Mikasa the Aussie Ball
Posted by devo on March 13, 2008
In what has been the worst kept secret for some time, Volleyball Australia has announced that it has signed with Mikasa as the official ball for Oz Volleyball. The new deal ends 20+ years with Molten.
After some time in negotiations with several companies wishing to be the official ball supplier to the AVF, the deal has finally been signed with Mikasa for the next three years. This means that Mikasa will be recognised as the official ball supplier at all AVF sanctioned events approved under the agreement.
The agreement with Mikasa is even more significant for 2008 as Mikasa is the recognised volleyball for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. AVF more
There are great deals out there for those who are after either a Mikasa or a Molten at the moment.
You can get great specials on AVF branded Molten balls at Volleyball Warehouse. Molten told them to “sell all AVF logo balls” two weeks ago. So there are some great specials going. They also have Mikasa balls.
- Molten V5LAC, $29 (were $42)
- Molten V5LAC3, $29 (were $42)
- Molten Ultra Touch, $29 (were $41)
- Molten IV58LC Soft Touch, $58 (were $80)
- Molten MTV5 Soft Touch, $40 (has Japanese Federation logo…same ball with AVF logo sells for $80)
- Molten Boss, $45 (were $60)
Elson in SA are focussing on giving some great prices for those who want one of the new Mikasa balls.
Neil Cox in Vic is offering these prices on Mikasa balls
MVP200 (Olympic and AVF Game Ball) $66.00
MVP200NC (National Competitions Ball) $55.00
MVP200X (Olympic Training Ball) $55.00
MVP2001 Training / competition ball $38.50
VLS200 (Olympic and AVF Ball) $49.50
VXT20 (Olympic Trainer) $39.30
March 14, 2008 at 10:04 am
This can only be described as spectacularly craptastic timing.
State Tournatments and competitions around Australia are already well underway.
Schools, Clubs, and competition organisers would already have had to purchase their indoor ball supplies for 2008.
Let’s hope that the terms of the agreement will take into account this spectacularly poor timing to announce the deal.
And whilst it’s a great deal for anyone who directly benefits from cash and ball supply, I dare say that once again we will see state junior teams and national league clubs hit up for more cash as they are the ones that will notice a difference in the ball, but won’t be covered directly from the re supply (please tell me I’m wrong!)
On the plus side - fantastic time to pick up Moltens!!!
March 14, 2008 at 10:35 am
It is easy to see that “All Rounder” had no idea when the ball rights have been negotiated in previous times. Always at this time of the year.
As for the State Juniors and National League, yes they will have to get used to the Mikasa ball.
The way “All Rounder” talked Molten just shouldn’t have been changed from.
The National Teams know that as soon as they play a match overseas that they will play with Mikasa.
Imagine how silly it was previously when Molten gave the AVF balls for the Australian Teams (both Beach and Indoor) and they then had to go out and buy Mikasa ones to train with !
Sure they used the molten ones that were given, but…. most of the time it was Mikasa that was being used.
Now how stupid was that. Under the current leadership of Joan Perry the AVF has realised this and has gone with Mikasa.
As for “All Rounders” last remark of “on the plus side - fantastic time to pick up Moltens!!!”
What an idiot, Molten volleyballs have a completely different feel to Mikasa ones.
As people have said in the past to me so as to justify using Molten balls, “We want to train with the ball that they are using in competition”.
Mind you my club has been Mikasa for years now as they last a hell of a lot longer than molten.
For a clubs limited resources Mikasa are a godsend, as they last and last. Some of our balls are from 5 or more years ago and they are still very well coloured, the same cannot be said of Molten balls.
Most volleyball clubs have known nothing but Molten and therefore are sceptical about Mikasa.
Mikasa has been the Olympic Ball since 1964 when Volleyball was first played as an Olympic Sport, now for a ball to have gone that long don’t you think that their quality was of a high standard.
Lastly how many Olympic Games has Molten been used in ? (For either Indoor or Beach Volleyball) NONE !
March 14, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Ouch!
I understand completely all about the different feel of a ball - but to be honest, only those that have exceptional feel and control in the first place will notice.
I suppose that i should have acknowledged the significant benefit to using Mikasa balls for the National Team trainings. Again on the VTA and AIS P/L I’m sure this looks better. But I dare say that the cost of say $3k (please note guestimate only) for each of beach and indoor progammes annually to have mikasa balls in the past (or $18K for the term of the sponsorship deal) may be far less than the national cost of change for state junior teams and national league teams.
But the cost of change is always significantly greater than the cost of maintaining a contract.
I guess the vast majority of people who are looking to bare price and can afford to compromise on the quality of ball will use whatever is the best they can afford - be it mikasa, molten, wilson or joust (and let’s not even start on why someone would pay for a regent rubber ball) - so my earlier comments may have been a bit hasty.
When it comes down to the feel and last of a ball, I would think it sufficient to say that they are jsut different. Whether you play on taraflex or hardwood, whether court peripheries are drop net, concrete, brick or plaster board, and how well maintained the floor is will all affect the life and colour of the ball. They even have different feels and movements when it comes to setting, serving and passing.
No good saying that mikasa is a better ball because it has been used at all the olympics - that’s like saying that indoor volleyball is better because there are more olympic medals for it than for beach. You don’t change from something unless there are significant reasons to do so - either better offers or greater issues.
And obviously contracts are renegotiated at the conclusion of the previous contract.
but if I was doing a 3 year deal, and I needed to ensure that there was sufficient business to maintain the contract, I wouldn’t try and do in AFTER people have already purchased their balls. I’d delay the announcement of a new contract to start on a better cycle, and measure it on a better footing ie start on a 2009 purchase cycle, and go for a september launch date.
At this stage (and I’m guessing) sales for the deal will be over the three year period, but only 2 of them will be in peak purchase periods. its not even a full Olympic cycle.
I certainly wouldn’t want to be a volleyball distributor right now, and have a huge surplus of Moltens with no demand for them, nor disgruntled customers who want discounts.
I’d be even more worried if states choose not to sign the extension - one of the dangers of no INS. Then you’ll have minimal sales impact for social competitions and state league clubs.
We better get instant access to the New Beijing game ball should it be approved - or there must be plenty more going on beyond the financial side of things.
But if that’s the case, what’s with Wilson and the AVP for the National Beach Tour? When you take a direction (if that’s what the Mikasa deal is) for political and strategic advantage, you don’t head in the complete opposite direction at the same time.
I do hope the ball deal is a good result, and I hope I’m wrong, but my initial concern would be two fold:-
if Mikasa don’t get the sales results they want, the deal will sour pretty quickly. (And I’d love to know what the targets are, because you’ve only got 2 purchase periods before the start of the next negotiation, when it’s a 3 year deal)
And if the deal sours you won’t have quite so many suitors as you did this time around!
Nothing wrong with change, so long as it is for the right reasons, and with the right targets in mind.
Love to hear others thoughts especially on the business decision that was made as opposed to Mikasa lover vs Molten lover - I’m not either. Just want to understand the business decisions that affect the sport that I’m passionate about. And please prove me wrong - I’d love nothing better than to hear that everthing will definitely be roses from here!
March 15, 2008 at 12:02 am
On a simplified note…
1) I don’t like the feel of the Mikasa balls, but that’s probably just because I’ve always used Molten balls.
2) It’s always mystified me why we weren’t using the balls used in international competitions - it’s like giving yourself an inbuilt disadvantage as your players are getting used to the wrong types of balls as they come through the ranks?
3) My Club is one of those that has just bought several bags of Molten balls. I will be extremely dissapointed if Volleyball WA ratifies the agreement and switches to Mikasa balls for our local leagues, not because they are inferior, but because it will create the perception that our Club has inferior, “old” Molten balls.
I agree with the point raised above, that this is a ridiculous time in the cycle to be making policy announcements such as this. There are more stakeholders involved here than I think they have considered.
March 15, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Trooper
Point 1) How can you say that you don’t like something when you have never tried it ?!
Point 2) Who knows ?
Point 3) I am sure that your club won’t be alone, and that Mikasa expects that there will be a “transition” period for changing over from Molten to Mikasa.
Look at this way Mikasa is now the official of the AVF for the next three years, and from what I know clubs will think that it was a godsend as Mikasa balls last a lot lot longer than molten, and are therefore much better value. And they don’t “grey” after 6 months either.
March 16, 2008 at 12:48 pm
As a former player and coach( still coaching!), I would say the following about the recent change from Molten to Mikasa ball:
Other countries, and their state affiliates often have different sponsorship agreements.
British Columbia and Canada–if you look at their websites–have different ball sponsors. British Columbia has Baden as sponsor, Canada endorses Tachikara.
National teams will play with volleyballs, other than Mikasa, in many situations. Often the only time they must play with Mikasa is when they participate at a FIVB sanctioned event. Friendly matches often use the ball sponsoring that Federation.
I suspect being familiar with the different characteristics displayed by each make of volleyball is not a bad thing. Moreover, these differences become a non-issue once a player is familiar with a particular type of ball, say after a couple of practices.
It would actually be interesting to see which ball maintains its playing characteristics for the longest period.
Finally, from a coach perspective the make of ball is less likely to be important than the skill level of the player–skill is more important than the make of ball–ya still gotta dig that puppy. Of Course, for high performance teams it makes perfect sense to practice with the volleyball used in FIVB events.
March 16, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Chriatian
NO two brands of volleyball “play” or “feel” the same, being a coach you should know that.
As far as National Teams are concerned (to my knowledge anyway) there is only one and that is the USA.
But do they really use them or is just the sponsorship they get ?
Take the Ausralian Teams for example sponsored by Molten (through the AVF) but mainly trained with Mikasa.
As for me I already know (and so do the other clubs that already have been using Mikasa for a while) that Mikasa is far better value for money than Molten currently is.
Mind you when Molten first came into Australia the balls lasted a lot longer than they do these days. A few years back I noticed it, when the Green went (what seemed to me anyway) a little lighter in the colour, and the same with the Red, the balls just didn’t last as long.
March 17, 2008 at 10:13 am
Hey Trooper,
comments like yours are the ones that worry me - if you guys feel a bit ripped off, that’s no good. And if you put pressure on VWA to not change, I’m sure that’s no good for the Sponsorship renewal.
March 17, 2008 at 11:11 am
They’re all round and I hit them hard :-)
March 17, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Interesting to note that the AVF site still lists Molten under Sponsors/ Partners. I wonder whose job it was/is to change that?
March 17, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I looked up the Sponsors Page of the AVF and the listing is really strange …. The reason.. its for molten in the USA ! ??
March 18, 2008 at 2:38 am
Hey All
Wow! This thing has some legs doesn’t it!! Obviously there is a certain PR wagon being pushed on one side. Rather than add to the PR claims of either of the two (or is that three now?) major brands I might just raise a few more points that seam to have been overlooked. This might get things fired up again.
1. I don’t think anyone who actually considers themselves an elite player would admit to any particular brand or model of volleyball causing them trouble with their game. Seriously, I’d like to think our international players are a little better skilled than that. I mean the USA team moved their training base from Colorado because they felt training at high altitude effected their game…true story…but I did say they were American.
2. I’d go one step further than saying ALL brands of ball feel different. I’d say ALL models feel different. Both Molten and Mikasa have a range of balls and most feel different. I’ve already said I personally don’t think it’s overly important but for those that do feel it’s important…what should I buy for my club? Do I have to buy match balls to train with now?? ]
3. Are Wilson now the official beach volleyball of the AVF? I sell volleyballs for a living and even I’m confused by that.
4. There are a couple of factual errors above. This is a useless point but I hate errors of fact. Mikasa were the first official ball at the ‘64 Olympics but for a period of about 12-16 years I believe Molten were the Olympic ball in the 70’s and early 80’s. I forget what Olypiads it was but I do have an old ball trolley with the years on it somewhere. Either way, it’s just a sponsorship deal. It comes down to dollars and nothing else. Anyone who thinks either brand is better is really kidding themselves.
4B. There are currenly 9 different balls by 7 different manufacturers that are FIVB Official Approved Volleyballs. Getting that title costs each manufacturer hundreds of thousands of US dollars per 3 year cycle. Doesn’t that kinda seem like a waste of money if only one brand of ball is worth using??
5. Back on the one ball being better than another thing. The biggest pro league in the world, the Italian Serie A, where the best of the best international players compete, doesn’t use Mikasa. Does that make it an inferior competition? Which is the top level of world competition, the 12 team Olympics or the 14 team Italian Serie A? There are some pretty suss teams that qualify for the Olympics by way of being host country or being in a weak qualifying region. There are also alot of top teams that miss out on the Olympics due to being in very strong regions.
6. This whole ball deal thing was set up long before March 2008. Why do we think this years ABV Tour didn’t have any rounds till after Dec 31st 2007 when the Molten contract ran out? Players were asking for a calender back in August and told nothing could be confirmed. Why? Well, you can’t start a tour with one ball and end it with another. It would have been good if the AVF had come clean and told everyone it was “in negotiations with several potential suppliers” back in July-August last year when this all started. Clubs would have been able to make an informed purchasing decision. I genuinely feel bad for my customers that purchased large numbers of balls before this came out. It completely sucks. I gave one club that recently purchased a large qty of balls at full price a free ball trolley last week. A supplier gave it to me to pass on.
7. Victoria has already announced they will be using Molten balls for the Victorian Volleyball League in 2008. As a club official I’m relieved the new balls we purchased are not useless. As a volleyball enthusiast I worry about the bigger picture. Molten are very very unhappy about how they were treated in this deal. If Mikasa sales don’t justify the investment will they pull out? If we have to go back to Molten it will have to be on bended knee. So do we have to commit to Mikasa to ensure it succeeds?
8. Volleyballs turning grey after only 6 months? I thought it was just my hair that did that?? Seriously, don’t be outrageous. If either brand of ball was so poor quilty that it was trashed after 6 months the sales of that ball would dry up very quickly. Everyone that uses Molten’s does so knowing exactly what to expect from them. Don’t insult us all by telling us the balls we have been buying are crap just to push your own bandwagon. It really undermines your credability.
So there ya go. It’s very late…I’m tired from training…excuse me if I’m rambling. For something that was supposed to be as neutral as possible it sounds fairly pro-Molten when I read over it again. In hindsight I guess maybe I am pro-Molten. But personal preferences aside one thing is certain….Lanky is the smartest guy to comment yet. They are all round and they should be hit hard.
March 18, 2008 at 7:23 am
Legs indeed……
Great point regarding Serie A. The players use Molten on weekends then Mikasa during the week in European League matches.
For Australia - having a new ball deal is great. If the previous manufacturer is unhappy then that makes me think the AVF made a good deal and that the Australian market is something the companies want to be involved in, which has gotta be good for volleyball.
As for what the best ball is - clearly it is Tachikara! We used to have 2 Tachikara balls when practicing in U/17s. When we were doing hitting reps I’d know exactly what ball was where in the rotation and my eyes lit up when it was a Tachi was next. Of course, things may have changed since then…..
March 18, 2008 at 8:59 am
Everyone else has had a go…
1. It’s always about money.
2. Each model of volleyball is different. Each brand very different. Players who play a lot, ie professionals, have difficulty switching from one to the other. Some players more than others, some balls more than others. The top Molten ball tends to fly faster and many players find it easier to control than Mikasa.
Italian teams play Molten on the weekend or Mikasa during the week and have had problems in the European Cup in the last few years. The year Treviso went all out to win Champions League they trained only with Mikasa balls for a month. Apparently some of their league performances during that time were really quite terrible. Other leagues use other balls and some leagues quite allow teams to choose their own balls.
3. If I were coaching juniors I would make a point of having different balls. Just because.
4. If I were in a club I wouldn’t be too worried about the balls. When the time (or money) comes to replace old balls I would replace them with whatever the league ball was and in the meantime just deal with it. Pros are pros. State league isn’t.
5. Tachikara balls were great to spike because they bounced so high but terrible to pass because they bounced so far.
March 18, 2008 at 9:15 am
If you put ‘bizarrely’ between ‘quite’ and ‘allow’ the sentence makes much more sense.
Unless you refer to point one, in which case it’s not bizarre at all.
March 18, 2008 at 12:50 pm
We at Mikasa Sports Australia are very proud to be official ball of the Australian Volleyball Federation and look forward to continuing this relationship for many, many years to come.
As far as the comment that Molten has been in the Olympics for “Volleyball” during the 70’s and early 80’s is concerned… this is not true.
Molten is the official olympic ball for “Basketball” ! And basketball does use the same ball carts that are used for volleyball, and the Olympics are “not” just a sponsorship deal either.
One last statement I would like to debunk “If Mikasa sales don’t justify the investment will they pull out? If we have to go back to Molten it will have to be on bended knee. So do we have to commit to Mikasa to ensure it succeeds?”
We will not be “pulling out” under any circumstances.
Neil Cocks
Managing Director
Mikasa Sports Australia
March 18, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Jouster
You seem a bit confused by the Wilson deal, let me help put some light on the subject for you.
The AVP is running the “Crocs National Tour” and the sponsor of the AVP for balls is “Wilson”.
But this does not mean that Wilson will be used in any other event other than the “Crocs National Tour”.
No ! …. As Mikasa is now the official AVF ball, all other events will use Mikasa, got it ?
March 18, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Here we go again.
I hate being wrong so I went looking for that trolley. Found it, and double checked online. Molten was the official volleyball game ball of the Olympics in Munich 72, Montreal 76 and Moscow 80. Three Olympiads, which is 12 years by my counting. I double checked the basketball reference made by Niel. No, it’s certainly volleyball we’re talking about not basketball.
Alexis and Mark, it’s great to get some insight into the workings of Europe. Many great points I had never considered. Obviously life in volleyball is alot more professional over there and far better scruitinised. I’d like to hear more about it. You should blog more!
One comment was slightly off the mark though. Molten are pissed not because they lost the deal but because they were not given the opportunity to match or better the deal offered by Mikasa. That makes me think maybe we didn’t get the best deal possible. That’s not a good situation for anyone.
It’s also not the way I like to see a long time sponsor be treated. Long before there was any competition in Australia Molten had their hand in their pocket giving us balls and cash. They continued to do so for many many years while no one was in a position to get close to matching their offers. I think as a community we owe them a bit for what they put in. I think they had the right to expect a fair crack at keeping the relationship going.
Neil, calmn down mate. I was actually thinking people were better to support Mikasa. I don’t expect you to pull out. But if it’s gonna work long term you’ve gotta do big enough numbers to justify the costs. Mikasa won’t keep supporting the system if its not making them money. That’s the commercial reality of these things no matter who you are.
Tachikara….? Hmmm I wonder what happenned to them?
Finally, Caveman…thanks for the insight Captain Obvious. So now we have a national tour that doesn’t use the national ball. I’m sure that should make sense to everyone.
Enough from me. Any more and I’ll just get myself in more trouble.
March 18, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Hey I just found out that Karch’s first name is actually Charles!! No wonder he changed it.
March 18, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Well Jouster
(edited - Devo)
One of my prize possessions is a volleyball from the 1972 Munich Olympics and it is a MIKASA my friend !
It has written on it “1972 Munich Olympic official ball”
And Mikasa in the Moscow 1980 Olympics as well !
I repeat Molten was never used in Olympic competition, sure Mikasa was not used at all of the Olympic games, the other brand was in actual fact “Tachikara”.
But never Molten.
Neil Cocks
Mikasa Sports Australia
March 18, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Wow!
Look if I’m wrong I’ll be happy to admit it but at this point the info I’ve been given by Molten says otherwise. Either way, I doubt anyone else really cares about our bickering.
It’s obviously alot more important to you than it is to me so I’m just gonna leave it at that before things get silly.
See you at state league.
March 19, 2008 at 7:28 am
Okay guys,
Everyone has had a fair go. I’m closing off comments on this topic.