iHoops.com set to become the premier youth basketball online community
SAN DIEGO, CA – June 9, 2009 – The Active Network, Inc. (Active) today announced that its Active.com® division has been selected as the technology provider for iHoops, the official youth basketball initiative of the NCAA and NBA. Designed to provide a structure and develop programs to improve the quality of youth basketball, iHoops will provide supporting services and programs for youth basketball players ages 6 to 18, their parents, coaches, officials and team and event administrators.
As the technology provider for iHoops, Active.com will operate and host iHoops.com which is scheduled to launch this fall. Active.com will also drive visitor engagement on the site through a wide range of online resources and tools including original media content, message boards, video, social media applications, ecommerce and more.
“Active.com’s technical expertise and extensive background in the youth sports market was key in selecting them to make iHoops.com a reality,” said Kevin Weiberg, CEO of iHoops. “We look forward to working together to make iHoops.com North America’s premier youth basketball online destination.”
iHoops.com will be an essential resource and provide players, coaches, officials, parents and teams at all levels the opportunity to register for events, tournaments and programs. In addition to features, video, animation, highlights from tournaments and player profiles, iHoops.com will provide instructional information and certification programs for coaches and officials.
“Active’s long history driving participation in youth sports make us the ideal technology provider for iHoops.com,” said Alan Cole, vice president Active Media Properties. “Through our extensive network of youth-oriented consumer Web properties, Active has built an incredible following of both parents and young athletes. We are excited to be a part of this ambitious and worthwhile initiative.”
Some of Active’s most popular consumer Web properties associated with youth sports and activities include:
- Active.com – Award-winning online community for people who want to discover, learn about, share and ultimately participate in activities about which they are passionate
- eteamz.com – Host to hundreds of thousands of sports league sites, eteamz is the nation’s leading team sports website publisher
- SportsPower.com – Leading source for high school sports schedules, scores, ratings and rankings
Additionally, Active provides online registration and data management services for some of the most popular youth sports organizations in the nation.
About Active.com
Active.com is the leading online community for people who want to discover, learn about, share, register for and ultimately participate in activities about which they are passionate. Millions of active individuals visit Active.com each month to search and register online for races, team sports and recreational activities; interact with others who have similar interests; start online training programs; and access nutrition, fitness and training tips.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.
About the NBA
The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2008-09 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league’s worldwide reach will be reflected in the 77 international players from 33 countries and territories on NBA rosters. NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA.com averages more than five million daily visits, with more than 50 percent of the site’s visitors come from outside of North America. Through NBA Cares, the league, its teams and players have donated more than $105 million to charity, provided more than 950,000 hours of hands-on service to communities around the world, and created more than 415 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.
Media Contact
Tina Wilmott, The Active Network, Inc.
tina.wilmott@activenetwork.com or 858-964-3813