The countdown is over. School’s finally out for the summer! Everywhere students (and teachers, too) are enjoying a well deserved rest from academics. Summer break is a chance to travel, play sports, and visit family. The unwritten rule of Summer is this: do not go back to the school building until it is required. Students might imagine their school is a vacant in the Summer— a quiet place where nothing much happens until they return in the Fall. But, facility staff know the truth. In fact, while students were counting the days until break, facility managers were counting the days until they ..read more

In a “win or go home” situation, a coach might tell the team, “Leave everything on the court!” In other words, give 100%, so you won’t regret the outcome. Exhaust all your effort. It’s not easy for an athlete to answer that call. Although it may seem counterintuitive, “leaving everything on the court” has a lot to do with the support available off the court. When a coach makes that plea for extra effort, athletes need to know that the staff, the school, and even the facility have their back. With a good support system, they can be more comfortable pushing their competitive limits. Facil ..read more

Today, everyone is vying for our attention. As a result, we are inundated with content. As our attention spans keep getting shorter, complex information is condensed, so we can keep up without missing out. But, a 30-second soundbite is problematic, mainly because the context of any subject is still important. Without adequate context, misconceptions can take hold. For example, it’s important to know the full story behind all sports flooring properties, not just one. The flooring property that gets the most attention is shock absorption (aka force reduction), but to make a good decision ..read more

Imagine you are in charge of a recreation department. For some readers, that may not require much imagination. What would your goals be? Most people would include the following: Facilities that are not empty or idle. Community engagement from all ages, skills, and interests. Activities that promote health, relationships, and friendly competition. When you acknowledge these common goals, it becomes clear why pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US. Pickleball naturally fits all the objectives of recreation facilities. It’s competitive, physically challenging, and ap ..read more

Would you wear a pair of roller skates instead of ice skates to a hockey game? Before you dismiss the idea as ridiculous, think about some similarities between roller skates and ice skates. Obviously, they are both footwear. They even have a similar appearance, and might even be made of the same material. However, the difference in functionality makes the idea of using roller skates on ice absurd, and frankly, dangerous. Of course, roller skates do not work on ice. Similarly, non-sports floors, like carpet or VCT, will not work in gymnasiums. Alarmingly, this mistake is made with gym&nb ..read more

The Earth, as we know it, is at risk. It might sound alarmist to say it, but it’s true. If we wait for others to take action on our behalf, it might be too late for our environment. We all have individual roles to play. As an architect and construction professional, you have the opportunity to literally build a more sustainable future. By considering some key factors in flooring specifications, you can align our built environment with the dire needs of our natural one. Here are some important elements of environment friendly sports flooring: Recycled Materials: Flooring with a higher pe ..read more

There is a boxing adage that goes: “everyone has a plan, until they get punched.” This saying illustrates what athletes and their coaches know well: a game plan isn’t proven until it works in a real game. Of course, that doesn’t mean planning is useless. Having a plan is essential, but until that plan meets a real world scenario, it’s just a theory. When choosing a floor for weight rooms and fitness areas, make sure that floor works in theory and in practice. Rubber weight room floors are designed with these properties in mind: Impact Resistance: The floor should absorb the impact of dropped ..read more

When building or renovating a gymnasium, it’s fun to dream about what it will look like when finished, how comfortable it will be, and what sort of activities and sports it will host. But after you settle on the colors, logo graphics, and materials, you arrive at the more difficult question: what will it all cost? The true cost of gym flooring is more complex than a number on a material invoice. That’s why understanding the less obvious costs is essential to making good decisions. Here are three basic considerations that offer important context when evaluating sports flooring cost: The init ..read more

As the 2023-24 school year kicks off around the country, think about your idea of the ideal education. Should students become specialists who excel in one discipline at the expense of others? Or, should they be generalists, with broad knowledge and capabilities? The answer depends on the circumstances and the student. So what does this debate about educational philosophy have to do with flooring? Well, sports floors can be either a specialist or a generalist, and like education goals, the right floor depends on the circumstances. For instance, maple hardwoods are great for competitive b ..read more

A church fellowship hall or recreational space is one of the most challenging spaces to design. Why is it difficult? It’s the extensive checklist. The expectations for just a church recreation floor go something like this: A church recreational floor should… Have a warm and inviting look, preferably wood grain. Be designed for sports and recreation, which means adequate shock absorption and ball rebound, plus optimal surface friction and vertical deformation. Handle tables and chairs for meetings, meals, and events. Not show dirt, because it’s cleaned by volunteers who might miss a day or t ..read more