I was talking to this guy(he looked about 40) and said he got his $120.00 swim suit from sponsers, I was wondering how I can get a sponser, or if I can even get a sponsers, what are the pro's and cons of having them, and what do I have to get one.
Before you start looking for sponsorship, let me give you a word of caution. Receiving money or products from a sponsor, MAY endanger your high school and college swimming eligibility. Before you talk to any vendors or potential sponsors you should talk to your coach or check with your athletic director.
For example, Michael Phelps chose to accept a ton of money and will now forego his remaining high school eligibility and will not be allowed to swim on a college team.
Now, back to your questions. Most sponsors provide products to athletes as a way of advertising. A simple example, Speedo gives suits to elite athletes so the suits can be seen on TV and when these athletes go back to their clubs other swimmers see these stars in their Speedos and ask their moms to get one for them. Also, Speedo can advertise that x% of the national champions wore Speedos.
What you need to do, is determine what value you provide for a sponsor, why should they sponsor you. Then find out which companies offer the products that you wish to wear/eat/drink/etc and get in contact with their marketing department. Also, you could talk to the 40-something guy with the free $120 suit and ask who his contact is and what he did to get it.
Before you start looking for sponsorship, let me give you a word of caution. Receiving money or products from a sponsor, MAY endanger your high school and college swimming eligibility. Before you talk to any vendors or potential sponsors you should talk to your coach or check with your athletic director.
For example, Michael Phelps chose to accept a ton of money and will now forego his remaining high school eligibility and will not be allowed to swim on a college team.
Now, back to your questions. Most sponsors provide products to athletes as a way of advertising. A simple example, Speedo gives suits to elite athletes so the suits can be seen on TV and when these athletes go back to their clubs other swimmers see these stars in their Speedos and ask their moms to get one for them. Also, Speedo can advertise that x% of the national champions wore Speedos.
What you need to do, is determine what value you provide for a sponsor, why should they sponsor you. Then find out which companies offer the products that you wish to wear/eat/drink/etc and get in contact with their marketing department. Also, you could talk to the 40-something guy with the free $120 suit and ask who his contact is and what he did to get it.
