Issuu

ASBA 2026 Technical Meeting News

Pickleball Now a High School Championship Sport

Manufacturers’ Sales Provide a Crystal Ball View for ASBA Members

Build It Right

Summer 2026, Issue 17 sportsbuilders.org

Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

The American Sports Builders Association, a non-profit trade association comprised of builders, designers and suppliers for sports facilities, exists to promote the highest standards of design, construction and maintenance.

ASBA Chair Megan Buczynski, PE, LEED AP

ASBA Executive Director

Fred Stringfellow, CAE | fred@stringfellowgroup.net

Editor

Mary Helen Sprecher | maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org

2331 Rock Spring Road Forest Hill, MD 21050 Tel: 443-640-1042 Fax: 443-640-1031 Email: info@sportsbuilders.org

Build It Right is a publication of the American Sports Builders Association © 2026. All Rights Reserved. For more information or to order additional copies, contact the ASBA headquarters office. Unless otherwise noted, all images are copyright ASBA and their respective owners. Unless otherwise noted, all articles are copyright ASBA. Direct requests for reprint to the ASBA headquarters office. The American Sports Builders Association prints Build It Right to provide its members and other interested parties in the sports design, construction and supply profession with a forum for the discussion of topics of interest to the entire industry. The ideas and opinions expressed in Build It Right are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the view, positions or policies of ASBA, its members, its board of directors, officers or staff. ASBA is not responsible for any claims made in any advertisements, and does not endorse any manufacturer, supplier or vendor. ASBA does not warrant the performance of any member or member employee or subcontractor. Some images and content art © Adobe Stock Images, Pixabay, Unsplash and Pexels

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

HEADLINE NEWS

6 6

Coming Soon: Updated Pickleball Manual ASTM Standards Are Important to ASBA Members

INDUSTRY VIEWS

8 An Interview with Gretchen Miron, Director of Education and External Engagement, NCAA

MEETING NEWS

TRENDING TOPICS

MEMBER NEWSLINE

NEW MEMBERS & CERTIFIED BUILDERS

Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Meg Buczynski, PE, LEED AP

After all, who doesn’t love a win? Our ASBA members sure do! We are looking forward to celebrating many wins at the Technical Meeting in December with our Facility Award winners. Thank you to all who took the time to nominate your projects and to our judges who work very hard to review the project and confirm the submissions meet our industry goal to Build It Right. Dear ASBA Community: GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! As I write this, the FIFA World Cup is in full swing, finishing up Group Play and moving into the Round of 32. I imagine many of our members have been actively involved in preparation of the World Cup stadiums and practice facilities. Congratulations to everyone who has been involved. Seeing the passion that sport brings to our communities (at large and small stages) reminds me why I love what I do. It has been exciting to watch the World Cup preparation and to think about the next major world-stage athletics event in the US: the LA Olympics. We are so fortunate to see two major international athletic hosting opportunities in such a short period. I’m excited to know it will be keeping our membership busy. Speaking of busy, as you read this, we are reaching the end of the summer slam. Finishing up work in preparation for fall play is always an adventure and I wish everyone luck on finishing up and meeting those deadlines. I hope as your projects reach completion there is a collective shout of GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL to celebrate those wins!

I’d like to take a moment to thank many of our industry partners including the USTA, NRPA, STC and SFMA and wish them well in their upcoming fall events. There is an incredible amount of overlap in our partnerships and bolstering opportunities to support each other keeps this industry strong. I encourage our members to look for new opportunities for learning and networking within these organizations if you have not before!

HAS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGED? Need to update your address? Have you changed your e-mail or website? Is there a new employee you’d like to list? Please help ASBA keep its records updated by letting us know! This is the information that we will be using for ASBA’s Online Membership Directory – please make sure we have the most updated and accurate information. To update any information, please contact info@sportsbuilders.org.

I wish everyone a wonderful end of the summer and look forward to seeing sports being played on your completed projects! ★ Warmly,

Meg Buczynski, PE, LEED AP

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HEADLINE NEWS Coming Soon: Updated Pickleball Manual The 2026 edition of ASBA’s publication, Pickleball Courts: Construction & Maintenance Manual, is expected to be published this fall. This manual, one of ASBA’s most popular, is written by a joint editorial board that includes representatives of both ASBA and USA Pickleball. What is new in this edition? More attention to the following subjects: • Sound/Noise Attenuation • Technology • Tournament Sites • Portable Surfaces

• Wheelchair/Adaptive • Playing Line Tolerances The format of the publication will follow those of previous editions, including the following chapters: • The Sport of Pickleball • Planning Your Outdoor Pickleball Court or Facility • Building Pickleball Courts • Adaptive/Wheelchair Pickleball • Fencing • Lighting • Pickleball Court Accessories & Amenities • Indoor Pickleball Courts

• Care & Maintenance • Appendices • Glossary The cost of the publication will be $39.95. Watch your inbox for information on the availability of the new issue of the manual! ★

ASTM Standards Are Important to ASBA Members By Ed Norton, RLA, ASLA, LEED-AP, HNP, LLC And Alex Levitsky, PE, Global Sports & Tennis Design Group, LLC

This is part of a multi-issue series on the ASTM standards development process. To view previous articles, visit the Build It Right Magazine archive at www.sportsbuilders.org/builditright One exceptional aspect of ASTM standards is the transparent and thorough approval process that each proposed standard must complete before it is published. Before an ASTM Standard is finalized, it must go through a rigorous process. Subcommittee: Once a standard has the consensus of the task group, it moves to the subcommittee for the voting process to begin. Through subcommittee chair approval or by a voting majority at a subcommittee meeting, the standard is placed on a ballot at the subcommittee level. ASTM posts the ballot for a minimum of 30 days.

A total of 60 percent of the official voting members must return ballots before the ballot can close. Members vote in the affirmative or negative, or they may vote to abstain. Two-thirds of combined affirmative and negative votes are required for the vote to be official; abstentions do not count. Main Committee: Ballot items for a Main Committee/Society Review vote include a cover letter explaining the rationale for the proposed action and a tally of the subcommittee ballot results. The ballot item submittal also includes the name and affiliation of all negative voters, the statements accompanying negative votes and the disposition of all negative votes citing reasons. Concurrent Ballot (sub and main committee) can be posted for minor revisions, or for new standards and major revisions

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that have undergone at least one subcommittee ballot. Committee on Standards (COS). After successful completion, the results of the ballot are submitted to the Committee on Standards for review of the process. Past negative voters are given the last opportunity to appeal. Once the nine COS members have unanimously determined that the action on each negative vote has met the procedural requirements of the Society, the standard is approved for publication. Negative Votes: The most powerful tool in the voting process is the negative vote which stops the process until resolved. Although comments can be included with affirmative and abstention votes, commentary and/or explanations are required for the negative vote. There are six resolutions to a subcommittee

HEADLINE NEWS and main committee negative vote: • Persuasive: If a negative vote is found to be persuasive, the item is withdrawn from ballot for further work and deliberation. • Withdrawn: A negative voter may be satisfied when provided with additional information or clarification. • Withdrawn with Editorial Change(s): If editorial changes are involved, they should be incorporated into the revision. • Previously Considered: A negative vote is submitted for the same reason as one previously considered by the committee having jurisdiction.

• Not Related: The subcommittee may find that the technical comments submitted do not relate to the balloted item. For a negative vote found to be “Not Related,” the subcommittee treats it as an item of new business. • Not Persuasive: If the subcommittee does not agree with the technical statement of a negative voter, Not-Persuasive dispositions require the following: ♦ Rationale – specifying the reason for finding the negative vote “Not Persuasive”

♦ Affirmative vote – 2/3 or more of the combined affirmative/ negative votes cast ★ Ed Norton and Alex Levitsky are the ASBA delegates to ASTM International and members of the ASBA ASTM Advisory Council. For more information about the ASBA ASTM Advisory Council, visit www.sportsbuilders.org/volunteer.

♦ Motion and second – for finding the negative vote “Not Persuasive”

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INDUSTRY VIEWS An Interview with Gretchen Miron, Director of Education and External Engagement, NCAA Industry Views is a regular column in Build It Right, featuring an interview with an industry partner. Have a suggestion for someone to interview? E-mail our editor at maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org. American Sports Builders Association: Recently, NCAA held its first women’s wrestling championship, and now flag football is headed that way. That’s a lot of growth. Gretchen Miron: It’s a great time for women’s sports in general. Look at the four sports that are still in the Emerging Sports for Women list: Equestrian, rugby, triathlon and — currently — flag football. They’re all Olympic sports and obviously, women’s wrestling, which started out as an Emerging Sport, is as well. American Sports Builders Association: Why do you think flag football has become so popular at the college level? Gretchen Miron: It’s no secret that people in this country love football and while tackle and flag are different, women can now see themselves represented in the sport. Colleges have also had an easy time implementing flag football because they don’t have to buy a ton of expensive equipment to host it — they might have to play Tetris with their fields a little to make sure they can schedule everything, but that’s it. The balls are a little different and you need belts and flags and of course, players need shoes or cleats. The barriers to entry are very low. Sport leaders have also done a great job of offering grant programs. NFL clubs are getting involved and promoting flag as well. Something else that is really important is the fact that colleges and universities are able to use flag football to help bring in more students. Often, you’ll see high school students who have been on the fence about attending college. Knowing a school has the sport you want to play can help you make that decision. 8

Students who already know they want to go to college and who want to play their sport on campus are also finding they have more choices. They might have been thinking about maybe five schools originally because they knew those schools offered their sport but when they start doing research, they learn there are now 10 or even 20 schools with teams. Suddenly, they have a lot more opportunities than before. American Sports Builders Association: Are students coming just from other flag programs at the high school level, or have they played other sports? Gretchen Miron: That’s the really intriguing thing. You’re seeing women come in from a variety of sports. In fact, that’s also happening in some other women’s sports that recently became championships. For example, students who were involved in sideline cheer in high school are now moving on to college and joining programs there in acrobatics & tumbling, as well as STUNT, where they are able to use their existing skills. American Sports Builders Association: What other emerging sports are on the cusp of becoming championships? Gretchen Miron: Triathlon is still listed as an Emerging Sport for Women for now but it is very, very close. The big benchmark for every emerging sport is meeting the requirement that 40 schools must sponsor that sport as a varsity program. American Sports Builders Association: Are you getting calls about adding other sports to the Emerging Sport list — like pickleball? Gretchen Miron: We do see participation numbers at the club level continuing to increase but the biggest hurdle for many

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people is the assumption that a club program is the same as a varsity sport; it’s definitely not. Plus, the Emerging Sport program is for women’s sports only, while many college clubs are co-ed. That’s not to say that club sports aren’t great; many students really enjoy them and get a lot out of them. And we do get reach-outs every year from national governing bodies and plenty of others; we have an inquiry form and we’re always happy to schedule a call to discuss them. American Sports Builders Association: What do you look at when you’re evaluating a potential Emerging Sport? Gretchen Miron: We definitely look at the high school database to see what participation is like. If we see spikes in participation, that is a good indicator. American Sports Builders Association: What is the NCAA most proud of when it comes to the Emerging Sport program? Gretchen Miron: The program has been very successful; in fact, more than 30 percent of our current sports have been created through this program. ★

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Bringing Together the Sports Design and Construction Community The ASBA Technical Meeting & Trade Show will be held at the JW Marriott/Tampa Marriott Water Street in Tampa, Florida from December 1-4, 2026. Professionals in the sports design and construction industry worldwide will gather for learning, networking and business development.

SESSION LIST

All session/event names & times are subject to change

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 7:15 AM Golf Tournament - TPC Tampa Bay (Optional Activity/Additional Cost) Sponsored by: Liberty Tire Recycling 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM Sporting Clays Outing - FishHawk (Optional Activity/Additional Cost) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Board of Directors Meeting 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM General Registration 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Exhibit Hall Set-Up 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM PTI Session: Design/Construction/ Maintenance of PT Concrete Courts (Optional Activity/Additional Cost) 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Tennis/Pickleball Tournaments - Life Time (Optional Activity/Additional Cost) Sponsored by: Riteway, LLC 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Academy Lunch 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 2026 Academy Quarter 4 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Women’s Networking Reception 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Receptions for New Members and First Time Attendees • Courts Division • Fields Division • Tracks Division • Indoor Sports Surfaces Division • Professionals Division 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM General Registration 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast in Exhibit Hall 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM Division Meetings/Awards/Certificates 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Concurrent Sessions 1: • Courts: Reinforced Concrete: Pitfalls and Protocols for Success (Intermediate) • Tracks: Track Surfacing Systems 101 (Beginner) • Fields: Natural Grass Fields, An Overview of Construction and Maintenance (Beginner) • Indoor Sports Surfaces: Best Practices for Annual Maintenance Recoating (Advanced) • General: Employment Issues (Retention, Hiring, Relations) 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch in Exhibit Hall 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Concurrent Sessions 2: • Courts: General Court Maintenance (Intermediate) • Tracks: Advanced Track Construction Part 1: Throw Events (Intermediate) • Fields: Evolving Field Base Detention & Retention Systems (Advanced) • Indoor Sports Surfaces: Surface Preparation, Procedures and Solutions for Indoor Sports Surfaces (Advanced) • General: Project Management, Documentation, Intro Geotechnical Reports Panel (Beginner) 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Concurrent Sessions 3:

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• Courts: Indoor Court Maintenance (Advanced) • Tracks: Advanced Track Construction Part 2: Jump Events (Intermediate) • Fields: TGL Case Study • Indoor Sports Surfaces: Evaluating the Key Performance Factors for Indoor Sports Surfaces (Intermediate) • General: Mechanical Stabilization of Subgrade Soils (Intermediate) 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Concurrent Sessions 4: • Courts: Funding the Build: Navigating the USTA & Public Grants Program for Tennis Construction • Tracks: Track Event Layout (Intermediate) • Fields: Designing and Building Pitching Mounds to Meet Regulations (Intermediate) • Indoor Sports Surfaces: Best Practices for Installing Graphics on Indoor Sport Surfaces (Intermediate) • General: Economic Session 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Networking Reception in Exhibit Hall FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM General Registration 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Breakfast in Exhibit Hall 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Exhibit Hall Breakdown 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM Concurrent Sessions 5: • Courts: Roundtable Discussion • Tracks: Timing Infrastructure for Track and Field Venues (Intermediate) • Fields: New Buffalo Football Stadium Construction Case Study

• Indoor Sports Surfaces: Various Equipment and Tools in Sports Floor Installation (Advanced) • General: AI Session 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Concurrent Sessions 6: • Courts: Concrete Task Force Results (Advanced) • Tracks: Polyurethane vs. Waterborne (Advanced) • Fields: Utilizing Emerging Technologies to Enhance Sports Field Construction (Intermediate) • Indoor Sports Surfaces: Best Practices for Installation of Floor Sleeves, Covers and Portable Basketball Anchors (Beginner/ Intermediate) • General: Indoor Facilities from Recreation to Competition (Beginner) 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Concurrent Sessions 7: • Courts: Box Store Build Out: Indoor Facility Retrofit (to include pickleball & padel) • Tracks: Site Prep & Scheduling Panel (Beginner) • Fields: Sustainability and Recycling Options for Synthetic Turf (Intermediate) • Indoor Sports Surfaces: Understanding Acoustical Challenges and Solutions within Indoor Sports Floors (Intermediate) 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM CTCB/CTB/CFB Happy Hours (open to Certified Builders only) Professionals Happy Hour (open to Professional members only) 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Board of Directors Meeting 6:00 PM Closing Reception 6:30 PM Closing Dinner/Awards

PTI Seminar – Design, Construction and Maintenance of Post-Tensioned Concrete Courts The Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI) Seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2 starting at noon and concluding at 4 p.m. at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. This seminar presents design, construction and maintenance recommendations for post-tensioned concrete courts based on the PTI DC10.3-20: Design, Construction and Maintenance of Post-Tensioned Concrete Courts publication. This seminar is intended for individuals involved in the design and construction of post-tensioned concrete courts or anyone interested in learning about post-tensioned concrete courts. Highlights include general considerations, design requirements, detailing considerations, construction best practices, sample specification provisions and discussion on how to estimate tendon elongations. Covered Topics: • Introduction to PT Fundamentals, Systems and Applications • Design Recommendations • Detailing • Construction • Tendon Stressing • Tendon Finishing • Jobsite Troubleshooting • Project Maintenance • Landscaping Note: This is an optional activity available at additional charge and preregistration is required. Attendees will receive a hard copy of PTI DC10.3-20: Design, Construction and Maintenance of Post-Tensioned Concrete Courts as the text. PDF Certificate will be issued in approximately 2 weeks to those who successfully complete the seminar.

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HOTEL KEYCARDS

Want Inside Knowledge? Check Out These Gym Floor Workshops For those who want to learn the skills needed to get a job in the indoor wood sports surfacing industry… For those who want to upskill their workers… For those who want to make sure they’re current on the latest techniques… ASBA is offering two workshops solely dedicated to Indoor Wood Sports Surfacing; both will be based out of the Ohio Floor Company’s headquarters in Holmesville, Ohio: Basics of Gym Floor Sanding & Repair Workshop Held from November 2-5, this four-day intensive workshop covers everything from starting a sanding job to floor repair and coating. Instruction is delivered in both hands-on court settings and structured classroom sessions for maximum retention.

and will include an in-depth learning session about line layouts, staining, logo painting and ongoing floor maintenance. Groups rotate between court and classroom so every participant gets full immersion in each topic. These workshops will serve a greater purpose as well. The very floor attendees will be working on will serve as the court for an annual Special Olympics Basketball Tournament hosted by The Ohio Floor Company. Those who participate in the workshop will not just build their skills but will be contributing to a floor that will be enjoyed on an ongoing basis. Full information on registration, hotel locations and more can be found on ASBA’s website at sportsbuilders.org/ WoodGymFloorWorkshops. ★

Basics of Gym Floor Painting & Finishing Workshop A second four-day workshop will be held from November 9-12

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FEATURED ARTICLES Pickleball Now a High School Championship Sport By Mary Helen Sprecher

being sanctioned as a championship sport; however, preliminary indications are that should it be adopted, it would be played in the fall, much like Kentucky. (The rationale: To keep courts from becoming too congested.) The sport has been on the radar of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as well; in 2023, Dr. Karissa Niehoff, then the executive director, in speaking about emerging sports, noted, “Oh, heads up: Here comes pickleball. It is obviously taking the country by storm nationwide. Our office gets more calls every week about how to convert courts for pickleball. I fully expect we will be seeing youth pickleball programs.”

While it’s an accepted fact that pickleball is skewing younger and younger (even Gen Z participation is growing), this summer has brought a wake-up call about just how young the newest players are.

Additionally, Niehoff noted, “The neat thing about [pickleball] is that it is affordable, it’s good for those who want to be competitive, as well as for those who just want to have fun, and it’s fairly healthy on the body. Plus, you have pro athletes

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Board of Control has voted to add pickleball as an officially sanctioned fall championship sport beginning with the 2027-28 school year. According to one news report, in a survey that weighs the addition of new sports, nearly half of respondents and a third of the KHSAA’s membership expressed interest in the sanctioning of pickleball. Of the 214 survey-question respondents, 102 (close to 50 percent) voted “yes” for a state pickleball tournament. Florida has also considered adding pickleball, though it has not done so yet. According to sources, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) recently conducted an interest survey of state schools. Out of 547 schools that responded, 166 (roughly 30 percent) expressed direct interest in the FHSAA officially sanctioning pickleball. According to FHSAA’s executive director, pickleball is still several years out from 14

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like Patrick Mahomes and LeBron James getting involved.” At this point, pickleball remains a niche sport at the high school level; in the 20242025 NFHS High School Participation Survey, only three states fielded pickleball teams. Expect that to change. USA Pickleball offers co-ed singles and doubles events for youth ages 12 and under, 13-14 and 15-16, stoking the competitive fire early. Additionally, with the college club scene ramping up, it’s obvious the younger markets will continue to be part of a strong feeder system. Another growth sector for pickleball is the Special Olympics market, where the sport is played in singles, traditional doubles, unified doubles and skill challenges. Additionally, there are state and regional championships in many areas. ★

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Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

FEATURED ARTICLES Manufacturers’ Sales Provide a Crystal Ball View for ASBA Members

By Mary Helen Sprecher

Read between the lines of the newest research from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and you’ll see where the sports economy is booming — and by extension, the places where ASBA’s members are likely to see a demand for design, construction and products. That’s the takeaway from the Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report, now available for purchase from SFIA. The annual report tracks U.S. wholesale sales across sporting goods equipment, athletic footwear, sports apparel and licensed merchandise, providing a comprehensive view of the industry’s health and trajectory. According to SFIA, “Since 2020, wholesale sales have grown 34.7%, underscoring sustained post-pandemic momentum as Americans continue to prioritize physical activity.” The sporting goods industry reached a new milestone in 2025, with wholesale sales totaling $130 billion. This represents a 3.7% year-over-year increase, as cost pressures and evolving trade and tariff policies continue to impact the industry. Here are a few key takeaways as they relate to ASBA members: The Courts Division Should Know... • Pickleball is Booming: Pickleball wholesale sales hit $409.7 million in 2025, a 22% year-over-year surge — by far the fastest-growing category tracked.

2020). Because that latter category is broken out separately from “Protective” (helmets, pads, etc.), it could signify sales of items used in flag football, like flags and belts. • Soccer Showing Growth: Soccer as a category increased by 4.2% since 2024, and by 22.2% since 2020. Expect more increases as a result of the FIFA World Cup. • Lacrosse is Strong: Sales of soccer equipment increased by 20.2% since 2020, and more than 5% since 2024. The Indoor Sports Surfaces Division Should See… • Volleyball Equipment Also Trended Up: Volleyball sales grew by more than 5% between 2024 and 2025 and are up by more than 40% since 2020. • Basketball Backboard Sales Grew: Backboards alone showed growth of 47.5% since 2025, accounting for $321.4 million in sales in 2025 alone. • Fitness Equipment Growth Heralds Heavy Usage of Indoor Facilities: Institutional fitness equipment saw broad-based growth, reflecting continued investment in gyms, health clubs and commercial facilities. In fact, between 2020 and 2025, sales of equipment grew by almost 50%. The Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report has far more insights, distilled by individual years and categories. To purchase the report, visit SFIA’s website at sfia.org and click on the tab that reads “Research.” ★

• Tennis Continued its Success Story: Racquet sales hit $287 million in 2025. That is a 5% jump since 2024 and a whopping 27.5% rise between 2020 and 2025. Tennis ball sales were also up as well. The Fields Division Should Celebrate… • Baseball and Softball Made Big Gains: Overall, sales of baseball and softball equipment (including balls, bats, gloves and more) have risen by 65.7% since 2020. • And Look at Football: While overall, football sales as a category were strong, it’s essential to look at two subsets of that category: Balls (where sales were up by 47.4% since 2020) and Other/Accessories (an increase of 36.1% since

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ASBA? As part of our continuing effort to promote ASBA as an industry resource in sports construction issues, ASBA has had/will have a presence at the following events.

SEPTEMBER - US Open Tennis Championships/USTA ASBA will be represented at the USTA/NRPA Parks Partner Summit in New York, and the USTA Contractors Summit on September 2; both held in conjunction with the US Open. National Recreation & Parks Association ASBA will have a presence as an exhibitor at this year’s NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 29 and 30. Stop by ASBA’s booth to say hello. DECEMBER - ASBA Technical Meeting ASBA’s members, leadership and staff will gather in Tampa, Florida for ASBA’s Technical Meeting and Tradeshow December 1 through 4. ASBA IN PRINT Where are ASBA’s Technical Articles Appearing? ASBA publishes technical articles in a variety of publications across all divisions, using quotes from its members. Would you like to receive questions for an upcoming article? Contact technical writer, Mary Helen Sprecher, at maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org. The following articles have been published recently or will be published soon: • • • • • • •

Coach & AD: “Maintenance Made Easy,” Summer 2026 SportsField Management: “Field Safety and Security,” June 2026 SportsField Management: “Sports & Social Leagues and their Impact on Municipal Fields,” July 2026 PRB+: “Dog Parks on the Rise,” July 2026 PRB+: “Adaptive and Inclusive Sports: All Together Now,” August 2026 PRB+: “Irrigation and Drainage: Not a Cut-and-Dried Subject,” September 2026 NRPA Parks & Rec: “Padel is Coming. Are You Ready?” July 2026 ★

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PLAYING BY THE RULES ASBA periodically recounts rule changes that may affect the way facilities are constructed, marked or appointed (including equipment that is either experimental, recommended or mandatory). Rule changes affecting athletes (uniforms, sportsmanship, transfer, NIL issues, etc.) or the game itself (what constitutes a foul, etc.) are not covered here. Information presented here is only reviewed briefly; full information can be gained through the governing bodies mentioned.

NFHS: Girls’ Gymnastics While the competition area itself does not change, the following rules related to matting have undergone changes and therefore, may impact suppliers of materials to gymnastics events. Rules approved that addressed risk minimization include 3-1-2e, which allows the use of a softer foam skill cushion during both warm-ups and competition; and 8-1-2g, which requires the dismount landing area on the balance beam to be padded. The new language in 8-1-2g states that the “balance beam dismount area, on both ends of the beam, must include a minimum of 4 feet by 4 feet of padding extending out from both sides of the dismount matting between the end of the matting under the beam and the dismount matting. To prevent this matting from slipping, it shall be taped to the floor. The matting may consist of panel mats, carpet-bonded foam or similar materials.” An alternate skill cushion may be used during warm-ups; however, it may only be used during competition on bars for release elements and must be immediately removed. ★

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TRENDING TOPICS ASBA keeps an eye on subjects that are getting attention and that may affect those at the sports facility level. Here are a few of those.

California Environmental Report Validates Synthetic Turf Safety California’s Office of Environmental Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a report stating that recycled tires used as crumb rubber in synthetic turf are unlikely to cause cancer or other health problems for those who play on these fields. OEHHA investigated 35 synthetic turf fields across California by collecting data on their individual environmental conditions and conducting “non-targeted analyses” to identify the different kinds of chemicals that are present in crumb rubber. The study also measured the potential exposure of the synthetic turf field users to these chemicals, conducted time/activity studies to obtain data on their typical contact with the crumb rubber and refined models previously used to assess potential exposure and health risks. NFHS: Girls’ Wrestling Just Outside Top 10 Sports Recently, the NFHS noted that among all girls’ sports, wrestling is the 12th most popular. Ten years ago, 11,496 girls were involved in high school wrestling – many competing on boys teams; as of the 2024-2025 school year, there were 74,064 participants in girls’ wrestling at 8,100 schools. And one decade ago, five states had separate girls’ wrestling championships; today 40 states offer girls’ wrestling championships.

Field of Dreams Movie Site Now a Tournament Destination Major League Baseball plays there. Collegiate teams play there. High school tournaments play there. Youth teams (baseball and softball) even play there. The Field of Dreams movie site, located in Dyersville, Iowa, offers players the chance to run out of the cornfields and onto the playing area.

Sustainable Sport Index Benchmarking Report Has Insights on Sustainability A total of 70 professional and collegiate sports venues across North America participated in the Sustainable Sport survey produced by APTIM. The survey gauged sustainability priorities. Among those participating were clubs from the NFL, FIFA and MLB.

The facility has two diamonds. Visitors can walk around, or even play catch on, the original field used in the 1989 movie, while nearby, a modern stadium (seating up to 8,000 spectators) hosts competitive events.

Key insights from this year’s report include:

College Brings March Madness Floor Back to Campus The University of Iowa Athletics Department was so happy with the court its teams played on at the NCAA Houston Regional, they purchased it and had it installed as the new playing surface at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The new floor has been renamed the Mediacom Court. According to the school, the flooring from the previous court will be used to create memorabilia. The new floor has a good history for the school; on it, the Hawkeye men’s team reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987, before falling to Illinois. Iowa’s women’s program hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament this season, before falling to Virginia in double overtime in the second round.

Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

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80% of participants use native plants in outdoor landscaped areas

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70% of participants have a public or private waste reduction goal

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32% of participants are tracking GHG emissions

Copies of the report are free and can be downloaded from APTIM at www.aptim.com under the tab reading “Services.” ★

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MEMBER NEWSLINE Want your company featured in Member Newsline? Please send information to ASBA using the form available on our website at sportsbuilders.org/builditright. You’ll find it on the Build It Right Magazine page under the News tab that is located on the top right-hand corner of the home page. All member news must be submitted through this portal. ASBA reserves the right to edit all information submitted. Activitas: Gansler Recognized as a 2026 ACE Mentor of the Year Activitas’ project manager and civil lead, Holly Ganser, PE, has been recognized as one of the 2026 ACE Mentors of the Year for her exceptional leadership, dedication and significant impact on local students through the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston. The national ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor Program is an award-winning, after-school initiative designed to engage and inspire high school students to pursue careers in the design and construction industry. Over the past decade, Holly has been instrumental in executing this mission locally. As a long-standing Civil Engineering Discipline Lead and the affiliate’s Student Coordinator, she has continually improved the program as a dedicated mentor and organizer. ★

and redsport outdoor 87MPH courts, engineered to withstand demanding outdoor conditions. ★

America Sports Construction Offering a Charity Raffle for a Free Pickleball Court America Sports Construction is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish to help grant life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses. America Sports Construction is providing additional incentive to donate: By using a special link on America Sports Construction’s website, partners, customers and communities can donate to Make-A-Wish and be entered to win a new pickleball court. Each $100 donation results in an entry in the raffle. More information is available on America Sports Construction’s website.★

AFP Courts Celebrates 20 Years of redsport High-Tech Padel Courts AFP Courts participated in the 2026 Padel World Summit in Barcelona, one of the leading international events for the global padel industry. A highlight of this year’s event was the celebration of redsport’s 20th anniversary. In the United States, AFP Courts continues to contribute to the development of padel infrastructure through projects such as LA Padel Club in Los Angeles, California. The club features seven adidas 26

Bakko Backboards Helps Camp Rebuild Following Flooding Almost a year after the devastating floods in central Texas last 4th of July that took 139 lives, (117 in Kerr County alone), many organizations, neighbors, communities and business came together to help rebuild. Many camps are located in Kerr County and were impacted by the flooding. Bakko Backboards along with builder member CourTex Construction donated services and a 10x20 Professional Flat Series to Camp La Junta.

Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

Bakko Backboard could not be prouder and honored to give back to its regional “backyard” and to the great State of Texas. ★

Build My Courts Announces Completion of Community Basketball Court Briarhills HOA has completed a new outdoor basketball court, adding a recreational amenity for residents within the community. The project was constructed by Build My Courts and is now open for use. The court features a multi-goal layout, professional court striping and a durable athletic surface designed for outdoor play. Located within a community green space, the facility provides a dedicated area for basketball, fitness and informal recreation. The basketball court expands the recreational opportunities available within Briarhills and provides an additional location for outdoor activity and community interaction. The court is now available for use by Briarhills residents and their guests. ★

CEI Sports Department Continues National Expansion CEI Engineering Associates’ Sports Facilities Department is excited to announce continued growth across the country with the addition of key team members and a new regional office.

The department recently welcomed Trina Busch in Arizona and Jay Garner in Missouri, expanding CEI’s ability to serve clients in important and growing markets. In addition, CEI has established a new office in the Boston area, further strengthening its national presence and providing enhanced support for clients throughout the Northeast. ★

CHA Earns Engineering Award in Georgia CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) earned a Merit Award at the 2026 ACEC Georgia Engineering Excellence Awards for the L. Scott Stell Park Improvements, recognized in the Special Projects (Recreational Facilities) category. The engineering honor highlights the project team’s creativity, technical excellence and the lasting value the revitalized park brings to the Chatham County, Georgia, community. The park now features new tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, each covered by sleek open-air canopies, known as airnasiums, that provide shade, reduce sun glare and enhance comfort throughout the day.

streamlined experience for customers and its California team relocated into a brandnew 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Ontario, California, a major step forward in the company’s capacity to serve the West Coast market. The company also operates a manufacturing facility in Cumming, Georgia, ensuring strong coverage for clients across the East. ★

CourTex Announces Placement on Inc. 5000 List for Four Years Straight In recent years, CourTex Construction, Inc. has seen significant expansion, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 list for four consecutive years. This momentum fueled the 2024 launch of Evergreen Courts, serving Colorado and surrounding states and the 2025 launch of Carolina CourTex in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In total, more than 140,000 pounds of track materials were removed and reclaimed. Part of these reclaimed materials were then processed for the L.A. Metro walkway project, providing beautiful walking surfaces that were cost-neutral with minimal environmental impact. ★

Empire Netting & Fence Completes Work at Sprowls Horizon Sports Park Empire Netting & Fence recently partnered with Sports Facilities Companies to help bring the new Sprowls Horizon Sports Park to life in Pinellas Park, Florida. Spanning 40 acres, the state-of-the-art complex features six baseball and softball fields, a multi-purpose field, central plaza, playground and rebuilt outdoor hockey rink. Empire supplied and installed custom inline netting systems, Fielder’s Choice dugouts, Fusion Wall systems and a Green Monster-inspired batter’s eye in left field. Each field carries its own unique theme, creating an exciting atmosphere for athletes and visitors throughout the facility.

A major driver of CourTex’s success is its expertise as a post-tension specialist. The company delivers performance tennis, pickleball, basketball, padel and multi-use courts. ★

Located near the Gulf Coast, the project required careful planning to address coastal conditions and the effects of sea spray, ensuring long-term performance and durability. ★

Ecore Meets Sustainability Challenge to Create New Walkways Ecore reclaimed the track at Palisades Charter High School, which had been severely damaged by the 2025 wildfires, and extended the life of the material by processing the undamaged rubber and incorporating it into L.A. Metro walkways installed by California-based surfacing company, SpectraTurf.

Gill Athletics, UGA Celebrate New Track and Field Facility Gill Athletics and University of Georgia recently opened one of the top new track and field facilities in the country.

Ecore partnered with Palisades Charter High School to implement its TRUcircularity takeback and recycling program as an alternative to landfill disposal.

Dedicated in February 2026, the 37-acre venue is home to the Bulldogs’ track and field programs and hosts major championship events. The facility has already

CHA reconfigured the orientation of all courts, including four regulation-size tennis courts, 10 pickleball courts and four full-size basketball courts. ★

Collins Company Reflects on Milestone Year After celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, Collins Company made 2025 a milestone year in its own right: the company unveiled a redesigned website offering a

The University of Georgia Track and Field Complex is a state-of-the-art, $59.8 million facility located in Athens, Georgia, across from the soccer and softball complexes.

Continued on page 28

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hosted the Georgia High School State Championships and is set to host the SEC Championships in 2027. To outfit this world-class facility, UGA chose Gill’s top-of-the-line equipment seen annually at all NCAA Track and Field National Championships including AGX PV/HJ Pits and Standards, Continuum Hurdles and Fusion F10 Starting Blocks. ★

covered complex includes lighting and overhead fans to support extended use regardless of daylight or weather conditions. Beyond planning and schematic design, HNP provided detailed construction documents for court layout, surfacing, fencing, netting and landscaping. The project features innovative court construction using MAPEI’s Mapecrete system beneath the playing surface in place of asphalt. The fiber-reinforced concrete was incorporated to help minimize cracking and improve long-term durability. All courts are finished with MAPEI Mapecoat TNS Finish 3 [NA], a flexible acrylic topcoat certified by the International Tennis Federation for performance and playability. ★

Goodspeed RedClay Pro Courts Added to Palmetto Tennis Center Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina, has added eight Goodspeed RedClay pro courts at the Philip L. Edwards Tennis Complex. The public facility, which also includes 24 hard courts and four pickleball courts, celebrated the complex’s grand opening with a ribbon-cutting. Designed to provide an authentic clay court experience with less routine maintenance than traditional clay, RedClay pro uses a water-permeable system that supports fast drainage and playability after rain. Integrated permanent lines help reduce daily court preparation, while the surface is engineered for predictable ball bounce, comfortable sliding and force reduction for player comfort. The installation brings an international-standard clay court option to a public facility and expands clay court access for players throughout the region. ★

Keeper Goals Completes Sports Equipment and Safety Installation in Richfield Keeper Goals recently completed a comprehensive sports equipment and safety installation at Fieldhouse 262, a new indoor athletic facility in Richfield, Wisconsin. The project included custom solutions designed to support multiple sports while maximizing player safety and facility flexibility. The installation featured two custom indoor soccer goals, an indoor tension batting cage, protective ceiling and perimeter netting, a custom furnace protection cage, a walk-draw gym divider net, protective pole padding and a door panel netting system that provides convenient access to protected training areas. The facility can safely accommodate baseball, softball, soccer and other athletic training programs within a shared indoor environment. ★

HNP Landscape Architecture Helps Bring Premier Pickleball Complex to Dothan HNP Landscape Architecture collaborated with CDFL Architects + Engineers and the City of Dothan on the master planning, schematic design and construction documentation for a new pickleball complex at Rip Hewes Athletic Complex. Designed for year-round play, the fully 28

Nationwide Sports Construction Introduces Executive Leadership Team As part of its continued growth, Nation-

Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

wide Sports Construction (NSC) has established two executive leadership roles: Jasmin Santiago, MSOM, as Chief Growth Officer and David Kern as Chief Preconstruction Officer. Santiago brings 14 years of experience spanning engineering, operations and business development and leads the company’s marketing, business development and growth strategy, including expansion into the public bid and cooperative purchasing markets. Kern brings 22 years of construction industry experience and leads estimating, constructability review and early-stage project planning through the company’s Preconstruction Department. In total, the executive leadership team supports more than 90 professionals delivering turf, civil and concrete construction services for athletic facilities nationwide. ★

Line Design’s Jon Renner (Semi) Retires, On Your Mark Striping Takes Over Jon Renner of Line Design, Inc., one of the premier track striping contractors in the western United States, has officially passed the torch to Leif and Vikki Skulborstad of Court Repair Services, Inc. dba On Your Mark Striping, based in Castle Rock, Colorado. Leif founded Court Repair Services in 1998 and Vikki successfully ran the company until Leif retired from the fire service in 2025 and joined full time. Together, they bring decades of experience in athletic surface repair, positioning the company for a strong and energized next chapter. Since the transition, On Your Mark has strategically expanded its crews and strengthened its training programs to better meet the evolving needs of the industry. The company remains committed to the precision, reliability and craftsmanship Jon is known for — now with greater capacity and responsiveness. Jon will remain involved with On Your Mark as Director of Training, while continuing to independently provide services including track certification, colored exchange zone layout and other specialty

layout and verification services through his company, Line Design, Inc. ★

expands and more facilities invest in bringing the sport to their members and communities. ★

enhance the athlete and spectator experience while helping facilities maximize the use of their venues. ★

Total Sport Solutions Brings Olympic-Standard Hardwood to Shoot 360 in Ontario Total Sport Solutions (TSS) has supplied and installed Junckers hardwood flooring at Shoot 360’s first Ontario (Canada) location in Oakville, the second-largest Shoot 360 facility in North America, featuring two full courts and 11 AI-driven training stations.

Warner Larson Announces Merger with IMEG Boston-based Warner Larson, a leading landscape architecture firm specializing in community-focused and sustainable site design, has joined IMEG, a national full-service engineering firm.

OSPORTS Celebrates USF Unveiling of Tennis Complex in Tampa The University of South Florida has opened a new on-campus tennis court complex in Tampa, Florida, delivering a major upgrade to its athletic facilities and creating a modern home for the university’s men’s and women’s tennis programs. Completed in February 2026, the facility features 12 competition courts, including six championship courts, enhanced spectator seating, expanded parking and upgraded support amenities. OSPORTS served as Architect of Record and Sports Field Designer for the project. The new complex incorporates advanced features designed to elevate both athlete performance and fan experience, including a 13-foot x 23-foot LED videoboard, integrated scoreboards at each court, a facility-wide sound system, Musco LED lighting for night play and a permanent PlaySight broadcasting system.

The Junckers Clip System meets FIBA standards for ball bounce, shock absorption and traction and is the preferred flooring across Shoot 360’s more than 50 US locations.

Developed as part of USF’s long-term athletic master plan, the complex replaces a previous site that lacked comparable lighting, broadcasting infrastructure and fan amenities. ★

Each court has three sets of three-point lines covering high school, FIBA and NBA specifications, a precision requirement as demanding as any technical challenge TSS has taken on. ★

Sportsfield Specialties Announces Major Padel Milestone Sportsfield Specialties has announced a major milestone: The successful manufacturing and installation of 100 Sportsfield padel courts nationwide.

Unlimited Sports Solutions Introduces New Shade and Lighting Solutions Unlimited Sports Solutions (USS), a leading provider of athletic facility products and solutions, has introduced two new products designed to improve safety and performance at sports venues: Game Day Shade and Solar Lighting.

This is a significant achievement and reflects the increasing demand for padel courts. Since entering the market in 2023 as the first “Made in America” padel court manufacturer, Sportsfield has witnessed padel evolve from an emerging sport into a rapidly growing movement within the racquet sports industry. Looking ahead, Sportsfield expects continued growth as awareness of padel

This merger strengthens IMEG’s landscape architecture expertise to support existing and new clients nationally. ★

Game Day Shade provides portable sideline protection for athletes, coaches and staff during competitions. USS Solar Lighting offers reliable off-grid illumination for athletic facilities, parking areas and other outdoor spaces Both products reflect USS’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that

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ASBA MEMBERS New Members & Certified Builders

New Members Builder

• Advantage Tennis Courts • All in 1 Courts Construction LLC • Magnolia Fence & Patio • Monument Construction • Net Connection • Scott Equipment and Surfacing • Shore Top Construction Corp • Stewart Environmental Construction, Inc. • Superior Turf & Landscape Inc. • Total Sport Solutions Inc. • Your Court, LLC • Zafir Court & Daughters LLC

Professional

• CEI • Centerbrook Architects and Planners

New Certified Builders Professional Continued... • EPT Commercial • Ford Engineering Services • PBR Hawaii & Associates • Van Cleef Engineering • WithersRavenel

Provisional

• Premier Court Builders, LLC

Supplier

• COPO Sports • Encore Sports Systems • Fortune Sport Limited • Rally Master Backboards • Redexim North America • Sports Unified Europe Lda • VIVATURF

Call: 1-888-887-7373

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Build it Right | Summer 2026, Issue 17

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