New Big Grill Facemask For Revo Speed

Finally there is a Big Grill facemask for the Riddell Revo Speed!

Revo Speed Big Grill FacemaskYou asked for it, and now it’s here! The original Big Grill custom facemask, made famous by a certain New York Giants defensive end, has finally been designed for the Riddell Revo Speed! With the same bar configuration as the original Schutt model, this new Big Grill is manufactured by Riddell, and built exclusively for the popular Revolution Speed helmet, giving Riddell wearers that customized, aggressive look they’ve been begging for!

Improving on the first version, the new Revo Speed Big Grill facemask is actually lighter than the carbon steel Schutt model, giving you greater speed, agility, and overall performance with the facemask. While not quite as light as titanium, the Lightweight Riddell Facemask design is still almost 25% lighter than standard carbon steel, while still retaining the strength and durability of this strong metal.

Built to fit on an Adult or Youth Riddell Revolution Speed helmet, the Revo Speed Big Grill Facemask brings the ultimate in aggressive style and protection to one of the most popular helmets on the grid iron.

By Brandon Porter.

Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

What’s the Difference Between Replica and Authentic MLB Jerseys?

Learn the difference between replica and authentic MLB jerseys. Find the right MLB jersey for you, to start the season with. Whether it’s a full-featured authentic jersey, loaded with performance materials and top-quality stitching, or a more cost-effective replica jersey, detailed with tackle-twill team logos and colors, it’s hard to go wrong once you know what kind of jersey is right for you!

The boys of summer are back, and like most fans, I’ll be gearing up for another long-overdue baseball season with a new MLB jersey. I’m a die-hard Phillies fan, and even though I’m not feeling 100% confident this year, I still love the team and want to show my support. So whether I’m at that Park, on my couch, at the bar, or visiting family in NY and furiously rooting against the Mets, I plan on wearing my new Phillies jersey. But even I (a product specialist at Sports Unlimited) got a little confused when looking for new authentic MLB jerseys!

What exactly is an authentic jersey? How is an authentic jersey different from a replica jersey? Should I get my name on the jersey, or go with one of my favorite players? (For the record, Ruiz is my boy!)

These were all questions I found myself asking, and honestly, I had a hard time finding the answers. Thus, I decided to do some research and put all of my findings right here, in hopes that I could help others get the right MLB jersey for them, as the 2013 baseball season gets underway:

Authentic and Replica Jerseys Inforgraph

The final, and probably most important difference between replica and authentic jerseys, is the price. For that authentic MLB look, you’re going to be paying anywhere from $150 to nearly $300, while you can usually snag a replica MLB jersey for around $75. Obviously, you’re getting what you pay for, with the incredibly high quality Majestic always brings to the table. It’s just up to you and your budget, which jersey you’d rather go for!

Ok, so now you know the difference between authentic and replica jerseys. But did you know there are still almost endless options available to you?

You can get an authentic home jersey, authentic away jersey, authentic alternate jersey, replica home jersey, replica away jersey, replica alternate jersey, batting practice jersey, personalized authentic / replica jersey complete with your own name and number, or an Any Player authentic / replica jersey, with the name and number of any current roster player!

Whew, that’s a lot of decisions to make!

Oh and I almost forgot, they’re all available in men’s, women’s, and kids sizes too.

So to help you in your tough decision, here’s one final piece of info;

Our Top Ten Best Selling Baseball Player Jerseys:

Derek Jeter

Albert Pujols

Matt Kemp

Mike Trout

Josh Hamilton

Bryce Harper

Justin Verlander

Prince Fielder

Buster Posey

Mariano Rivera

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

Top 10 Best Soccer Goalkeeper Gloves of 2013



Check out our choices for the top ten soccer goalkeeping glove for 2013! The best soccer goalkeeper gloves this year include some fan favorites, consistent classics, new comers, and world-cup level gloves from the top brands in the industry, like Brine, Select, Uhlsport, Nike, and Reusch.

Watch the video and read about our choices for best soccer goalkeeping gloves of 2013:

Brine King 5X

10. Brine King 5X

An advanced keeper glove from Brine, the King 5X cushions your hand with thick 5mm palm padding, and improves your grip with super sticky latex. To maintain the grip, they’ve added new Tuff Palm patches right where you slide, preventing fraying and shredding. Backbone-style removable finger stays give you incredible support and protection from hyper-extension. A great fit and stand-out color combination make this a perfect glove for an advanced keeper.

Reusch Keon SG Plus Finger Support Jr.

9. Reusch Keon SG Plus Finger Support Jr.

Junior-sized gloves from Reusch, packed full of advanced technologies you’d usually only find in elite-level adult keeper gloves! Perfect for those serious youth goalies, the Keon SG is designed with high quality SoftGrip foam, wrapped over a huge palm for extra grip and control. Added finger supports sewn into the glove let your fingers flex forward, but prevent bend back, preventing injury. Advanced with the classically cool Reusch look, the Keon is great for committed youth players looking to hone their skills without breaking the bank.

Select 3 Guard Finger Protection Youth8. Select 3 Guard Finger Protection Youth

Hands down the best youth finger-support keeper gloves for the money! Incredibly durable, and built to last well into the season, these gloves are great for practices and matches, and feature strong finger protection spines, preventing injury when catching or stopping the ball. High strength and advanced technology at an affordable price.

Brine King 4X7. Brine King 4X

A cool looking, highly protective glove at an even better price! Removable finger spines provide high-performance finger protection, while 4mm thick latex palm foam cushions hard shots and gives you great grip on the ball. Delivers popping black and red colors and the classic Brine King design, with plenty of high-end comfort and technological features. Perfect as a practice glove for elite players, or as a match glove for intermediate or advanced players.

Nike GK Spyne Pro6. Nike GK Spyne Pro

Goalkeeper finger protection and high-end performance from the masters at Nike, all at a more affordable price. This Nike glove features T90 Spyne finger supports to protect against injury, 3mm soft latex palm foam with a flat palm construction for great grip, and a pre-curved fit to keep you in a catch-ready position at all times. Affordable, advanced, and protective…this is a solid match glove for any advanced keeper. Plus, it’s Nike!

Uhlsport Cerberus Supersoft Bionik5. Uhlsport Cerberus Supersoft Bionik

A favorite among top keepers for years now, the Uhlsport Cerberus gives players the fit they demand with the technologies they need to play at the highest levels. The famous Cerberus cut delivers incredible flex and dexterity for great control, enhanced here with the exclusive Supersoft foam for grip. Bionik frame finger supports and ShockZone backhand protection across the knuckles set this glove above the competition, and the price simply can’t be beat.

Nike GK Confidence4. Nike GK Confidence

The top keeper glove by the top soccer company in the word, the Nike Confidence has become a mainstay among pro goalkeepers around the world. Now in black and pink for 2013, this glove is all about confident aggression in goal. Built with articulated 6mm palm foam for great stopping power, and enhanced with the Power Punch Platform in the backhand for massive punching strength, you’ll never hesitate to attack the ball in the air or out of the box. Plus, it’s Nike! Nuff said.

3. Uhlsport Ergonomic AbsolutGrip Bionik

Uhlsport Ergonomic AbsolutGrip BionikThe Ergonomic AbsolutGrip Bionik is the top glove from one of the best companies in the industry today. Developed to be massively comfortable, highly protective, and incredibly high performing, this glove is built to do it all. In a bright red color, the AbsolutGrip advanced foam palm grips, cushions and protects from hard shots, performing in any condition. Unique, individual micro-injected silver ShockZones run up the fingers, giving you flexible and strong punching power exactly where you’ve always needed it. Finally, the innovative Bionik frame support stays integrate into the glove for stability, flexibility, and finger protection. Truly an elite-level match glove for top keepers.

2. Reusch XOSA Pro X1 Ortho-Tec

Reusch XOSA Pro X1 Ortho-Tec

First seen on the game’s top keepers in the 2010 World Cup, these unique, colorful and elite-level gloves continue to be used by pro-level goalies from teams around the world. Used by Cup-caliber keepers from Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina, they are truly pro-tested, pro-approved. Designed with X1 Wet N Dry all-weather palm foam for versatile performance and grip, and enhanced with an embossed foam backhand for comfort and maximum flexibility. Advanced and un-matched finger protection with Reusch’s exclusive Ortho-Tec finger stay system lets you attack the ball and stop anything that comes your way!

1. Reusch Magno Deluxe M1 Ortho-Tec Soccer Goalie Gloves

ReusMagno Deluxe M1 Ortho-TecOne of the single best selling keeper gloves of all time, and our personal favorite, the Reusch Magno Deluxe has been the cream of the crop for years, and has yet to meet an equal. The most technologically advanced keeper glove, from the company known world-wide for its keeper innovations, the Magno is loaded with tech from head to toe. M1 Mega Grip palm foam delivers a solid grip that flexes naturally for perfect ball control. Soft backhand foam, embossed at strategic breakpoints, combined with a stretchable PU material, delivers maximum flex without sacrificing the tight fit and feel you need. But for the serious glove techies, the Magno is enhanced with DuraGuard palm patches to prevent palm shredding, SSG lining for improved ball contact, AirVent mesh between the fingers for massive breathability, an advanced backhand ShockShield for serious punching power, and Reusch’s famous Ortho-Tec stay system, which uses individual two-piece braces in each finger to prevent fingers from bending backwards, without sacrificing forward flexibility. A top reviewed, widely loved glove year in, year out, you truly cannot beat the Magno for technology or performance. And with the sweet black and yellow colors, it can’t be beat for style either!

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

New Schutt Vengeance Helmet Designed for Youth Football Players

Schutt Vengeance Youth

One of the highest-rated and most sought-after football helmets in the game today has finally been re-designed and re-sized to protect the young, developing grid-iron star! Schutt Vengeance Youth helmets have hit the market…and they’re not alone. In addition to the fully-featured Youth Vengeance DCT, Schutt has also developed new Youth Vengeance DCT Hybrid helmets, delivering the protection and performance of dual compression TPU, and the aggressive look of the Vengeance, at a much more affordable price for youth players.

Back of Youth Vengeance Helmet

The new Youth Schutt Vengeance DCT Helmet gives you all of the same amazing and innovative features you get with the incredibly popular adult version. A larger offset, Mohawk-style shell houses two layers of TPU cushioning, designed to absorb different levels of impact force, protecting developing heads from any kind of hit they’ll experience on the field. In addition to taking huge amounts of force, both layers of TPU never break down, develop mold, or compress. And because of the lightweight and rounded design, TPU also breathes naturally, so these helmets never get super-heated and uncomfortable. The Youth Vengeance also features the aggressive new Vengeance facemask design and twist-off bumper, for a great look and easy facemask removal.

The key difference between the youth and adult version is the weight and the fit of the helmet. Designed for smaller heads, the Schutt Vengeance Youth is built with an ABS plastic shell (the adult version uses a stronger polycarbonate shell) to provide solid protection while abiding by youth football league rules.

Coinciding with the release of the fully-featured Youth Vengeance DCT helmet, Schutt has also produced the Vengeance Youth Hybrid and Hybrid + helmets.
These helmets give you everything you’d get with in a fully-featured Vengeance helmet, but utilize a Hybrid Padding System, which combines the next-generation protection and performance of DCT cushioning with the traditional lightweight impact protection of vinyl nitrile padding. Strategically constructed with DCT in key hitting areas along the front, crown, and back of the helmet, and traditional padding in the sides, these new Vengeance Hybrid helmets give young players the latest look and protection, at an incredible value.

Schutt Vengeance Youth Hybrid Plus

The Vengeance DCT Hybrid is the most affordable option, delivering the Vengeance look and DCT performance with a basic, non-inflatable comfort liner.

The Vengeance DCT Hybrid + ups the ante a bit, with a more advanced SUREFIT ventilated air liner, allowing kids to inflate their helmet for a more secure, safe, comfortable, and custom fit.

Whatever option fits your needs and you budget, it’s just great to know that finally you can give your kids one of the most protective and highly-rated football helmets out there!

By Brandon Porter.

Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

Life Is Good Donates 10% of Net Profits to Kids in Need

Life is good plans to donate 10% of their net profits in 2013 to help kids in need! Shop Life is good today, and help kids everywhere.

Life is good Donates 10% of Net Profits to Kids in Need With the lofty goal of spreading optimism globally, the apparel company with a heart, Life is good, has pledged to donate 10% of their net profits for 2013 to help kids in need.

Through their non-profit Life is good Kids Foundation, the money will directly fund the Life is good Playmakers Program, which provides training and support to childcare professional all around the world. Giving these professional tools and training, the Playmakers Program helps to ensure children everywhere get to grow up healthy and cared for, feeling safe and loved.

To date co-founders Bert and John Jacobs have already raised more than $9.5 million for the foundation and kids in need. In the past, 100% of the funds have come from money raised through the annual Life is good Festival (a two-day celebration of music and joy), community fundraising, special Life is good products, and all profits from John and Bert’s speaking engagements.

Now, by adding 10% of its net profits to their already huge fund raising ventures, Life is good has reinforced their commitment to children and upped the ante on how a brand can drive social change!

Life is good Mens ApparelAiming to raise a combined $2 million for kids in 2013, the company hopes to use their business as a source of positive purpose in this world. With this new pledge, it’s simpler than ever to help, says co-founder Bert Jacobs. “When you do business with Life is good, you help kids in need.”

“Our community, including each of you, who choose to focus on what is right with the world even when it’s not perfect, will always drive our brand,” said Jacobs. “This beautiful road trip has only just begun.”

Best Selling Baseball Equipment Bags Review

Reviewing the top baseball equipment bags in the game today! Get a full review on the Mizuno Classic Wheeled Baseball Equipment Bag, Easton Stealth Core Baseball Catchers Bag, and Nike Baseball Backpack.

Spring training’s right on the horizon, and that means it’s time to start gearing up for another season of serious baseball action! Hopefully your baseball equipment made it through last year’s long and grueling season relatively unscathed, but most likely, with all of your trips to the diamond, travel to tournaments, and horsing around in the dugout, your baseball bag has seen better days. Frayed edges, busted zippers, broken handles, ripped pockets. They’re all battle scar reminders of a great year…but who wants to start the new one dragging their favorite glove and bats around in a ratty old equipment bag?

Start the season off right, and head out to spring training with a brand spanking new, upgraded baseball bag. One that not only looks good, but will actually hold all of your gear, and maybe even last a few seasons!

But which one to get? Where to begin?

How about our 3 favorite and best-selling baseball gear bags from game-tested brands like Easton, Nike, and Mizuno?

Please Note: All of the following baseball gear bags can double as a softball bag.

1. Mizuno Classic Wheeled Baseball Equipment Bag

Review:

Mizuno Wheeled Equipment Bag

This wheeled baseball bag has it all; pockets, compartments, organization, and room to spare. Plus, it also sports durable off-road wheels, perfect for dragging it easily over any surface from parking lots to dirt roads. The bag fits up to four baseball bats (max bat size 32″), loads gear easily from the big top zip compartment, and also features an easy-access, ventilated cleat storage pouch to keep your smelly shoes away from your clothes after the game. Although it features a lot of the same options you’d generally see in most large equipment bags, (fence hooks, internal storage pockets, etc.) it’s the Mizuno quality and dedication to detail that truly set it apart from anything you’ve used in the past.

Who needs it?

The Mizuno Classic Wheeled Equipment Bag is #1 among wheeled baseball bags, and is perfect for travel. I’d recommend it for any middle or high school player who needs a seriously durable and large bag for all of their gear, especially if they expect to travel a lot to tournaments and games. It’s probably too big, a little expensive, and maybe unnecessary for younger players who don’t have as much baseball gear as their older brothers and sisters.

Mizuno Wheeled Baseball Bag Colors

Dimensions: 36″ L x 13″ H x 13″ W

Options: Comes in a variety of colors; black, cardinal, forest, navy, orange, red and royal.

2. Easton Stealth Core Baseball Catchers Equipment Bag

Review:
Easton Stealth Core Baseball Duffle BagAn incredibly durable, duffle-style catcher’s gear bag that stores and protects your equipment, without the bulk and size of other large catcher’s bags. A U-shaped top zipper, the entire size of the bag, opens up to a large main compartment, complete with organization and compartments for holding your catcher’s equipment. Your helmet and catchers mitt fit perfectly into pockets at either end, while your chest protector folds neatly into a specialized padded compartment on the side. Inside the main compartment, your shin guards fit easily into sleeves, and a specialized cleat tunnel keeps things organized. The Stealth Core also holds two bats, and features strong bottom rails with in-line skate wheels on the bottom, so if it’s too heavy to haul, you can just grip it and drag it anywhere. And with a strong 420D polyester ripstop body with 600D polyester insets, this bag will definitely last multiple seasons no matter how hard you treat it.

Who needs it?

The Easton Stealth Core is a great option for middle school, high school, or college age catchers, looking for a no-nonsense catcher’s gear bag to keep all of their equipment organized when they’re on the road. Easy to carry and low-bulk, this specialized duffle bag holds every piece of catchers gear, plus 2 bats, and accessories. It’s also affordable, making it perfect for players of any age.

Dimensions: 35″ L x 14″ H x 14″ W

Options: Comes in a variety of colors; black, navy, red and royal.

3. Nike Baseball Bat Backpack

Review:

Nike Bat BackpackStrong and fully-featured, this baseball bat bag from Nike features a large main compartment, big enough to hold some school books, plus your essential baseball supplies. A specialized sleeve inside holds your glove in place, while a ventilated and lined cleat compartment up front separates your dirty cleats from the rest of your baseball equipment. A helmet clip on the outside front of the bag fits easily through the earhole of your batting helmet, keeping it snug and locked onto the bag. On top, an accessory pocket fits sunglasses, a wallet, or a Smartphone. Finally, two side bat sleeves let you bring your main and backup bats down to the dugout. Easy to haul, sized, and priced right for the youth or casual player, the Nike Baseball Bat Backpack gets the job done, and is quality built from one of the most trusted names in sporting goods.

 

Back bat backpack

Who needs it?

Because of its size and affordability, I’d recommend the Nike Bat Backpack to any youth player, particularly because they usually don’t have a lot of gear, and generally play ball after school. Also, the bat sleeves don’t really sit high enough to fit adult baseball bats. That being said, they’re great options for any youth player looking for versatile, durable, and good looking baseball bat bags.

Dimensions: 19” L x 10” H x 14” W

Options: Comes in black, red, royal.

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

Can I Get a Custom Facemask Like NFL Players Wear?

Can I get a custom football facemask? Can I customize a big grill 2.0 facemask? Can I get a Big Grill 2.0 for the ION 4D? Customers are more and more set on creating custom football facemasks for their game, but today, people are confused if this is even possible.

Ray Lewis Custom FacemaskCustom football facemasks have been a part of the game for years, but only recently have they taken on a completely new form, changing from mere performance and protection pieces into full on branding mechanisms! Starting last year with players like Justin Tuck and Chris Canty, and now with even more unique facemasks like the sick one worn by Ray Lewis recently, players are seeing the wide benefits of customized and unique facemasks. Custom configurations not only give football players a more aggressive look, and better protection, but they are also starting to identify players, make them stand out, and are getting people talking…like, in this blog for instance.

But with this big move towards facemask customization in the NFL, comes a clamoring for all of these new, unique, and aggressive facemasks from the masses of football players around the world! Not surprisingly, everyone from Pop Warner kids to NCAA College players want to rock their own custom football facemasks, to get the same look they see on their favorite NFL players. That’s why over the passed two years, since appearing on famous players, the original Justin Tuck facemask, and now the new Big Grill 2.0 Ray Lewis facemask have together become the best selling facemasks of all time!

Justin Tuck FacemaskSchutt Big Grill 2.0

But now people are starting to wonder, how can I get my own custom football facemasks?

The reasons are many. Some players want the new Big Grill 2.0 look, but on a helmet that the retail-produced facemask simply isn’t compatible with. They want a Big Grill 2.0 for the ION 4D, or a Big Grill for a Riddell Revo Speed. Others want completely new football facemasks bar configurations never seen before, to create their own look. Whatever the reason though, the question is always the same; where can I get a custom facemask, and how much would one be?

The answer is short, and unfortunately disappointing. You can’t.

According to football gear production companies, they simply cannot allow end users (i.e., retail customers…people like you and me, who aren’t professional football players like, say, Ray Lewis) to create and use their own faceguards. Many things come into play, but mainly, the issues are logistics, engineering, and overall, safety.

Creating a new facemask configuration for full production and manufacturing can be an expensive and difficult process, one which is too involved to warrant making only one custom facemask for one person. But in addition to the complications and costs arising from the production process, every facemask that helmet manufacturers like Schutt, Riddell, Rawlings, or whoever else creates and releases for sale, must be approved by NOCSAE (the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment), and unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily apply to NFL players.

NOCSAE FootballNOCSAE approval in and of itself can be a lengthy process, and is done to ensure the facemask is safe for use by adult and youth football players in regular game situations. It would be extremely difficult, and take a huge amount of time for football gear companies to create, manufacture, and have NOCSAE examine and approve a slew of individualized custom football facemasks for retail sale. And without the NOCSAE approval, facemask performance and in turn, player safety could be at risk.

It’s disappointing to hear, I know. But it looks like, for now, we non-NFL pro players are just going to have to settle for football facemasks manufactured and approved for retail sale. Thankfully though, companies like Schutt and Riddell have responded to the call for custom football facemasks, and are creating new and even cooler configurations for mass release all the time, developing styles similar to the Chris Canty, Ray Lewis, and Justin Tuck facemasks for sale!

Specialty Football Facemasks

By Brandon Porter.

Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

Attaching a Big Grill 2.0 Facemask to the Schutt Vengeance Football Helmet

Learn how to properly attach a Big Grill 2.0 facemask to a Schutt Vengeance helmet. Complete video directions include attaching an XL Super Pro and DNA facemask to the helmet. All directions can be applied to the new Big Grill 2.0, as well as any XL Super Pro or DNA style facemask.

In response to many of your questions and requests, we went ahead and shot a video explaining how to properly attach the new Schutt Big Grill 2.0 facemask to the equally new and equally cool Schutt Vengeance helmet! Our video explains how to attach the new XL Super Pro and DNA Big Grill 2.0 facemasks to the Vengeance football helmet, but it’s important to understand that these techniques can be used for any XL Super Pro or DNA style football facemasks!

[EDIT: Sadly, our Youtube page went rogue, so we no longer have this video]

The Vengeance is designed to fit specially designed Vengeance facemasks, as well as Schutt DNA and Super Pro XL facemasks. The sizing and attachment specifics can get confusing though., I think it’s important to spell out all of the details and hopefully answer some of your questions:

1. Only XL Super Pro facemasks will fit on a Medium or Large Vengeance football helmet. Unfortunately, no Super Pro facemask will fit on an XL Vengeance.

2. Attaching an XL Super Pro facemask to a Vengeance helmet requires no additional hardware (outside of those included with the facemask) or modification.

3. Regular size DNA facemasks will fit on a Medium or Large Vengeance.

4. An XL DNA is required if you wear an XL Vengeance.

5. To attach a DNA facemask to a Vengeance helmet, you must drill holes in the shell to accept the increased depth of the facemask design.

Big Grill 2.0 Questions

There are also some similar issues surrounding custom football facemasks that I’d like to address, to answer any further questions and dispel some rumors. For one, as of now, there is no big grill facemask for the Revo Speed, or any Riddell helmet for that matter. The Big Grill 2.0, and original Big Grill facemasks are products of Schutt, and are not designed to fit any Riddell football helmet, including the Revo Speed and 360. If Riddell develops a similar custom facemask, we will definitely stock it, and let everyone know immediately!

Secondly, many customers wonder why there is no Big Grill 2.0 for the ION 4D helmet? Although there is an original Big Grill for the ION 4D, the latest version, the Big Grill 2.0, is not compatible with it. For many, this is frustrating, because they’d like to get the look of the Ray Lewis facemask on their ION 4D. Unfortunately, Schutt is not going to produce a Big Grill 2.0 for the ION, because, with the introduction of the new Schutt Vengeance, Schutt is tapering back production of the ION 4D. This is not meant to reflect poorly on the ION 4D as a great, and highly rated helmet. It is simply a business decision of the helmet manufacturer.

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

Win $25 with a Lacrosse Gear Video Review

Win $25 when you shoot and submit a video review of your favorite Lacrosse gear from Sports Unlimited!

Lacrosse Gear Video Reviews

Now at Sports Unlimited, shoot a video review of your favorite lacrosse gear from SU, and you’ll win a $25 gift card!

Got a new lacrosse head from Sports Unlimited? Or how about a pair of lax gloves or shoulder pads for Christmas? Whatever it is, we want to hear what you have to say about it! Whether you like it, love it, or absolutely despise it and will never use it again…we want to tell the world what it’s really like to use our lax gear. So shoot a short video of you talking about, and using your new lacrosse equipment, and if we dig it, you’ll win $25 to Sports Unlimited!


To get it done, follow these simple rules:

1. Grab a buddy, a camera (or camera phone), and your favorite lacrosse rebounder, lax stick, gloves, or whatever! Then shoot a short video review, talking about your experience with the product. Use it a little bit. Get creative if you want! We’re looking for something personal and useful, so it should probably be a product you’ve used for at least a few weeks, and it should still be available at SportsUnlimited.com.

2. Click here, read the full rules and regulations, scroll to the bottom of the page, and then submit a few pieces of information to us, including your email address.

3. You’ll immediately receive an email invitation to our shared DropBox folder. When you do, follow the directions to create a free DropBox account, which will allow you to easily upload your video review directly to our shared server!

4. We’ll take a look at your video review, and if we use it on the site, we’ll email you a $25 gift card to Sports Unlimited!

We’re excited to hear what you have to say! So be real, tell us what it’s like, and we’ll tell the world right here on Sports Unlimited!

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

5 Things to Know About New 2013 NCAA Lacrosse Head Regulations

Know the latest NCAA lacrosse rules for stringing your lax head in 2013.

In September of 2012, the NCAA announced plans to update and change a number of lacrosse regulations, all of which go into effect at the start of the 2013 season. For some, this might be old news, but I’ve found that many parents and players are still unaware of, or confused by the changes.

So here’s what you need to know;

1. Shooting strings can no longer extend more than 4″ from the top of the crosse.

Basically, this rule attempts to prevent really low shooters, and makes any V or U shooting strings illegal, restricting players to two basic two cross shooting strings. This ruling may seem frustrating, since most players are used to stringing their lacrosse heads with a V or U shooting string, but the NCAA’s aim was to prevent unfair pocket hold, and not directly outlaw V stringing.

2013 NCAA Lacrosse Pocket Rules

2. Only one sidewall string is allowed on each side of the head.

This rule keeps additional strings off the sidewalls, reducing excess hold on the ball.

3. All lacrosse sticks are subject to a reverse pocket test.

Reverse Pocket Stick Check

When any pocket is stick-checked, in addition to tipping the crosse forward and backward, referees must also ensure that the ball can come out of any pocket, when placed in the back of the pocket, and pushed in to create a reverse pocket.

Refs will hold the lacrosse shaft parallel to the ground, face down, and then push the pocket through to create a reverse of the pocket. With the ball in the deepest part of the reverse pocket, the ball must come out when turned 180 degrees.

4. Any lacrosse stick deemed illegal during a game cannot be used again in the game.

If any lacrosse stick fails a random stick check, the team gets a 1 minute foul, and the stick is kept at the scorer’s table until the game is over. This is different than previous rulings, which allowed a player to fix his pocket, to meet regulations, and then return the stick to play.

5. All of these rules currently only apply to NCAA men’s lacrosse, or any high school league, club, or team that follows NCAA rules.

It’s important to note though, that while the new rules may not directly apply to all high school lacrosse players, many clubs and colleges across the country are now encouraging younger players to re-string their heads to meet these NCAA rules, to prepare them for upper levels of play.

 

In all, these new lacrosse rules make it easier, or at least more reasonable, to knock the ball out of the pocket, with the aim of maintaining fair play, retaining the merit of the game, and keeping players safe.

The NCAA and other officials noticed that attackers and middies were continuously running through traffic without ever losing the ball, despite significant pressure from the defense. It quickly became obvious that ball handling lacrosse skills were not solely to blame for this, and that some modern stringing methods were basically making it nearly impossible to dislodge the ball from the pocket.

What these new 2013 NCAA lacrosse rules attempt to accomplish is a game that focuses more on moving the ball than moving with the ball, while at the same time, trying to prevent escalation as defenders learn to check harder to get the ball out of deep pockets.

Reactions:

As with most rule changes in sports, there are people on both sides of the argument. Some players and coaches find the changes erroneous and arbitrary, and believe they will do little besides slow down the game and confuse players and parents. Others see this as a step forward to making the game fairer, and faster with more ball movement.

However, there are still others who have almost no opinion at all, and have simply changed and moved on, understanding that rules change and players adapt. Most believe, that at some point, master stringers and kids will find news ways of stringing their heads within the new rules, to develop the same solid hold they could get from low shooters and multiple side wall strings. For them, it’s only a matter of time.

But how about you? What do you think of these new lacrosse rules, and what do they do for the game as whole?

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.