Team Insight

14 Team Insight / March 2018 teaminsightmag.com The Athlete: Gabriella is a senior playing varsity bas- ketball for her high school. She has been on the varsity team for six years and has played basketball for 10 years on both a local travel team and her school team. Gaby plans to continue playing at the collegiate level. 1-10: "I give manufacturers for basketball products a 9 because I believe they have greatly improved over the last five years. Pop-up defenders, Vertimax, ball handling and shooting gloves are all newer products that have not only changed the way I train, but have also helped me better prepare for game-like situations." Likes and Dislikes: "I like the equipment for my sport. I have grown up used to using different equipment for training and practices and I truly believe it helps me get better results. Overall, the basketball apparel is satisfactory and although the apparel has improved, there is still some room for further growth." Better or Worse: "Both the apparel and equipment have improved, especially the equipment. There are so many new products now than when I was in third grade. They have become more durable and versatile. It has changed the way athletes train. Apparel has also improved — everything is now made with a lighter, breathable material that makes staying cool and dry easier. I am thankful for this after having gone through many years wearing heavy, hot fabrics that held sweat in." For the Boys: "I continually find myself in the men's section for basketball equipment and apparel. They are now producing more basketball shoes for women, but I end up buying men's shoes. I buy women's socks, slides, sports bras and shirts. Due to the explosion of leggings, however, I continue to buy practice shorts from the men's section and occasionally a shirt or two because of the cool designs. Although I don't mind buying men's apparel, I wish they would produce more apparel for women; it would make everything so much easier." Where to Buy: "I normally buy my sports stuff from my local Dick's Sporting Goods. Occasionally, I will purchase my shoes online through Nike if they have my size or offer better colors than in stores." Favorite Gear: "My favorite piece would have to be my footwear. I have an entire drawer full of basketball socks. I have Elites, tie-dye, galaxy and numerous crazy pat- terns such as Space Jam, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, donuts, sloths, tigers, etc. Basketball shoes are also a weakness of mine. I cur- rently have six pairs of solid and patterned shoes that I rock on the court — four of them are Kobes from Nike. Horror Stories: "I don't person- ally have a horror story from my basketball equipment, thank goodness. However, my travel coach always told us to pack an extra pair of shoes in our ball bags just in case some- thing were to happen. Apparently one of his players had to be taken out of a game because her sole ripped off the bottom of her shoe and she didn't have another pair to lace up." Message to the Industry: "The only thing I would say to the makers of the basketball equipment is please continue to put out new products and make sure they are durable so we can get more use out of them. To the makers of basketball apparel, please invest in making more female items for all of us girl athletes." Q The Athlete: Currently playing soccer at the National Premier League level, Celeste has been playing com- petitively since she was eight-years old. Scale of 1-10: "I would give Nike, who makes my cleats, about an eight because they are extremely durable and light, but my feet do get blisters from them." Likes and Dislikes: "My soccer club uses Adidas for our uniforms and training gear and I have personally been really liking the new style of uniform they make. All of the apparel that I have for soccer fits well and looks nice." Better or Worse: "I have always worn Adidas uniforms and I definitely think the designs have been getting better. When I first started playing soccer the Adidas uniforms didn't fit super well for girls and the shorts were kind of an awkward length, especially for girls. But I feel like their uniforms have fit a lot nicer on girls. As for cleats, I have almost always worn Nike cleats and the designs have gotten so much better. Their cleats have been created to be quicker and lighter. Nike also added the sock that is attached to the cleat, causing a tighter fit." For Girls Only: "I don't really feel like there are many cleats for soccer that are specifically geared towards females, because both males and females are offered all of the same designs. If anything there are a lot more designs offered to males than females." For the Boys: "I have definitely bought cleats or sneakers in the men's section because they had better designs." Where to Buy: "I usually buy my sports stuff from Adidas and Nike, because they offer a lot more gear that is geared towards soccer players." Favorite Gear: "My favorite piece of sports equipment would have to be my cleats because I wear them almost every day in soccer. I love how you can express yourself through your own cleats." Horror Stories: "Once during a game the top of my cleat came off and I had to tape it back." Message to the Industry: "There should be more cleat and apparel designs that are geared towards just females, because it seems that males get the most attractive equipment. I do think that big companies like Adidas and Nike have been a lot better about what they offer to females and have given us more options to look and feel better on the field." Q CELESTE S. | 16 | SARATOGA, CA GIRLS' & WOMEN'S SPORTS / OPINION GABRIELLA M. | 18 | WEST PALM BEACH, FL "Everything is now made with a lighter, breathable material that makes staying cool and dry easier." "I have bought cleats or sneakers in the men's section because they had better designs."

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