The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors announced at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, January 12 that the IHSA will sign a five-year contract with Baden Sports, Inc. to make Baden the official ball provider of the IHSA. Pending the formalization of a contract mutually agreed upon by both parties, Baden will become the official ball of the IHSA in baseball, basketball, football, softball, soccer, volleyball and water polo.

“We are very happy to be named the Official Ball of the Illinois High School Association,” said Michael Schindler, Baden’s CEO. “Illinois is one of the premier states in the nation for high school athletics and we are proud to be a part of such an exciting and competitive environment.”

The IHSA’s current ball contract with Wilson Sporting Goods is set to expire at the end of the 2008-09 school year and the Association has received ball contract proposals from several industry leaders over the past year, including Rawlings, Spalding and Wilson. The IHSA will be the 18th state high school association to endorse Baden as its official ball.

“We have enjoyed an exceptional relationship with Wilson and this change should by no means be seen as a criticism of Wilson or its products,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “The Board simply felt that Baden offered a ball contract and product that was unmatched by any of the other suitors. To say the least, we were impressed by the quality and cutting edge expertise Baden has achieved in its products.”

Baden, an independent and family-owned company based in the state of Washington, entered the athletic ball market in 1979. The company prides itself on focusing 100 percent of its attention on the design and production of its balls, unlike many companies who began in athletic apparel before venturing into ball production. The company is known as the Athletic Ball Expert™ due to its technological advancements in the field, which include the Perfection™ line of balls in baseball, basketball, football and volleyball.

“Not only will the state's athletes compete using Baden's world class Perfection™ series of game balls, but Baden's competitively priced, innovative and exciting custom promotional products will help each member school grow their resources,” added Schindler. “In an effort to provide a smooth transition for schools to the newly adopted ball, Baden will provide a free ball to each coach in each sport on behalf of the IHSA and Baden. In addition to aiding the transition, this effort will allow each school to stretch its budget dollars.”

The Baden ball models for each sport are posted on a separate page.

Source: http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2008-09/2009-01-12a.htm

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253-925-0500