TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced the establishment of the USL Locker Room, a new branch of the USL Preferred Supplier Program that will allow manufacturers of high-performance products and services to work directly with clubs across all of the organization’s platforms – the USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two, USL Academy and the Super Y League.
Just as the Preferred Supplier Program has partnered with “Best in Class” companies to fulfill all off-field needs for clubs, USL Locker Room will provide services and products to athletes, coaches, and trainers that will allow for maximum performance in training, recovery and on gameday.
“The rising level of competition across all of the USL’s properties has meant increased focus within clubs on maximizing the performance of their players,” said Matt Reda, USL Director, Corporate Development. “That means investing in products and services that can make a difference in player recovery, nutrition and scouting. We have been working for the past year in building a network of top-level suppliers that can work with clubs across the USL to help clubs find the products and services they require to keep their on-field performance at its peak.”
As part of today’s announcement, USL Locker Room proudly unveiled its first two partners in the program in NormaTec and TapeDesign.
NormaTec's technology serves as a primary source of recovery to elite athletes, coaches, and trainers around the globe. The NormaTec PULSE 2.0 Series Recovery Systems use compressed air to massage limbs, mobilize fluid, speed recovery, and reduce pain and soreness. The NormaTec recovery massage helps athletes recover comprehensively and quickly after training and competition, and is also used as a high tech warm up. NormaTec was created by a physician bioengineer to enhance circulation and speed recovery and the technology is now relied on by 97 percent of professional teams in the U.S.
“The USL is one of the fastest growing and most sophisticated soccer leagues in North America and we are very excited to partner with them,” said Gilad Jacobs, CEO of NormaTec. “The addition of NormaTec’s world-class recovery technology will be a great asset to the league, and we are looking forward to helping their players excel.”
TapeDesign has produced a performance-enhancing sock that utilizes high-grip technology to ensure players experience minimal in-shoe movement during play. The bottom of each sock is covered in rubber knobs, significantly decreasing friction between the foot and sole of the shoe. The sock, constructed from elastic material, molds to the player’s foot providing optimal comfort no matter whether playing on natural or synthetic surfaces.
“We are thrilled to partner with the USL not only at the pro level, but also at the amateur and youth levels as our product benefits players of all levels,” said TapeDesign Representative Sam Klos. “Within football, we are reaching a point at which players must start viewing socks as an additional piece of equipment as opposed to just apparel. The socks are designed to increase performance and limit foot slippage, which means sure-footedness for players looking for high-level responsiveness.”
Through USL Locker Room, the USL will be able to introduce Performance Partners such as NormaTec and TapeDesign to new and potential club owners before public announcements are made, giving Locker Room Suppliers an opportunity to build a relationship with new clubs as they work toward their inaugural seasons in the league. The USL will also create a central online business site with its Performance Partners that will offer the organization’s clubs a one-stop-shop for all the services and products on offer through USL Locker Room’s partners.
In addition, Performance Partners will have the opportunity to showcase their products at USL events throughout the year, including the USL Winter Summit, USL Technical Meetings, USL Academy Showcases and the Super Y League Finals.
For more information on USL Locker Room, contact Matt Reda at Matt.Reda@uslsoccer.com.