sign, Horizontal A-Frame pop-up
• Player & Team Apparel: CALLE, Herrin Windbreaker
• Protective Gear: S1 Sport, Revolutionary Shin/Ankle/Achilles Protection
• Boots Category: Adidas, Predator_X Boot
• Best Product of the Year: Adidas, Predator_X Boot

Additionally, the SPY Awards featured a few of soccer’s most notable names, including:

• Bill Nuttall, President of Diadora
• Caleb Porter, Head Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Akron
• Dani Collins, Philadelphia Independence 2010 draft pick
• Becky Burliegh, Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of Florida

Each year, the ASER writers, testers and editor select the products that provide the best overall experience.  That is defined as a balance between quality, desirability and value.

… and the nominee for best…

• Best Boot
  • adidas Predator X
  • Concave PT+
  • Puma v1.10
• Best Ball
  • adidas Jabulani
  • Puma King XL
  • Nike Total 90 Ascente
• Best Kit
  • adidas Russian Federation WC Kit
  • Diadora Ermano
  • Sarson Bonn
• Coolest Lifestyle Product
  • adidas Lampard Hooded Jacket
  • Calle Republic Rilo Street Shoe
  • Nike Holland Anthem Track Jacket
• Most Innovative Product
  • Lotto Team Sport custom jersey system
  • Concave striking plate
  • Women’s Professional Soccer League

Voting opens January 1st.  To vote, click on one of the links above and add your comments or send email to the Review Desk.  Voting will close January 22.  Winners will be announced the following week.

The world’s first ever urban lifestyle soccer brand is unveiling its newest design of street soccer shoes at Soccer Fanatic in Laguna Hills on Saturday, August 15 at 3:00 p.m. CALLE will also show off its patented street soccer ball that is made specifically to play with in the streets.

Calle – street in Spanish (pronounced KAI-yay) – is a movement promoting the streets as the fundamental training grounds for soccer. Founder Travis Winn, a Southern California native said that the best soccer players in the world come from the streets and CALLE is committed to providing an arena and lifestyle where players can improve their skills, express themselves, hang out with friends and turn their dreams into reality.

The shoe was designed like an indoor soccer shoe, built for touches on a ball; but intended to be worn outside every day. The shoes are made to double as every day footwear. The ball is designed to better resist the wear and tear of playing on hard, rough surfaces.

CALLE was founded by five students at Brigham Young University in their basement while attending school and playing semi-professional soccer. The company got its start in 2007 when it was awarded $52,000 as the first place winner at BYU’s Marriott School’s Business Competition. Fortune Small Business also named CALLE one of the top 3 Student Business Startups of 2007.

The CALLE movement is gaining momentum worldwide and among elite athletes like FC Barcelona’s Thierry Henry, former US soccer captain Marcelo Balboa and Phoenix Sun basketball star Steve Nash. Players can visit calleunderground.com to chat with local players and find street soccer games in their area.
Admission to Saturday night’s event is free and prizes will be given away to those that come out.

For more information about CALLE visit www.callerepublic.com. For event questions or to set up any interviews with CALLE contact Danny Mason, (CEO,CALLE) at 801.400.8779 or at danny.mason@callerepublic.com.

CALLE Apparel On the World’s Best Soccer and Basketball Players in the Showdown at Chinatown, NY, June 24th 2009

Steve Nash, Thierry Henry, Tony Parker, Javier Zanetti and more of the world’s best soccer and basketball players will electrify New York as they battle to win the Showdown, dressed in CALLE apparel.

The Steve Nash Foundation selected CALLE as its official Showdown apparel sponsor because “CALLE’s designs were inspired from the streets of the world; providing the first lifestyle brand for the beautiful game” — Jenny Miller, Executive Director, The Steve Nash Foundation.

About CALLE

Great minds see beauty in disorder, creativity in chaos, confidence in a crowded alleyway. And great minds delivered CALLE (KAI-yay) — “street” in Spanish — creating the first ever urban lifestyle brand with a unique niche in street soccer. The founders obtained inspiration for the brand from their travels around the world where they would play “calle” or street soccer with the local kids in the favelas and barrios; where the world’s best players learn.

A very literal movement in the sense that the world’s youth are partnering with CALLE; Our Callejeros, or “street people”, play CALLE all over the world, supply the bulk of the product ideas, market the brand in their own ways, and guerilla tactic the product onto shelves in their own cities. Suits would be terrified of such anarchy with the brand. It’s our caviar.

Marcelo Balboa, second most capped player in US history and CALLE advisory Board Member, best describes the opportunity. “I have studied the Quiksilver story and have drawn parallels between Quik and CALLE. Both are category creators and have a leading position in a niche. However, for every kid that surfs, there are 1000 kids playing soccer, and most of us learn on the street. Second, Quik didn’t make their money in the ocean, they made it on land; from apparel that represents the surfer when he isn’t in the water. If you understand this, you see that the opportunity for CALLE is massive; providing an identity for the billions of soccer aficionados across the world that are dying to have their own brand.”

“If CALLE doesn’t become a world-wide movement and billion dollar global brand, it is nobody’s fault but our own.” – Curt Roberts, CALLE Chairman and former Nike VP of Global Strategy.

CALLE is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

About the Steve Nash Foundation and the Showdown in Chinatown
The Steve Nash Foundation is dedicated to assisting underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life. The Showdown in Chinatown will be held at 6pm on Wednesday June 24th in the Sarah D. Roosevelt Park, Lower Manhattan. Professional soccer and basketball players scheduled to play include: Steve Nash, Claudio Reyna, Thierry Henry, Tony Parker, Javier Zanetti, Raja Bell, Adrian Mutu, Chris Bosh, Ivan Cordoba, Grant Hill, Giovanni van Brockhurst, Ryan Babel, Salomon Kalou, Mathieu Flamini and Jason Kidd. Visit stevenash.org/showdown for more information or to make your assist.

For more information:

• Calle Republic Reviews
• Calle on CNN
• Calle Republic Store