Adidas launched a bold national initiative to level the playing field for Black and Hispanic youth soccer players. Their mission: eliminate barriers to exposure and create new recruiting pathways for underserved talent. To bring it to life, they partnered with Fastbreak Connect, leveraging the platform’s media capture and content delivery engine to provide free highlight reels to over 5,000 athletes. What began as a single event in Austin grew into a 52-event, million-dollar program that delivered measurable results for athletes, families, and the Adidas brand.
The Challenge
For most young athletes, game film is the gateway to opportunity. But highlight tapes are expensive. Professional media services can cost hundreds per player, which prices out the very communities Adidas aims to support. Without footage, these athletes are invisible to college scouts.
Adidas needed a solution that could scale across dozens of cities, work within tight tournament windows, and deliver pro-quality content without placing any burden on families or organizers. They also wanted to tell deeper stories, not just play-by-play clips, but narratives that showcased the heart of each community.
The stakes were clear: if this failed, thousands of athletes would miss a rare shot at visibility.
The Solution
Fastbreak Connect activated its national network of videographers and its content delivery system at 52 youth sports tournaments across the country to serve every participating athlete. Each player walked away with:
- A minimum of three highlight clips
- Footage optimized for social media and recruiting
- Seamless access via SMS and mobile links
- Adidas-branded overlays and intros
Beyond highlight delivery, Fastbreak’s team of creators made a city-by-city docuseries titled The Game That Binds Us. The team spotlighted one standout athlete in each city, sharing stories that tied personal journeys to local culture and Adidas’ community mission.
This content was published across Adidas' digital and social platforms, delivering broad national visibility with a grassroots feel.
What makes Fastbreak the right partner? Speed, scale, and brand fluency. The platform required no complex setup, integrated seamlessly with Adidas’ marketing stack, and delivered branded content within days — not weeks.
I’ve never seen my son more motivated. The highlight tape from Fastbreak gave him real exposure—and seeing Adidas behind it made it feel big-time.
María G., Parent of Showcase Participant
Execution
- Phase 1: Proof of Concept (Austin, TX)
Fastbreak deployed a small crew to a single Adidas showcase. Every athlete received highlight clips, with 100% delivery within 72 hours. The program earned high praise from families and tournament organizers. - Phase 2: Regional Expansion (13 Markets)
Adidas greenlit expansion to major soccer cities, including Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. Each location followed a consistent model—Fastbreak handled filming, editing, branding, and distribution end-to-end. - Phase 3: Full Rollout (52 Events Nationwide)
Over an 18-month period, the initiative scaled into a seven-figure partnership. Fastbreak delivered media at 52 events, covering thousands of athletes and generating Adidas-branded storytelling content from coast to coast.
Creatives
- Game That Binds Us: Fastbreak's studio team produced a short-form series with an athlete in each of the 12 cities of the Showcase. The series tells a story of their soccer prowess and how their play style embodies their city — amassing more than 500k views.
- Exposure Content: More than 5,000 athlete participants walked away with more than (3) three content pieces for their personal use, completely free to them.
Delivering Impact: Adidas was seen at the forefront of providing this experience, ensuring each athlete could share their top moments to expand their recruiting horizon.
On-Site Highlights
- On-site video capture by vetted Fastbreak media professionals
- Athlete registration synced with clip delivery
- 24- to 72-hour turnaround time on content
- Analytics on downloads, shares, and views for Adidas marketing teams
The Results
- 5,000+ youth athletes served with Adidas-branded highlight tapes at no cost
- 500,000+ views of the Game That Binds Us docuseries, amplifying Adidas’ impact narrative
- College opportunities unlocked—several athletes used their footage to earn scholarship offers
- Community goodwill—families and organizers praised the transparency, quality, and ease
- Program growth— the 1st event was so successful, Adidas expanded the campaign to 13 more, then to coverage of 52 events
The Connect program not only delivered on Adidas’ goals, it surpassed expectations and created lasting impact for athletes, families, and communities. Adidas was seen as a brand that shows up, invests deeply, and follows through. And the athletes? They got noticed.
Takeaway
Fastbreak Connect turned media into a mission. For Adidas, this was more than a marketing campaign; it was a way to invest in the future of the sport. As Adidas broadens its commitment to equity in sports, Fastbreak Connect remains the trusted engine powering activation at scale.
About Fastbreak Connect
Fastbreak Connect is the turnkey activation program for brands that want to activate directly on the field, in the stands, and in the social feeds of sports families. From youth tournaments to professional events, Connect helps brands engage athletes, fans, and parents through tailored experiences, product activations & sampling, and direct engagement. Whether you’re launching a new product or expanding into new markets, Connect delivers brand visibility that’s memorable and measurable.
Want to activate your products with Gen Z and Gen Alpha?
Get in touch to learn how Fastbreak can help you show up, stand out, and scale impact.
About Adidas
Adidas is a global leader in sportswear, committed to empowering athletes through innovation, performance, and purpose. With a deep focus on inclusivity and community impact, Adidas invests in programs that expand access to sport and create opportunities for the next generation. From grassroots to the global stage, Adidas continues to shape the future of sport through bold design, cultural influence, and social responsibility.
