{"id":11112,"date":"2018-12-18T15:24:34","date_gmt":"2018-12-18T21:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=11112"},"modified":"2018-12-18T15:24:34","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T21:24:34","slug":"ollyball-selected-as-2019-toy-of-the-year-awards-finalist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2018\/12\/18\/ollyball-selected-as-2019-toy-of-the-year-awards-finalist\/","title":{"rendered":"Ollyball Selected as 2019 Toy of the Year Awards Finalist"},"content":{"rendered":"

A family who dared to play ball in the house is now a finalist at the ‘Oscars of the Toy Industry’<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

IRVINE, Calif., December 18, 2018 –\u00a0<\/strong>VICTURY Sports, a startup in full-force indoor play for children and athletes, announces that their\u00a0\u00a0Ollyball<\/a>\u00a0has been selected as a finalist for the\u00a02019 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards<\/a>\u00a0from The Toy Association. The winners will be announced in New York City at the \u201cOscars of the Toy Industry\u201d held on Feb. 15, 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis all started five years ago when our kids were playing ball in the house and broke things,\u201d said Joseph G. Burke, founder\/CEO of\u00a0VICTURY Sports, who invented the\u00a0Ollyball. \u201cWe went on a quest to create a ball that kids could play with in the house.” After five years of prototypes sewn on their\u00a0kitchen table,\u00a0the Ollyball\u00a0is now a finalist for Toy of the Year.<\/p>\n

“One of the best surprises was seeing a parent in Austria post a video on Instagram,” Burke said, “His son was kicking the Ollyball in their house and performing seated soccer juggling indoors. Shortly afterward, they ordered two more Ollyballs.” The Ollyball has also been very popular with Scouts; hundreds have been sold as prizes for BSA events. Ellen Burke, VICTURY’s customer experience director, said, “We are honored to be a finalist. We love what The Toy Association stands for, especially how they support charities through bringing joy to kids and parents.\u201d Ellen sewed the original prototypes on their kitchen table and is an instructor in special education.<\/p>\n

The Ollyball was a ball designed for full-speed, full-force indoor play. The ball weighs less than an ounce, absorbs shock through patented KrunchCOR\u00ae construction and is re-inflatable. Ollyball also has\u00a0imaginative cartoons, based on a\u00a0book<\/a>written by Joseph Burke, that can\u00a0be colored in with crayons. (Ages 1+ MSRP: $14.99)<\/p>\n

With all purchases of the Ollyball at\u00a0ollyball.com<\/a>, VICTURY Sports will make a donation to U.S. TOPSoccer, a community-based program for young athletes with physical or mental disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A family who dared to play ball in the house is now a finalist at the ‘Oscars of the Toy Industry’ IRVINE, Calif.,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[24,157,5,7],"tags":[303,302],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/4a54c85870f4f6d3105a263e6712.png?fit=1200%2C645","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12531,"url":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2019\/02\/06\/female-action-figures-by-iamelemental-inspire-childhood-literacy-at-toy-fair-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":11112,"position":0},"title":"Female Action Figures by IAmElemental Inspire Childhood Literacy at Toy Fair 2019","author":"DiRT","date":"February 6, 2019","format":"image","excerpt":"Toy Startup That Reinvented the Female Superhero Offers Children's Books, Promotes Literacy in Partnership With \"United Through Reading\" NEW YORK,\u00a0Feb. 6, 2019\u00a0\/PRNewswire\/ --\u00a0Pioneering toy startup\u00a0IAmElemental, creator of the first female action figures designed specifically for children, will exhibit its groundbreaking products at the North American International Toy Fair,\u00a0February 16-19, 2019\u00a0in\u00a0New\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "That New Toy Smell"","block_context":{"text":"That New Toy Smell","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/category\/tnts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IAmElemental_Characters.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IAmElemental_Characters.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IAmElemental_Characters.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IAmElemental_Characters.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IAmElemental_Characters.jpg?fit=1200%2C876&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13412,"url":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2019\/02\/16\/ollyball-wins-a-toy-of-the-year-at-toty-awards\/","url_meta":{"origin":11112,"position":1},"title":"Ollyball Wins a ‘Toy of the Year’ at TOTY Awards","author":"DiRT","date":"February 16, 2019","format":"image","excerpt":"Parents who dared to \"play ball in the house\" recognized as rookie of the year. NEW YORK, February 16, 2019 (Newswire.com) -\u00a0The\u00a0Ollyball, made by VICTURY Sports, was awarded a \u201cToy of the Year\u201d at the 19th annual\u00a0Toy Association\u00a0Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, in the Rookie of the Year category.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "That New Toy Smell"","block_context":{"text":"That New Toy Smell","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/category\/tnts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/d1e7cf37e3cc796461239f565f95.jpg?fit=1157%2C897&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/d1e7cf37e3cc796461239f565f95.jpg?fit=1157%2C897&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/d1e7cf37e3cc796461239f565f95.jpg?fit=1157%2C897&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/d1e7cf37e3cc796461239f565f95.jpg?fit=1157%2C897&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/d1e7cf37e3cc796461239f565f95.jpg?fit=1157%2C897&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14518,"url":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2019\/02\/19\/top-toy-trends-of-2019-announced-at-toy-fair-new-york\/","url_meta":{"origin":11112,"position":2},"title":"Top Toy Trends of 2019 Announced at Toy Fair New York","author":"DiRT","date":"February 19, 2019","format":"image","excerpt":"Unboxing 2.0, Compound Crazy, Throwback Toys, Foodie Fun, Inspirational & Aspirational Play, and Explosive Entertainment Named Biggest Trends of the Year NEW YORK,\u00a0Feb. 19, 2019\u00a0\/PRNewswire\/ --\u00a0New ways to explore the unboxing craze, compounds including slime, putty, and sand that foster creative play, and toys that prepare and inspire children for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "That New Toy Smell"","block_context":{"text":"That New Toy Smell","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/category\/tnts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Toy_Fair_Logo.jpg?fit=983%2C627&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Toy_Fair_Logo.jpg?fit=983%2C627&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Toy_Fair_Logo.jpg?fit=983%2C627&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Toy_Fair_Logo.jpg?fit=983%2C627&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20310,"url":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2020\/04\/15\/that-new-toy-smell-episode-15-the-rock-lords-complete\/","url_meta":{"origin":11112,"position":3},"title":"That New Toy Smell Episode 15 – The Rock Lords! COMPLETE!","author":"DiRT","date":"April 15, 2020","format":"video","excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7AvDFgxwMWE It's the first of our \"new\" format of long play episodes! Watch as Killen and Pixel Dan discuss some of the latest news (of the time), then Pixel Dan's Rock Lords Review, and finally Killen and Dan play with the toys and discuss them. https:\/\/teespring.com\/stores\/pop-culture-network","rel":"","context":"In "Nerd News Desk"","block_context":{"text":"Nerd News Desk","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/category\/nerd-news-desk\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/vlcsnap-2020-04-15-10h04m01s020.png?fit=640%2C358&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/vlcsnap-2020-04-15-10h04m01s020.png?fit=640%2C358&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/vlcsnap-2020-04-15-10h04m01s020.png?fit=640%2C358&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13426,"url":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2019\/02\/16\/spin-master-wins-two-prestigious-2019-toy-of-the-year-awards\/","url_meta":{"origin":11112,"position":4},"title":"Spin Master Wins Two Prestigious 2019 Toy of the Year Awards","author":"DiRT","date":"February 16, 2019","format":"image","excerpt":"TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2019 \/CNW\/ - Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY; www.spinmaster.com), a leading global children's entertainment company, received two Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, hosted by The Toy Association at the 2019 North American International Toy Fair. Bringing home the esteemed awards are PAW Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "That New Toy Smell"","block_context":{"text":"That New Toy Smell","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/category\/tnts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Spin_Master_Spin_Master_Wins_Two_Prestigious_2019_Toy_of_the_Yea-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Spin_Master_Spin_Master_Wins_Two_Prestigious_2019_Toy_of_the_Yea-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Spin_Master_Spin_Master_Wins_Two_Prestigious_2019_Toy_of_the_Yea-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Spin_Master_Spin_Master_Wins_Two_Prestigious_2019_Toy_of_the_Yea-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Spin_Master_Spin_Master_Wins_Two_Prestigious_2019_Toy_of_the_Yea-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10830,"url":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/2018\/12\/12\/heroclix-marvel-strike-teams-now-available\/","url_meta":{"origin":11112,"position":5},"title":"Heroclix Marvel Strike Teams Now Available","author":"DiRT","date":"December 12, 2018","format":"image","excerpt":"Will You Save the World or Conquer It? Make Your Choice in Marvel Strike Teams & Marvel Strike Teams: Avengers Initiative\u2014Available Now! \u00a0 Hillside, NJ \u2013 December 12, 2018 \u2013\u00a0WizKids is thrilled to announce that\u00a0Marvel Strike Teams,\u00a0its newest Heroclix strategy game set in the iconic Marvel Universe, and its expansion,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "I Need Comics"","block_context":{"text":"I Need Comics","link":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/category\/i-need-comics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/unnamed-6.jpg?fit=1160%2C300&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/unnamed-6.jpg?fit=1160%2C300&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/unnamed-6.jpg?fit=1160%2C300&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/unnamed-6.jpg?fit=1160%2C300&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/unnamed-6.jpg?fit=1160%2C300&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11112"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11112"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11114,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11112\/revisions\/11114"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/popculturenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}