More than 12 soccer vendors attended last week's annual meeting of
SGMA’s Soccer Industry Council of America (SICA). Among the topics
discussed were soccer viewership ratings on television, high school
soccer Rules, and soccer participation in the united states.

The meeting took place during this year’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention in Philadelphia.

According to SGMA’s VJ Mayor, interest in the business issues of the
sport which ultimately affect participation in the sport, attract the
attention of all soccer companies – from those small companies which
make a handful of accessories to the larger companies which produce
team uniforms, cleats, and soccer balls.  Companies in attendance
included Brine, Eurosport, Goal Sporting Goods, Keeper Goals, Kwik
Goal, Nike, Puma, Rage Cage, PK Perfecter, Reusch, Superfeet, Under
Armour, and Xara.

The featured speakers included the following individuals:

1.)    Future of Soccer Coverage on Fox Dermot McQuarrie
(assistant general manager/senior vice president of production &
programming; Fox Sports International) – McQuarrie said World Cup
ratings this summer are expected to be strong because recent viewership
numbers for Champions League and English Premier League games have been
strong.
2.)    National Federation of State High School
Associations (NFHS) Update Mark Koski (assistant director; National
Federation of State High School Associations) – Koski explained how
rules changes for soccer are eventually made and implemented; he
reminded those in attendance about the role and importance of the
annual rules meeting which is coordinated by the NFHS, NCAA, and SGMA
which is open to sporting goods manufacturers on April 21 in
Indianapolis.
3.)    US Soccer Foundation News
Dave Tyahla (director of government relations; US Soccer) presented an
update on the newsworthy developments from U.S. Soccer and he informed
those in attendance about the work of the Congressional Soccer Caucus
on Capitol Hill.  

Mayor also discussed the issue of the Consumer Product Safety
Information Act (CPSIA) and how it relates to the soccer industry; he
gave an update on SGMA’s latest sports participation study with
specific emphasis on both indoor and outdoor soccer; he reminded the
attendees about SGMA’s outreach efforts to acquire sales figures for
the annual State of the Industry address; and he informed those in
attendance, as well as those exhibiting, about the creation of an SGMA
sub-site for SICA Members which will be created in the spring of 2010.