COMPANY’S REVOLUTIONARY DEFENDER MASK NAMED OFFICIAL CATCHER’S MASK OF CONFERENCE

DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Learfield’s ECAC Sports Properties announced today a new partnership with Force3 Pro Gear, an innovative protective equipment company for professional and amateur athletes and officials.

As part of the partnership which includes title sponsorship for ECAC baseball and softball championships, the company’s Defender mask has been named the Official Catcher’s Mask of the Conference.

“We’re truly honored to have our product be named the official catcher’s mask of the ECAC, the first amateur conference to recognize our game-changing safety technology,” said Jason Klein, president of Force3 Pro Gear. “The Force3 Defender mask is currently being worn at all levels, from Major League Baseball to Little League. We couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to bring our S3 technology to the over 100,000 student athletes of the ECAC.”

Force3 Pro Gear was founded by professional baseball umpires who saw the need for the highest quality protective sports gear. The company is committed to reducing the severity and possibility of head injuries and improving the quality of life for athletes with their products and technologies.
An amazing creation, the Force3 Defender is revolutionizing protective equipment. With virtually the same footprint as a traditional mask, the Defender’s patent pending Shock Suspension System (S3) reduces the Severity Index of impacts up to 50% in most cases. G Forces were also reduced with impressive results. Testing by third-party accredited laboratories included impacts by 70 mph softballs (the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment/ NOCSAE standard protocol for testing hockey style masks) and 100 mph baseballs. The Defender is also available in a hockey style.

ECAC Sports Properties General Manager Devin Berg commented, “Force3 Pro Gear will provide exceptional equipment for our athletes, and we believe this partnership supports our desire to be leaders in safety by bringing the greatest brands to the conference.”

ECAC member institutions will receive special pricing on the Defender mask by contacting the company at sales@force3progear.com.

To learn more about Force3 Pro Gear, visit force3progear.com.

About Learfield
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. It manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; licensing and trademark consulting; digital platform expertise; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies. For more about Learfield’s history, businesses and career opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.

About the ECAC
In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation’s largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men’s and women’s sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.