DNA Football Practice Gear

Project

Practice Gear

Client

Schutt Sports

 

Something no one’s ever seen before !

Schutt Sports needed a piece of protective equipment as an answer to regulations by the NCAA to limit the number of practices allowed before and during the football season each year. To enforce this regulation, the NCAA limits the amount of protective equipment that players can wear (specifically shoulder pads). However, the level of intensity during such practices seldom decreases. The mission to our team was to research, conceptualize and execute a new to market product that would capitalize on this unfulfilled segment of customers.

An Untapped Market

Upon consulting players, their parents, coaches and equipment managers, fredsparks identified a need for an innovative new product in the football market. Using anatomical data and game research, we set out to develop a multi-purpose garment protective enough for the field and light enough for the training room. The design must meet NCAA standards, be machine washable, comfortable and adapt to a variety of body sizes.

Through a series of in-house brainstorming sessions, our team used athletes to physically draw on white shirts with marker to show exactly where they need padding. We then assimilated all the data to create a composite consensus of those findings to begin the concept development phase.

Design Highlights: Innovative Genius & Intellectual Property with Pizzazz

  • New product offering for use during “non-contact drills”, off-season training, conditioning programs and 7-on-7 drills for protection when pads aren’t required
  • “Floating-Rib” padding system maintains coverage by organically moving with the player
  • Integrated zippered gussets on both sides for easy on/off
  • Adjustable/Removable shoulder caps enhance protection when you need it
  • Adjustable/Removable shoulder caps enhance protection when you need it

The fredsparks team created innovative new product and category to meet a previously unrequited demand. The DNA Practice Garment was featured in the July issue of International Design magazine’s Annual Design Review as one of the year’s best designed products

Sales exceeded first year forecasts by 250% and the second year forecast was increased another 40%. As demand increased, Schutt requested that our team design a matching girdle as well, to capitalize upon the large success of the shirt. To further give credit to the design, football players are also utilizing the DNA Practice Garment as supplemental padding under their shoulder pads on game day. {Patents Pending}.