FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 1998


FHSAA enters into agreement with Spalding to provide official ball for Florida Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball Finals

GAINESVILLE – Spalding Sports Worldwide will provide the official ball of the FHSAA Florida Finals in the sports of baseball, basketball, football, golf, softball, tennis and volleyball for the next five years under an agreement reached between the two organizations, the Florida High School Activities Association announced today.

Member schools reaching the FHSAA Florida Finals state championship tournaments in these sports will be required to play with Spalding balls in tournament play, with the exception of golf. Golfers still will be permitted to play with their own golf balls in the FHSAA Florida Golf Finals.

The agreement covers the 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 school years.

"We are excited to announce this new relationship with Spalding," said FHSAA Commissioner Ron Davis. "They produce a quality product which should only help to enhance the competition in our state championship events."

"We’re very excited to be a part of Florida high school sports," said John Salay, National Promotions Manager for Spalding. "We look forward to providing the state with the best products on the market today."

Under the agreement, the FHSAA will designate a specific Spalding ball as the "official ball" of the FHSAA Florida Finals. Teams, or individuals, participating in the state championship event, except for golf, will be required to play with the Spalding ball, which will be provided by Spalding and the Association. The balls will be laser-engraved with the FHSAA logo. Participating schools in certain sports also will receive a complimentary ball for use in their programs.

Spalding balls receiving the official designation from the FHSAA are:

• Baseball – The Top-Flite Pro (product number 41-180);
• Basketball – The Top-Flite 1000 (product number 61-1058) for boys competition and the Top-Flite 1000 28.5 (product number 61-1078) for girls competition;
• Football – The Top-Flite 100 (product number 62-4158) professional shape and the J5V (product number 62-4108) collegiate shape;
• Golf – The Top-Flite Strata 90 (product number 11-241) or Top-Flite Strata 100 (11-251);
• Softball – The Dudley SB12LND (product number 4H-321) or Dudley WT12ND (product number 43-111);
• Tennis – The Top-Flite Championship (product number 51-125); and
• Volleyball – The Top-Flite TL4000 Gold (product number 61-8859).

"We’re currently involved in agreements with 13 other state high school associations," Salay said. "We look forward to working with the FHSAA Office and all the member high schools in the state."

Spalding Worldwide Sports, based in Chicopee, Mass., has manufactured athletic balls for more than 120 years.

The Florida High School Activities Association, with 605 member schools, is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida.

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org