Raising my boys on healthy doses of competitive sports over the years, I have had many opportunities to talk about what it means to have a game feel fair, regardless of win or loss. Teaching young players a healthy respect for their teammates, their opponents and the opportunity to do their best is what most of us parents really want our kids to get out of their sports experience. Now there is a company FairTradeSports.com that has taken the idea of respect and not only made it their ball’s trademark design, but brought the idea of building respect into the games of life to a new level of social entrepreneurship.

This company is a model of what good business can do and bring to our global community. By aligning themselves as a Fairtrade Labeling Organization they are committing to paying their partners in production a living wage for themselves and their families. If adults can pay for shelter, food, clothing, medical needs, emergencies, and expenses for education, then children no longer have to contribute to family income.

In addition the company also pays a 20% premium, which is used for improving the lives of the workers, their families and their communities. Programs which have been instituted include community clinics and healthcare insurance - a first in this industry - as well as micro-credit loans and more. These are major improvements for the some 44,000 people in Pakistan who are involved in making 70% of the world’s soccer balls at wages far below any standard of living.

Somehow, when I consider the number of balls my boys have gone through in their soccer years, it seems like I should have known some of this, but like most of what we buy, their source and the labor that went into it is disturbingly not part of the marketing package. In addition with all the good that you can do buying one of these fair trade balls, the pricing is remarkably competitive to what you would pay in any store.

So its a win-win all they way around. We get to throw our purchasing power into some truly respectable projects supporting the people in the world who make our games possible, and with every toss or kick, we teach our children through words and actions, that the real goal is in playing fair. For more information or to get one of these great balls for your kids upcoming season go to www.FairTradeSports.com