Key Takeaways
- Prep Network announces two new Prep Redzone 7v7 partnerships in one week: Guardian Sports (headgear) and SKLZ (speed testing)
- Guardian Sports’ LOOP headband, Virginia Tech 5-STAR rated and built by the makers of the NFL-trusted Guardian Cap, becomes the circuit’s Official Headgear
- SKLZ will run its Speed Challenge at 10 Prep Redzone tournaments, including the National Championship, using laser-timed Speed Gates Pro technology
- Prep Network operates eight media properties, publishes 4,000+ articles monthly, and hosts 450+ youth and high school sports events annually
Two Deals, One Week, One Circuit
Prep Network added two brand partners to its Prep Redzone 7v7 tournament circuit within days of each other. Guardian Sports is now the Official Headgear Partner, bringing its LOOP headband to premier national and regional events. SKLZ will activate its Speed Challenge series at 10 tournaments, offering athletes verified 40-yard dash times through its Speed Gates Pro laser timing system.
Both deals are structured around on-site activation rather than traditional sponsorship. Athletes and families interact with the products and services during competition, not through ads.
Guardian’s LOOP Enters the 7v7 Environment
The LOOP is a headband designed for non-contact and limited-contact sports. It carries a Virginia Tech 5-STAR safety rating and features an occipital hinge that extends protection to the back of the head. Guardian Sports also manufactures the Guardian Cap, worn by more than 500,000 athletes and trusted by the NFL.
Seven-on-seven football is played without helmets and pads, making it a natural fit for standalone head protection. Guardian will activate at premier Prep Redzone events throughout the 2026 season, giving players and families direct access to the product in a competitive setting.
“The 7v7 circuit is the perfect environment for players and families to experience how lightweight, comfortable, and protective the LOOP can be,” said Jake Hanson, COO of Guardian Sports.
SKLZ Brings Verified Speed Data to the Recruiting Process
The SKLZ Speed Challenge will feature fully branded testing environments at each of the 10 tournament stops, complete with Speed Gates Pro timing gates, leaderboard displays, and on-site staff. Athletes can compare results across events, building a national speed benchmark over the course of the season.
The partnership also includes content integration: leaderboard rankings, social video highlights, and post-event coverage featuring top performers.
“Speed is the universal currency of football, but in today’s recruiting world, if it isn’t verified, it doesn’t count,” said Mike Polk, CEO of Implus, SKLZ’s parent company.
Cooper Olson, Head of Partnerships and Advertising Revenue at Prep Network, said both partnerships add competitive elements to the event experience while connecting athletes with tools relevant to their development and recruiting profiles.
Prep Network’s 7v7 Circuit as a Brand Platform
Prep Network, headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, runs eight media properties and hosts more than 450 events annually. Its Prep Redzone brand covers high school football through rankings, analysis, showcases, and its growing 7v7 tournament circuit.
The back-to-back announcements point to a deliberate buildout of the 7v7 circuit as a multi-brand activation platform. Safety, speed testing, content, and competition are now layered into the same event experience, giving Prep Network a more compelling pitch to future partners and a richer product for the athletes and families showing up.
Source: Prep Network, March 20, 2026 | Prep Network, March 18, 2026
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