Bandana Fever

All Premier League games this weekend will feature a special red-coloured version of the usual official Nike T90 Ascente ball. It’s all part of the Red charity campaign to fight AIDS in Africa. Serie A and La Liga will be joining the Premier League in the use of the Red ball during their weekend matches.

In addition, stars such as Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Fernando Torres will be wearing special Nike Red laces to help raise awareness of the campaign. Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said, “[a] red ball and red laces are simple ideas, but sometimes those are the best – the hope is that the profile given through this and the money raised through ‘Lace Up, Save Lives’ will provide significant impetus and funding to the Global Fund’s activities to aid the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The Nike (Red) Limited Edition ball is available for sale, in the UK, and  in the US. All profits, according to Nike, will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

The Kobe 5 features a 10 mm forefoot profile and weighs 10.6 ounces – one ounce lighter than the Nike Zoom Kobe IV.

Draws Inspiration from an Unexpected Place, the Soccer Field

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE: NKE) and Kobe Bryant today announced the debut of the Nike Zoom Kobe V, the brand’s lowest-profile and lightest basketball shoe to date. Bryant challenged Nike to make his signature shoe even lighter and lower than the Nike Zoom Kobe IV he debuted during his 2008-2009 championship season. Nike responded with the Nike Zoom Kobe V, which features a 10 mm forefoot profile and weighs 10.6 ounces – one ounce lighter than the Nike Zoom Kobe IV.

“I wanted to push the envelope with a shoe that meets the demands of my style of play,” Bryant said. “The Kobe V is lighter, lower and more stable. Nike has done it again.”

Different sports, similar demands
The initial inspiration for Kobe’s low-profile shoe came from an unexpected place: the soccer field. “I watch a lot of soccer and have seen how the best footballers in the world make sharp cuts at top speed in lightweight, low-cut footwear,” Bryant said. “The demands they make on their feet and ankles aren’t that different from what I’m doing on the court, yet nobody assumes they should play in high tops.”

With Bryant’s observation as inspiration, the Nike Sports Research Lab conducted hundreds of hours of testing to create a low-profile shoe that did not compromise stability or lockdown. By modifying the medial arch and sculpting the external heel counter, Nike researchers created a shoe with exceptional performance that moves with the foot and allows for multi-directional cutting. An enhanced outrigger provides lateral stability, while the de-coupled heel maximizes contact surface. The shoe also features a glass/carbon fiber weave shank plate for mid-foot control and rigidity.

“The journey from a high-top to a low-top basketball shoe is far more complex than simply cutting off the ankle collar, as we demonstrated with the Nike Zoom Kobe IV,” said Matt Nurse, Senior Researcher with the Nike Sports Research Lab. “With the Kobe V we constructed an even lighter-weight support system that provides superior, one-to-one lockdown while moving with the foot, not against it.”

Lightweight performance technologies evolved
Building off the success of the Nike Zoom Kobe IV, Nike Performance Footwear Creative Director Eric Avar wanted to further reduce the weight of the shoe while still enhancing support and stability.

“For the Kobe V, we started with the science and performance elements and built from there,” Avar said. “We wanted this shoe to be a true reflection of his game and persona. As Kobe continues to evolve as an athlete, so will the footwear we create for him.”

The Nike Zoom Kobe V also features a lighter, stronger version of Nike’s innovative Flywire technology, that’s strategically placed to perform like synthetic tendons while cradling the foot like a second skin. The shoe’s overlays were bonded with heat welding, which is lighter, more consistent, and less abrasive than traditional stitching. Nike Zoom units in the heel and forefoot, as well as lightweight Phylon-injected midsole, provide a cushioning system that reduces pounding without adding bulk or weight.

Bryant’s input and inspiration was also instrumental in shaping the aesthetics of the Nike Zoom Kobe V. Avar and the design team in Nike’s Innovation Kitchen incorporated aspects of Bryant’s game and personality into every detail in the shoe. The heartbeat traction pattern on the outsole is inspired by the heart, passion and self-described “maniacal will” Bryant brings to the court. The dot-matrix symbol on the front edge of the outsole – found throughout Bryant’s footwear and apparel product this season — represents a codified language sequence. Nike will offer clues to deciphering its meaning throughout the season.

The Nike Zoom Kobe V will be available first online with a unique Nike iD retail campaign launching December 26, 2009. A broader global brick and mortar retail launch will occur January 1, 2010 in China and January 16, 2010 throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Nike Soccer+ and CTR360 boot connect innovative product design with the virtual and physical world of training to help improve player performance.

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today unveiled a new concept in game improvement: a unique digital coaching experience called Nike Soccer+, launched alongside the new CTR360 Maestri boot – a soccer boot crafted for the player looking to master control and make the difference come match day.

A unique user-code that comes with every pair of the boots allows access to exclusive training content from some of the biggest names in the game, including Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and Andrés Iniesta of FC Barcelona.

The Nike Soccer+ and CTR360 boot connect innovative product design with the virtual and physical world of training to help improve player performance.

“We’re bridging the gap between the physical and digital world to give soccer players a competitive edge and inspire them through new experiences,” said Stefan Olander, Nike Global Brand Connections Director. “Nike Soccer+ is an exciting innovation for soccer players worldwide and a new development in training that will work hand-in-hand with our soccer products to deliver benefits to players at every level.”

Nike Soccer+ Online Training Experience

Nike Soccer+ allows amateur players the chance to tap into interactive video-based tips and drills developed by Nike’s elite soccer players and coaches.

Included with all CTR360 Maestri boots is a card with a unique user code. When entered online at www.nikesoccer.com this code unlocks unique user content to enable players to be trained by the experts. This training tool is also available as an Apple® App available for iPhone and iPod. Nike Soccer+ ensures players can connect with each other tracking and posting scores associated with different training drills.

The Master Control training drills are conceived and demonstrated by coaches from FC Barcelona, while other content includes players such as Cesc Fabregas and Andrés Iniesta demonstrating their signature moves.

The Master Control coaching is the first edition of the Nike Soccer+ coaching program and later programs will focus on other skill areas such as speed and accuracy. Each of the three programs is a 4-week training regiment.

CTR360 Maestri Boot

The CTR360 Maestri boot has been engineered for enhanced passing, close control and effective distribution. Nike designers paid close attention to key zones of the boot, with the outsole adjusted to maximize a player’s ability to trap and control the ball, while the upper has been refined at the key contact points for receiving and distributing the ball.

The boot is made from a unique synthetic upper called Kanga-Lite, which delivers the fit and feel of soft leather, but with the performance qualities of engineered fabrics. For years Nike material technicians have worked on developing a synthetic solution that achieves the fit and feel characteristics of traditional leathers. Kanga-Lite delivers this solution with a supple feel and upper that performs well in any weather condition, maintains its shape and doesn’t soak up water.

Nike Soccer+ can be accessed at www.nikesoccer.com from October 1st.

The CTR360 Maestri boot is available at retail globally and at www.nikestore.com from October 1, 2009.