How Girls' Soccer Helps Women In The Workforce.

Wear a soccer uniform one day, and chances are you’ll be trading it in for a power suit when you grow up. Or so concludes a recent study that looked at the chicken-and-egg question: Does playing sports help people become more successful, or are successful people just more likely to play sports?

In her paper titled, "Beyond the Classroom: Using Title IX to Measure the Return to High School Sports," Wharton business and public policy professor Betsey Stevenson offers empirical evidence that playing sports leads to more education and better employment opportunities.

Stevenson's paper focuses on Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which expanded high school athletic opportunities for girls. Her research compares the variation in outcomes across states for girls who went to school before Title IX and after, and concludes that playing sports paid off.

"A ten percentage point rise in state-level female sports participation generates a one percentage point increase in female college attendance and a one to two percentage point rise in female labor force participation," she notes. "Furthermore, greater opportunities to play sports lead to greater female participation in previously male-dominated occupations, particularly high-skill occupations."

For the full story, including a PDF of Professor Stevenson’s paper, visit the Knowledge@Wharton website. In the meantime, we’ll see you on the pitch!

Vuvuzelas, tough turf and other World Cup complaints.

If it’s not one thing it’s another, so say some of the pundits involved with this year’s tournament. Get the full story from our friends at the Washington Post, including a great gallery of pictures.

Speaking of pictures: Our customer testimonials page features some nice shots of players our soccer uniforms, warm-ups and goalie gear. We’re a bit biased, but we think they look great. If you get a break from following the World Cup, check ‘em out.

World Cup win for Spain could pay off big for players.

MURCIA, Spain (Associated Press) — Spain will reportedly receive the most money out of all 32 World Cup teams if it wins the World Cup, and several Spanish political parties are unhappy at the figure with the country facing an economic crisis. The Spanish media said each player could earn 600,000 euros ($734,000) for winning the title, and collect 120,000 euros ($144,000) just for reaching the July 11 final.

Political party Izquierda Unida asked how such an amount could be paid "in the context of a general crisis where pensions are being frozen and salaries are dropping."

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas says the players have family and friends "suffering from the crisis" but that "you shouldn't mix one thing with the other."

With nearly three-quarters of a mil' each player on the team could purchase more than 36,000 of our 'Velocity' soccer jerseys (shown below) or 100,000 of our soccer ball bags...and that's just at the team price. Chances are we'd be able to get them some type of volume discount. 

David Silva's goal, Spain vs Poland

Check out the ball movement within the tight spacing...another reason why Spain's a favorite to win the World Cup.

It's Soccer Tournament Time!

Summer is pretty much upon us, and everywhere you look soccer tournaments are kicking it into high gear. Among our favorites: The Yak Attack in Yakima, WA, a fun-filled, rip-roaring-of-a-good-time 5-on-5 tournament/festival for kids and adults. In fact, the tournament’s slogan is, “If your coach doesn’t know how to have a good time, GO WITHOUT THE COACH!”

The 8th annual event, which took place last month, featured the always-popular soccer uniform contest sponsored by yours truly, Code Four Athletics. To qualify, teams had to create their own interesting/whacky/unique uniforms, and play all games in them. An esteemed panel of judges chose the best, awarding them a certificate toward our soccer specialty brand of soccer jerseys, uniforms or soccer gear.

The Happy Cows, shown here, took top honors with their udderly creative uniforms honoring heifers everywhere. We particularly appreciate the team mascot, who took one for the team in that costume as temperatures rose throughout the weekend.

If you’re looking for your own custom soccer uniforms, albeit a bit more mainstream than the Happy Cows, keep us in mind!

Top Goals from World Cup Qualifiers

Stuff like this never gets old!