Gopher Sport
Gopher Sport is a US-based, privately held distributor of physical education, sports, fitness, and gymnasium equipment founded in 1947, selling primarily to K-12 schools, colleges, and recreation programs through catalogs, field sales, and an e-commerce platform, supplemented by curriculum resources and the My PE Playbook planning tool.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersOwatonna, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gopher Sport does
Gopher Sport is a privately held US specialty distributor of physical education, sports, fitness, and gymnasium equipment founded in 1947 and headquartered in Owatonna, Minnesota. The company operates a comprehensive catalog organized into core categories — Physical Education, Sports (archery through volleyball), Fitness, Gymnasium Solutions, Assessment Tools, and Active Classroom — alongside curriculum resources (SPARK, Dynamic PE ASAP, Master PE Teacher) and the Lü Interactive projection technology partnership. Its primary customer segment is K-12 schools, with secondary exposure to colleges, universities, and community recreation programs; pricing is exclusively transactional (one-time purchases ranging from under $10 consumables to $3,699 ClassPlus packages), with no disclosed subscription model.
The go-to-market is sales-led and multi-channel: dedicated field sales representatives serve enterprise and district-level accounts, integrated procurement platforms (Punchout, ClassWallet, E-Bill Express) streamline institutional purchasing, and the gophersport.com e-commerce storefront serves SMB and individual buyers. Marketing leverages a PE blog, PE Express podcast, social channels, email, professional development courses, and seasonal print catalogs to build top-of-funnel engagement with PE professionals. Proprietary Gopher-branded product lines (UltraNet portable nets, G-Series racquets and shuttlecocks, exclusive ACTION! and Rainbow product families) sit alongside distributed third-party brands (Carlton, Yonex, Black Knight), and the company maintains an affiliate brand family (Moving Minds, Play with a Purpose, STEM Supplies) covering adjacent education and active-play spend.
Leadership is owner-operated, with Joel Jennings serving as Owner & CEO and Beth Gauthier Jenkins as VP of Customer Care; no institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity are disclosed. The company does not disclose revenue or headcount beyond an employee range of 101-250, and the technology stack is conventional e-commerce and content publishing rather than an AI-native platform — My PE Playbook is described as AI-powered but the underlying model is not disclosed. Competitive positioning rests on 75+ years of brand trust in the PE channel, an extensive proprietary curriculum and content library, embedded procurement integrations, and exclusive product lines that make Gopher a default vendor for many US K-12 PE departments.
Gopher Sport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gopher Sport
- Legal name
- Gopher Sport
- Website
- https://gophersport.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Gopher Sport is a US-based, privately held distributor of physical education, sports, fitness, and gymnasium equipment founded in 1947, selling primarily to K-12 schools, colleges, and recreation programs through catalogs, field sales, and an e-commerce platform, supplemented by curriculum resources and the My PE Playbook planning tool.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gopher Sport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Physical Education and School Sports Equipment
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42391)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards) (EDAEAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAL), Physical Education (PE) & Fitness Programs (EDAJAJAC), Team Sports Equipment & Uniforms Retail (CRAMABAE), Fitness, Exercise & Gym Equipment Distribution (CRAOAJAG), Sporting Goods, Outdoor & Fitness Marketplaces (CRAFABAI)
Keywords
Where Gopher Sport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Owatonna
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gopher Sport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Physical Education Equipment Sales: One-time purchase model for balls, nets, racquets, and other PE equipment. Products sold individually or in packages. Revenue generated from direct sales to schools and institutions.
- Sports Equipment Sales: Sports-specific equipment including archery, badminton, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and other sports. Includes equipment for PE classes, athletics, and recreational programs.
- Fitness Equipment Sales: Fitness equipment including cardio machines, weights, resistance bands, yoga supplies, and gym equipment for schools and fitness facilities.
- Gym & Coach Gear Sales: Accessories and gear including scoring equipment, first aid, storage, mats, pinnies, and facility equipment for gyms and athletic programs.
- Curriculum & Professional Development: Educational resources including SPARK curriculum, Dynamic Physical Education materials, books, teaching tools, and online teacher training courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level recreational badminton sets and equipment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ClassPlus equipment packages for schools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual badminton products and accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Gopher Sport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gopher Sport manufactures, sources, and distributes physical education, sports, fitness, and gymnasium equipment — including activity balls, adapted PE gear, jump ropes, climbing, badminton and other racquet sport equipment, fitness machines, weights, gymnasium furnishings, and assessment tools — selling directly to K-12 schools, school districts, colleges, clubs, and recreation programs. The company also distributes aligned curriculum (SPARK, Dynamic PE ASAP) and professional development (Master PE Teacher online course) to the same institutional buyers, with class-level-bundled equipment packages and an unconditional 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Product overview
Gopher Sport is a comprehensive physical education, sports, and fitness equipment supplier serving schools, colleges, clubs, and recreational programs since 1947. The company operates as a single unified catalog platform offering an extensive portfolio of products organized into main categories: Physical Education Equipment (including activity balls, adapted PE, beanbags, climbing, disc golf, field day, gaga ball, games and activities, jump ropes, movement equipment, parachutes, rhythm and dance, scooter boards, social emotional learning, and team building), Sports Equipment (archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, padel, pickleball, racquetball, soccer, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, volleyball), Fitness Equipment (cardio, strength training, yoga, plyometrics, speed and agility), Gymnasium Solutions (bleachers, flooring, mats, scoring, storage), Assessment Tools (fitness testing, heart rate monitors, body composition), and Active Classroom furniture. The company also offers curriculum resources including SPARK, Dynamic PE ASAP, and Master PE Teacher professional development courses. Key product brands include proprietary Gopher-branded equipment (G1000-G3500 racquets, G1-G3500 shuttlecocks, UltraNet nets), exclusive products (ACTION!, Rainbow Cadet Plus, BuildBlitz, PaddlePro), and partnerships with third-party brands (Carlton, Yonex, Black Knight). Recent innovations include Lü Interactive (interactive gym technology) and My PE Playbook (AI-powered equipment planning tool).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lü Interactive Interactive projection-based technology system that transforms gymnasiums into immersive digital play spaces, engaging students of all ages in physical activity; sold by Gopher Sport to schools and recreation facilities.
- My PE Playbook AI-driven equipment planning tool that helps PE teachers and program leads inventory existing equipment, identify gaps, and generate customized plans to build out their physical education programs; offered by Gopher Sport as a lead-generation and customer-success resource.
- Master PE Teacher online course 18-module online master class on teaching physical education, led by Dr. Robert Pangrazi, sold to PE teachers seeking formal professional development credit.
- Dynamic PE ASAP lesson plans Free K-12 standards-based PE lesson plans with assessments, videos, and supporting materials, distributed by Gopher Sport to PE teachers.
- SPARK Curriculum Research-based physical education curriculum package with training, equipment, and support, distributed by Gopher Sport to schools and recreation programs.
- Physical Education Equipment catalog Comprehensive catalog of physical education equipment — activity balls, adapted PE gear, beanbags, climbing walls and accessories, disc golf, equipment packs, field day supplies, gaga ball pits, games, gym posters, hoops, inflatables, jump ropes, movement, nutrition tools, parachutes, rhythm and dance, scooter boards, social-emotional learning, team building, and tug of war — sold to K-12 schools, colleges, and recreation programs.
- Sports Equipment catalog Catalog of sport-specific equipment covering archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, broomball, field hockey, flag football, floor hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, padel, pickleball, racquetball, soccer, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tetherball, track and field, and volleyball; sold to schools, athletics programs, and recreation programs.
- Fitness Equipment catalog Fitness equipment catalog including balance discs and BOSU, bodyweight training gear, boxing, cardio machines (ellipticals, bikes, rowers, treadmills), conditioning ropes, dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, plyometrics, resistance bands, sandbags, speed and agility training, stability balls, fitness steps, weightlifting, and yoga/stretching; sold to schools, colleges, clubs, and fitness facilities.
- Assessment Products Fitness testing equipment, heart rate monitors, pedometers, scales and body composition analyzers, blood pressure monitors, and related software for measuring and tracking physical fitness outcomes; sold to schools and fitness facilities.
- Gymnasium Solutions Complete gymnasium outfitting package — bleachers, benches, flooring, mats, storage solutions, canopies, whistles, first aid, pinnies, clipboards, cones and markers, electronics, scoring equipment, stopwatches, and game tables — sold to schools and athletic facilities.
- Active Classroom furniture Classroom furniture that promotes in-class physical activity, including active desks (classroom, pedal, standing, tabletop, teaming tables), active seating (chairs, stools, floor seating), and fidget busters; sold to K-12 schools.
- Gopher Badminton Shuttlecocks Gopher-branded badminton shuttlecocks (G1 Recreational, S1 Recreational, and Performer), available in cork and synthetic materials with various speed ratings, sold to schools and recreation programs.
- UltraNet Portable Net Systems Portable badminton net systems offered in UltraNet Jr. (14'W), UltraNet (20'W), UltraNet Elite, and UltraNet Max models, all featuring steel frames that collapse for compact storage; Gopher-exclusive product line sold to schools and clubs.
- ClassPlus Badminton Equipment Packs Pre-configured badminton equipment packages (Racquet and Shuttle, UltraNet, UltraNet Elite, UltraNet Max, and StoreCourt variants) sized for Elementary, Elementary/Middle School, and Junior High/High School grade levels; sold to schools through Gopher's ClassPlus line.
- Path2Play Badminton Circuit Pack Structured badminton skill progression circuit for PE, including six station boards, manipulatives (balloons, beach balls, volleyballs, rubber band balls), SpringSwing Badminton Racquets, Gopher G1 Shuttlecocks, Rainbow G1000 Mini Racquets, cones, and teacher cards; Gopher-exclusive offering.
- Gopher G-Series Badminton Racquets Gopher-branded badminton racquet line including G1000 (steel, entry-level), G1000 Twin-Shaft, G3000 (aluminum/steel), G3200 (wide head), G3500 (titanium/aluminum), plus mini and junior versions for younger children; Gopher-exclusive.
- Speedminton Equipment Speedminton Speeders (durable shuttlecocks), School Racquets (ultra-light aluminum), 2-Player Pack, and group-size Speedminton Packs for net-free racquet game play; sold to schools, clubs, and recreation programs.
- Recreational Badminton Sets Complete 6-court recreational badminton sets assembled for institutional buyers including schools and clubs.
- StoreCourt Net System Badminton net system that retracts into a storage canister, designed for limited-space institutional environments such as small gyms.
- RallyNet Badminton Nets Three-tier badminton net line: RallyNet Recreation (entry-level), RallyNet Club (durable nylon), and RallyNet Competition (tournament-grade 15-ply nylon); sold to schools and clubs.
- Gopher Enduro Molded Synthetic Racquet Durable one-piece molded nylon badminton racquet designed to outlast traditional stringed racquets, with a 25-3/4 inch frame weighing 4.64 oz; Gopher exclusive.
- ACTION! FlipTee Set Gopher-exclusive FlipTee training set for tee-work drills, sold in multiple option tiers ($199.00–$349.00).
- ACTION! Duo-Bound Set Gopher-exclusive Duo-Bound training set for athletic drills and PE activities, priced from $239.00 to $379.00.
- Rainbow AllAround Jr Instant Pop-Up Goals Gopher-exclusive instant pop-up goals sized for junior play, priced from $79.95 to $459.00.
- PaddlePro Executive Carbon Pickleball Paddles Gopher-exclusive carbon-fiber pickleball paddles sold for institutional and recreational pickleball play, priced from $9.95 to $1,489.00.
- Rainbow Cadet Plus Stand-Up Bags Gopher-exclusive stand-up bags for PE use, priced at $289.00.
- BuildBlitz Set Gopher-exclusive physical activity building set for PE and recreation programs, priced at $189.00.
- Qwick-Catch XL Set Gopher-exclusive catching training set for athletic skill development, priced at $54.95.
- Screamin' Rainbow UltraCoat Versa Coated-Foam Balls Gopher-exclusive coated-foam balls in Screamin' Rainbow colors, sold as a set priced at $225.00 for PE and recess use.
- Tchoukball Max Set Gopher-exclusive Tchoukball equipment set sold to schools and clubs, priced from $13.95 to $579.00 across configurations.
- ComboCourt Badminton Net System Versatile multi-sport net system usable for badminton and other indoor sports, sold to schools and clubs.
- Third-Party Branded Badminton Racquets Resold branded badminton racquets from Carlton (Aeroblade 2000, Aeroblade 3000, Maxi Blade 4.3), Yonex (B350, B6500I, NanoFlare), and Black Knight (Sceptre, The Beast); ranging from entry-level tempered steel to titanium construction.
Companies that use Gopher Sport
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gopher Sport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Gopher Sport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lü InteractivecorePartnership with Lü Interactive to provide interactive technology that turns gymnasiums into interactive play spaces. Gopher distributes Lü's interactive technology solutions to engage students of all ages in physical education settings.
- SPARKcoreSPARK is a complete teaching solution described as 'the world's best curriculum, training, equipment, and support.' Gopher serves as a distributor for SPARK curriculum and related educational resources.
- Dynamic Physical Education (Dr. Robert Pangrazi)corePartnership with Dr. Robert Pangrazi, author of Dynamic Physical Education, to offer online master class courses in teaching PE through Gopher's professional development platform.
- My PE PlaybookminorAI-powered equipment planning tool that helps PE teachers inventory existing equipment, identify gaps, and generate plans to build up their programs. Integrated into Gopher's marketing and customer engagement.
- Moving MindsminorAffiliate company under the Gopher Sport corporate family offering complementary educational and active play products.
- Play with a Purpose (PWAP)minorAffiliate company offering play and activity products, part of the Gopher Sport family of brands.
- STEM SuppliesminorAffiliate company in the Gopher Sport brand family focused on STEM and educational supplies.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gopher Sport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- School Specialty: School Specialty is a leading direct competitor, distributing school supplies, furniture, and physical education equipment to K-12 institutions through catalogs, field sales, and e-commerce. Like Gopher Sport, it targets school district procurement with dedicated account reps and is a closely comparable B2B PE equipment distributor.
- Sportime: Sportime (a School Specialty brand) is a direct competitor in physical education equipment, games, and movement products for schools. Its PE-focused product line is a closely comparable alternative to Gopher Sport's PE catalog.
- S&S Activewear: S&S Activewear is a wholesale distributor of team sports apparel, equipment, and PE gear to schools, leagues, and decorators, operating a B2B model comparable to Gopher Sport's institutional channel. It competes on the team sports equipment and apparel side of the catalog.
- BSN Sports: BSN Sports is one of the largest direct competitors in team sports equipment, uniforms, and PE gear for schools, colleges, and youth leagues, operating a similar field-sales-led institutional model. Its team-sports and athletic equipment catalog directly overlaps with Gopher Sport's sports equipment category.
- Champion Sports: Champion Sports is a direct competitor that manufactures and distributes physical education, team sports, and playground equipment for schools and recreation programs. Its PE and team sports catalog competes head-to-head with Gopher Sport's core categories.
- US Games Systems: US Games Systems is a direct competitor focused on physical education equipment, games, and curriculum-aligned products for K-12 schools. Its product mix and institutional customer base overlap heavily with Gopher Sport's PE equipment and curriculum offering.
Broad incumbents
- Dick's Sporting Goods: Dick's Sporting Goods is a large sporting goods retailer with overlapping equipment categories and a school-team-sales business that competes with Gopher Sport's institutional channel. While broader in scope, its team-sales division is a meaningful competitor in the same school procurement market.
- Amazon Business: Amazon Business is a broad B2B procurement marketplace used by schools and districts for commodity sporting goods, fitness equipment, and classroom supplies. While not specializing in PE, it competes on price and convenience for the commodity portion of Gopher Sport's catalog.
- Playcore: Playcore is a broader play and recreation equipment provider for schools and communities, covering playground, outdoor fitness, and park equipment. It overlaps with Gopher Sport's outdoor recreation, climbing, and movement categories at the institutional customer level.
Emerging players
- Skillastics: Skillastics is a smaller, curriculum-aligned PE activity and equipment provider targeting K-12 physical education programs. It overlaps with Gopher Sport's curriculum-and-activity bundle, particularly for adapted and inclusive PE programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gopher Sport social profiles
Digital presenceGopher Sport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gopher Sport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Gopher Sport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gopher Sport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gopher Sport
What does Gopher Sport do?
Gopher Sport manufactures, sources, and distributes physical education, sports, fitness, and gymnasium equipment — including activity balls, adapted PE gear, jump ropes, climbing, badminton and other racquet sport equipment, fitness machines, weights, gymnasium furnishings, and assessment tools — selling directly to K-12 schools, school districts, colleges, clubs, and recreation programs. The company also distributes aligned curriculum (SPARK, Dynamic PE ASAP) and professional development (Master PE Teacher online course) to the same institutional buyers, with class-level-bundled equipment packages and an unconditional 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Is Gopher Sport a public or private company?
Gopher Sport is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gopher Sport founded?
Gopher Sport was founded in 1947. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Gopher Sport based?
Gopher Sport is headquartered in Owatonna, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gopher Sport make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Physical Education Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are sports Equipment Sales, fitness Equipment Sales, gym & Coach Gear Sales and curriculum & Professional Development.
Who are Gopher Sport's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are School Specialty, Sportime, S&S Activewear, BSN Sports, Champion Sports and US Games Systems. Broad incumbents are Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon Business and Playcore. Skillastics is listed as an emerging player.
Does Gopher Sport have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gopher Sport.
What industry is Gopher Sport in?
Gopher Sport's product category is Physical Education and School Sports Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAIAG, Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards), with a secondary code of CRAMAEAL, Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail. Its NAICS code is 45911 and its SIC code is 3949.