A Letter from our Founder and Director of Donations.

Greetings LRD Customers!

In the world of sports, the athletes often take the spotlight, but behind the scenes, there is a community known as “the team behind the team.” This team, known as the Equipment Managers, plays a crucial role in ensuring the game goes on smoothly. These individuals are the unsung heroes of the sports industry, responsible for managing, maintaining, and distributing athletic gear. What makes this community special is not just their dedication to their craft but also their commitment to service and each other.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the athletic equipment managers' community is their commitment to serving. Equipment Managers are natural servant leaders. Their role exists to serve their entire team, whether serving an athlete by ensuring the safety of their equipment or serving the coaches by doing everything possible to free them up to focus on coaching. Given their servant nature, it’s no surprise that many equipment managers are deeply involved in charitable efforts and serving their communities. Uncommon Sports Group (USG) is one of many nonprofits blessed by the generosity of Equipment Managers. USG’s primary support comes from donations of used or excess gear to its Clean Out For A Cause program.

The generosity of athletic equipment managers extends beyond just donating gear. Many community members are actively involved in mentoring the student-athletes they serve. As support staff members, Equipment Managers are uniquely positioned to engage with the athletes since they do not have control over things like playing time or scholarships. This often positions the Equipment Manager to become a trusted counselor as athletes face life’s challenges and pressures both on the court and off the court. The lasting impact of Equipment Managers cannot be understated as they have a vital role in helping to shape the character and values of the next generation of athletes.

These unique qualities and experiences of Equipment Managers combine to create a very close-knit community. No one truly knows or understands the pressures and challenges that Equipment Managers face except other Equipment Managers. There’s a natural respect for each other among all Equipment Managers that overcomes even the biggest of rivalries on the field. The uniqueness of their roles provides all Equipment Managers with a deep sense of camaraderie, even if they only see each other on the sidelines once per year or at conferences like the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) convention in June each year.

In conclusion, the community of athletic equipment managers is not only essential for the smooth operation of our favorite games but also exemplifies the true spirit of generosity and service. Their dedication to serving their teams and communities, both on and off the field, is truly commendable. Through their generosity, mentorship, and camaraderie, equipment managers are making a lasting impact that extends far beyond the game. As we cheer for our favorite teams, let's also take a moment to applaud the unsung heroes—the athletic equipment managers—who play a vital role in making sports a positive and impactful experience for everyone involved.

- Drew Boe

Founder and Executive Director

Uncommon Sports Group

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In the world of college and professional sports, equipment managers play a crucial role in ensuring athletes have the necessary apparel and footwear to perform at their best. However, beyond their day-to-day responsibilities, these unsung heroes quietly make a significant difference by donating excess apparel and footwear to those in need. Thanks to their efforts and the Clean Out For A Cause program that started in 2013, Locker Room Direct is not only a great source of gear but a big piece of a cyclical environment benefiting thousands inside and outside of the sports community.

Before delving into the altruistic endeavors of equipment managers, it is important to understand their essential role within sports organizations. Equipment managers are responsible for the procurement, maintenance, and distribution of athletic gear for teams and athletes. They oversee everything from jerseys to cleats, monitoring inventory levels and ensuring athletes have the necessary equipment to excel in their respective sports.

In the competitive world of sports, teams often accumulate surplus apparel and footwear for various reasons, such as changes in team branding, sponsorship deals, or athlete-specific requirements. Traditionally, this excess gear may have been stored away or discarded, ending up in landfills or rotting away in the bowels of storage facilities Thanks to a school project, our founder was able to see how these items could benefit not only the sports industry but so many more with the inception of Managers On A Mission (now Uncommon Sports Group).

While the role of an equipment manager has a glamorous appeal from the outside world, there is a reality that might be shocking. Consistently working 60-hour work weeks making sure gear is prepared for early morning practices or getting uniforms ready after a late-night travel trip, these unsung heroes have a heart for more than just their profession. They have a heart to serve and consistently show this with the support of Clean Out For A Cause.

With the support of equipment managers inside all five major U.S. professional sports and all divisions of collegiate athletics, we can create opportunities to serve local communities, provide professional enrichment for aspiring professionals in sports, and seek faith in an industry that sometimes seems very lonely.

Collecting nearly 800,000 pounds of excess apparel and footwear is a big part of a great business, but what drives our organization each and every day is our commitment to making a difference in the sports industry. This passion is the same passion of so many of our dedicated equipment managers who aid their coaches, athletes, and support staff. So much more than doing laundry, they are the sounding board coaches, a supportive conversation for an athlete, and a source to turn to when no one else is there to help.

From the time the lights come on until the lights are turned off, equipment managers are the heart of so many sports organizations across the planet. Just like those sports organizations, equipment managers are the center of so much with Locker Room Direct. From their continuing support with donations and our Clean Out For A Cause program and their participation in our laundry service events, bible and book study, and so much more, we are forever grateful to our equipment manager community and the inspiration they give us each day as we carry out our mission. 

- Josh Meyer

Director of Donations

Uncommon Sports Group