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Build It Right - Fall 2023, Issue 6

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Shortage of Pickleball Courts Becoming a Nationwide Concern

Lining Sports Facilities for Athletes with Color-Blindness

An Olympic Esports Games? It’s a Possibility (and Could Mean More Indoor Facilities)

Build It Right

Fall 2023, Issue 6 sportsbuilders.org

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Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6


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 Chairman David Clapp, CTB, CTCB

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 © 2023. 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 CHAIRMAN

7

HEADLINE NEWS

7

9 10

12

INDUSTRY VIEWS

15

PLAYING BY THE RULES

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MEETING NEWS

18

FEATURES

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20 22

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NFHS: High School Sports Participation Roared Back in 2022-2023 New Pickleball Manual Available NOW ASB Foundation Announces Inaugural Board Members An Interview with Tom Cove, President and CEO of the Sports and Fitness Industry Association

ASBA Technical Meeting: Schedule of Sessions

Shortage of Pickleball Courts Becoming a Nationwide Concern Lining Sports Facilities for Athletes with Color-Blindness An Olympic Esports Games? It’s a Possibility (and Could Mean More Indoor Facilities)

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ASBA?

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TRENDING TOPICS

27

MEMBER NEWSLINE

30

NEW MEMBERS & CERTIFIED BUILDERS

Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6


LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN David Clapp, CTB, CTCB

One case of COVID. Two Winter Meetings (Sonoma and Cancun). Two summer board meetings (Asheville and Boston). Two Technical Meetings (Palm Desert and Houston). Eight chairman columns for the ASBA magazine. Countless phone calls and conference calls. This would be one way for me to measure my stint as chairman over the past two years. But another way would perhaps be to see how ASBA has grown in its technical content and educational offerings. That, after all, is the mission of ASBA. 2022 saw increased attendance at our Technical Meeting over 2021. Currently, 2023 is outpacing 2022 in registration so there’s certainly an argument that the ASBA’s resources, tools and educational offerings are meeting an increasing need in our industry, so that is something to be proud of. Too, ASBA has just started a new educational track called the ASBA Academy. It is specifically tailored to the new or recently new person in the industry who wants a basic education in a particular discipline, be it courts, tracks or fields. It is a fantastic opportunity with limited space for this first incoming class so I hope you might consider this opportunity for the new person in your company to obtain some knowledge and meet some people who are in a similar situation. Registration at the 2024 Technical Meeting is included in the Academy fee, making it a bargain. So, yes, our educational offerings and growth are also something I could point to as a measuring stick.

But when it comes down to the real “raison d’etre’’ of ASBA for me, it has always been and continues to be the relationships and friendships I have made in this association that I believe meet the most important need for me. From the new people in the industry I’ve met over the past two years as chairman, to the former and current board members with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working and deliberating the issues germane to ASBA, to my peers with whom I have grown up together in ASBA, to the old timers in the industry who continue to make an impact on the construction world, as well as those former great members who have gone on before us. I am indebted to each and every one of you.

Thank you to all the hard workers in the association, whether board members who champion committees or non-board members who champion committees or task forces. Our association could not exist without you. And, it goes without saying, the hard work that SMG does behind the scenes on behalf of ASBA could hardly be overstated. Thank you for allowing me to be your chairman these past two years. ★ Sincerely,

David Clapp David Clapp, CTB, CTCB

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Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6


HEADLINE NEWS

NFHS: High School Sports Participation Roared Back in 2022-2023 Mary Helen Sprecher

Want some great news? More high school students are participating in sports, which means more demand for equipment and facilities nationwide. Participation in high school sports programs eclipsed 7.8 million in the 2022-23 school year, reflecting a sharp increase from the previous year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which completed its High School Athletics Participation Survey for a second time after the pandemic interrupted its collection of data. A total of 7,857,969 participants competed in high school sports in 2022-23, an increase of nearly 240,000 and up more than three percent from 2021-22 totals. The total includes 4,529,789 boys and 3,328,180 girls. This year’s total marks the first upward movement in participation data since the all-time record of 7,980,886 in 2017-18, which was followed by the first decline in 30 years in 2018-19 and the two-year halt in data collection related to the pandemic. Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS chief executive officer, was thrilled with the uptick, noting, “Perhaps the most encouraging news with this year’s survey is that most every sport for boys and girls registered an increase from the previous year.” Here are some of the key points of the report: •

The top 10 sports remained the same for both boys and girls, with boys tennis leapfrogging boys golf as the eighth-most popular sport, and girls basketball and girls competitive spirit each moving up a spot on the girls side.

•

On the boys side, eight of the top ten sports registered increases in participation, while nine of the top ten sports on the girls side added participants.

•

Boys wrestling jumped 10 percent, adding nearly 25,000 participants, to more than 256,000 – the largest total since 258,208 in 2014-15.

•

The increase in girls wrestling was even larger with 17,473 additional participants – a massive 55-percent increase from 2021-22 – to reach a record total of 49,127. Just 10 years ago, there were fewer than 10,000 girls in high school wrestling. In addition, 36 states now offer separate state wrestling championships for girls.

•

Eleven-player football remained the most popular boys sport with the total climbing back over one million participants. The total of 1,028,761 participants marks an increase of 54,969 and 5.6 percent from the previous year. Not only did 11-player football top the one million mark, but this year’s increase also was the first in the sport since 2013 and only the second increase since the all-time high of 1,112,303 in 2008-09. There also was a slight gain (34,935 to 35,301) in the number of boys in 6-, 8- and 9-player football.

•

The number of girls playing football – particularly flag football – continued to climb as well. A total of 20,875 girls

Continues on page 8...

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HEADLINE NEWS

NFHS: High School Sports Participation Roared Back in 2022-2023, continued participated in flag football in 2022-23 – an increase of 32 percent. Seven states now sponsor a state championship in girls flag and more are in the planning stages. The number of girls in 11-player football increased 18 percent with 3,654 participants. •

On the girls side, outdoor track and field (+6.5%) and volleyball (+3.6%) remained in the top two spots, while basketball reclaimed the third position from soccer, jumping 3.5 percent and adding 12,896 participants. In addition, girls competitive spirit added 9,142 participants, an increase of 6.5 percent.

•

This year’s survey also captured esports participation data for the first time with 20,001 boys and 3,921 girls recorded. Eighteen states reported esports participation, with Illinois and California leading the way, each with more than 3,000 participants.

The full report can be accessed at www.nfhs.org. ★

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Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6


HEADLINE NEWS New Pickleball Manual Available NOW Mary Helen Sprecher Without a doubt, it’s ASBA’s best-selling manual, which speaks to the popularity of pickleball. And those who want to keep up with the latest developments, including dimensions, lighting and even the placement of safety padding and AEDs, now have a chance to do so. This is the third edition of Pickleball Courts: Construction & Maintenance Manual and supersedes other issues. Available in both hard copy and PDF, the book costs $39.95, and is the product of input from both ASBA and USA Pickleball. An editorial board comprised of representatives from both organizations worked on this book, including performing in-depth reviews of all documents and diagrams, as well as making sure all information was consistent with the most current design and construction standards. Chapters include: • • • • • • • • • • •

The Sport of Pickleball (The Pickleball Court) Planning Your Outdoor Pickleball Court or Facility (including budgeting, safety, surface selection, choosing a contractor, retrofitting old athletic courts for pickleball, etc.) Building Pickleball Courts (including site grading, types of construction and various surfacing systems) Adaptive/Wheelchair Pickleball Fencing (height, clearances, etc.) Lighting (including quality and quantity of light, lighting problems, etc.), recommended illumination, types of lighting, wiring, poles, indoor lighting, renovating for LED systems, etc.) Pickleball Court Accessories and Amenities (nets, windscreens, etc.) Indoor Pickleball Courts (surfacing, spectator seating, etc.) Care and Maintenance (including repair and preventive maintenance) Appendices (including how to establish pickleball court playing lines) Sources of Information (reference books, governing bodies, trade associations, professional organizations and groups representing design professionals)

Pickleball Courts Construction & Maintenance Manual 2023

In short, the book is everything ASBA members need – and everything they should be recommending to their clients who want to know more about adding pickleball courts. (As always, ASBA wants the public to avoid getting information from the Internet, as it could be inaccurate, and could result in substandard construction.) To order the new book, go to ASBA’s website, sportsbuilders.org, and using the dark blue toolbar at the top, mouse over to “Resources” (on the far right-hand side). A drop-down menu will appear, including the option for “Publications;” click there to be taken to ASBA’s page where the book can be ordered. …And Don’t Forget to Order the New Courts & Rec Book! If you have not done so yet, make sure you order ASBA’s other new publication, Courts & Recreational Surfaces: Construction and Maintenance Manual. It covers sports facilities from bocce to cornhole, from beach volleyball to basketball, and from para sports to playgrounds. The publication includes dozens of new diagrams, a comprehensive section on indoor facilities and plenty of information on what’s new, what’s trending and what’s in demand at all levels: private, municipal and educational. As with ASBA’s other publications, this book is available in both hard copy and PDF format. The cost is $59.95 per copy, and it can be ordered from the website as mentioned above. ★

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HEADLINE NEWS ASB Foundation Announces Inaugural Board Members Mary Helen Sprecher In our last issue, the ASBA announced the establishment of the American Sports Builders Foundation (ASBF), which has a two-fold mission: • To coordinate and fund the construction and renovation of sports facilities, providing safe and accessible places for youth and adults to enjoy sports; • To support the next generation of leaders in the sports design and construction industry by providing scholarships for students engaged in industry-related studies and programs. The ASBF has taken the first step toward fulfilling its mission with the announcement of its inaugural Board of Directors. They are as follows: • • • • • • •

Meg Buczynski, PE LEED AP (Activitas Inc.) David Burke (NGI Sports) Kirk Grego, CFB (Mid-America Sports Construction) David Moxley (Sportsfield Specialties, Inc.) Paul Nagle, CTB (AstroTurf Corporation) Sam Titchener, CFB (Colony Landscape & Maintenance) Jon Wright, CTCB (Court One)

One focus of the Foundation is to fund and coordinate the building and renovation of sports facilities in communities that lack adequate resources to pay for them. These facilities can include courts, running tracks, sports fields, indoor gym facilities and more. At the 2023 Technical Meeting & Trade Show, there will be an official opening of the nominations process to help identify projects in need; the chosen facility will be announced at the following year’s Technical Meeting. Members may nominate facilities through an online form. The Foundation Board will research potential facilities in the Technical Meeting host city and will vote to select the facility to be supported. Don’t miss all the developments at the Technical Meeting and keep an eye out for announcements of other programs being offered by ASBF, including how you/your company can help support the mission. ★

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 Jordan Langeheine at jordan@sportsbuilders.org.

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Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6


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INDUSTRY VIEWS

An Interview with Tom Cove President and CEO of the Sports and Fitness Industry Association

Industry Views is a regular column in Build It Right, featuring an interview with an industry partner whose work is helping to drive evolution. Have a suggestion for someone to interview? E-mail our editor at maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org. If you want to know what is coming up in the sports industry, you can’t do better than to ask the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the trade association for more than 700 sporting goods and fitness brands, as well as manufacturers, retailers, governing bodies and sports leagues.

Tom Cove: Team sports and fitness facilities were hurt the most. By 2022, everything had started to rise again but some sectors were still flat. I would say that facilities and the sports infrastructure as a whole are still healthy; if it weren’t for the interest rates, the demand would grow more. Inflation and the possibility of a recession could also be a drag on that. We do see the building side going back up; that’s because of pent-up demand, which influences the availability of resources. American Sports Builders Association: Do you think part of that is the participation in travel teams, which play on, and drive the need for, large complexes?

SFIA represents the industry that has over 3,000 business locations, plants and distribution centers, employs more than 375,000 people and generates $150 billion in domestic revenue wholesale sales. One part of SFIA’s work is studying and analyzing sports industry trends; as a result, its research has become highly sought after and is considered an excellent forecasting tool (in some cases, providing almost a crystal ball view of sports participation and changes). ASBA sat down with Tom Cove, executive director of SFIA, to get his input on some of the changes going on – and those we can expect to see as a result. American Sports Builders Association: The SFIA obviously tracked the drop in sports participation during the pandemic. What sectors suffered most, in terms of sports and sports facilities?

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Tom Cove: Travel team participation is very strong and that suggests continued growth. American Sports Builders Association: Outside of the demand you mentioned previously, what influences the need for more sports infrastructure? Tom Cove: States now have more money than they had, which is, of course, positive. There’s also more awareness of the need to invest in health and wellness in communities. American Sports Builders Association: Do you think schools are investing in updates to facilities to attract more athletes to sports and more spectators to games? Tom Cove: Yes, absolutely. For example, a lot of schools now want to upgrade their stadiums to include videoboards and

Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6

synthetic fields, as well as better bleachers and other safety features; there’s a lot of interest there. If the money is available, schools want to spend it. American Sports Builders Association: Lots of attention has been given to pickleball, and in fact, SFIA just released new data on it. What do you see happening in the future? Tom Cove: The demand for pickleball is everywhere and we are going to see more and more facilities being added nationwide. Communities, clubs and parks are building new courts or transitioning courts onto an area that isn’t getting as much use but it’s all good, and it all indicates the presence of a strong and growing sport. It’s also an indicator of how it affects the ebb and flow of other sports. American Sports Builders Association: A lot of HOAs are starting to add pickleball but are concerned about the noise level or the lighting. Tom Cove: Pickleball is a noisier sport than tennis but other sports can be noisy too. Basketballs make a noise when they are bounced too; I’d say it will take time, but the HOAs and the building industry will figure things out. At this point, HOAs are trying to figure out what they want; they do know that the one thing that can make a development successful is the presence of facilities, and the one thing


INDUSTRY VIEWS that can hinder its ability to attract people is the lack of facilities. American Sports Builders Association: Another trend we’re seeing is the rise of multi-purpose fields and facilities, particularly in schools; as society becomes increasingly landlocked, more spaces are being called upon to host more sports. Tom Cove: Lacrosse, soccer, football, Ultimate – an open field that can support different sports is going to be popular. Facilities need to be built into schools. In fact, that is one of our tenets: no school

should be built without phys-ed and sports facilities. We need to make sure we commit to those because every single person benefits from those investments. And when you open up facilities for community use, it’s a real game-changer.

to be way ahead of the game. People are more likely to invest in memberships in green facilities and more likely to participate in programming there, and they’re less likely not to do so if that’s not taken into consideration. ★

American Sports Builders Association: Have you noticed any other trends? Tom Cove: Green and sustainable sports events and facilities, as well as green space, are essential. People who design and build facilities need to emphasize sustainability; if they do, they are going

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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, 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.

NCAA: Football

Several rules became active in fall 2023; however, only one could affect field or stadium design, construction or amenities: Teams will have the optional use of instant replay in games that do not have an instant replay booth official. (This could cause inquiries regarding connectivity on the sidelines.)

NFHS: Baseball

One-way electronic communication devices are permissible from the dugout to the catcher while the team is on defense for the purpose of calling pitches.

NFHS: Basketball

Requires the shot clock operator to sit at the scorer’s and timer’s table, if using a shot clock.

Rationale: Establishes the placement of the shot clock operator for those states utilizing the shot clock and the growing use of video boards that allow tablet control from anywhere in the gym.

(NEW): Clarifies the indoor track and field exchange zone. Rationale: Offers guidance on the relay exchange zone for indoor track and field.

NFHS: Track & Field/Cross Country

(NEW): Creates a coaching zone defined by the libero replacement zone extending beyond the end line and sideline extended. Rationale: Defines and clarifies the area in which coaches may stand.★

(NEW): Removed and corrected information concerning track staggers. Rationale: Track staggers are dependent on the geometry of each individual track, and a competent surveyor should determine the lane staggers.

NFHS: Volleyball

(NEW): Re-organization of the cross country course layout. Rationale: Offers guidance on the relay exchange zone for indoor track and field.

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Where the Sports Design & Construction Industry Comes Together The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) Technical Meeting & Tradeshow will be held at the Marriott Marquis Houston in Houston, Texas this December 1-4, 2023. Members and guests of the sports design and construction industry from around the world will come together for learning, networking, and business development opportunities.

SESSIONS LIST

*AIA/ASLA CEU Eligible All session/event names & times are subject to change

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 *1A Courts: Post-Tension Concrete Regional Challenges

Speakers: Kevin Leach, CTCB, Altitude Athletic Surfaces, LLC; Harley Nethken, P.E., Tech-Con Systems, Inc.

*1B Track: Striping Panel

Speakers: Noel Gilstrap, Beynon Sports Surfaces, Inc.; Ryan Pierce, New England Track & Field Striping; Jon Renner, CTB, Line Design, Inc.; John Wettstein, CTB, Athletic Marking Company

*1C Fields: Irrigation – HDPE Update

2D General: Social Media and The Contractor

Speaker: Paul Nelson, Western Sport Floors

*Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Evolution Of Coatings (Best Practices/ Case Study) Speaker: John Prater, Praters Flooring

3A Courts: Court Construction Contract Review: How to Protect Yourself Through Use of the Correct Language Speaker: David Pettit, Esq., Flora Pettit PC

Speakers: Dean Chaltas, CMF Global; Erik Christiansen, EC Design; Chris Menno, CMF Global

3B Track: CTB Exam & Track Manual Review Part 2

1D General: Navigating Uncertainty

*3C Fields: Diamond Sport Field Update

Speaker: Bill Wooditch, Wooditch Enterprises

Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Why ASBA? Why Now?

Speakers: Joe Covington, Covington Flooring; Paul Nelson, Western Sport Floors; Randy Resley, Sport Court of the Rockies, LLC; Fred Stringfellow, American Sports Builders Association

*2A Courts: Control What You Can: Mitigating Asphalt Issues

Speakers: Spencer Garrett, Court Surface Specialists, Ltd.; Peter Spanos, P.E., CFM, LEED AP, Gale Associates, Inc.

2B Track: CTB Exam & Track Manual Review Part 1

Speaker: Sam Fisher, CTB, Fisher Tracks, Inc

*2C Fields: Sports Field Drainage Considerations

Speakers: Joe Martin, CFB-S, CTB, Paragon Sports Constructors, LLC; Michael Martin, RLA, Tempus Land Solutions

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Speaker: Sam Fisher, CTB, Fisher Tracks, Inc.

*Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Padded Polyurethane Sports Flooring – Pad N Por Speaker: Spencer Proud, Abacus Flooring

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 *5A Courts: Pickleball – What’s Changed and What’s New In 2023 Speakers: Alex Levitsky, P.E., Global Sports & Tennis Design Group, LLC; Carl Schmits, USA Pickleball Association

*5B Track: Track Safety Zones

Speaker: Chris Chisam, RLA, LEED AP, Tarkett Sports

*5C Fields: High Performance Sports Fields/Case Study at St. Louis FC

Speaker: Mike Boekholder, Boekholder & Associates, LLC

Speaker: Chris Franks, CFB, SCG Fields, LLC

*Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Performance Characteristics Of Sport Floors

Speaker: Chris Kuehl, Armada CI

Speaker: Paul Elliott, PhD, PE, CPSI, ASET Services, Inc.

5D General: Economic Session Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Project Management In Today’s World Speaker: Abby Mitchell, Ponder Company, Inc.

*4A Courts: Overlays

*6A Courts: Padel 101

*4B Track: Ground Penetrating Radar

*6B Track: Real World Track Repairs: Tips & Tricks

Speakers: David Burke, NGI Sports; Barrett Park, CTCB, AllSport America, Inc.

Speakers: Issam Khoury, PhD, PE, Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University; Paul Nagle, CTB

*4C Fields: ASTM And Sports Fields: What We Need To Know Speaker: Jeff Gentile, Firefly Sports Testing

4D General: Economic Session Speaker: Chris Kuehl, Armada CI

Build it Right | Fall 2023, Issue 6

Speakers: Whitney Kraft, All Racquet Sports; Eric Loftus, Cape and Island Tennis & Track

Speakers: Aaron Pankoke, CTB, Track Surfaces Company; J.R. Rockenfield, CTB, CTCB, McConnell & Associates Corp.

*6C Fields: Synthetic Turf Base Reuse Considerations Speakers: Paul Arcella, CFB, CSR Athletic Construction; Brad D’Agnillo, P.E., Sportworks Design; Sean Hufnagel, PLA. ASLA, HNP, LLC


*7C Fields: Design And Maintenance Considerations For Synthetic & Natural Baseball and Softball Fields

*6D General: Enhanced Asphalt Specifications

Speaker: Tim Murphy, PE, Murphy Pavement

*Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Environmental Conditions For Application Success (Problems/Causes/Cures) Speakers: Adam Taylor, CTB, Mondo USA, Inc.; William Thornton, Fieldturf Tarkett

*7A Courts: Surfacing Considerations For Concrete Speakers: Wesley Baum, Advanced Polymer Technology; Tom Magner, California Sports Surfaces; Jonathon Morton, MAPEI

Speakers: Vance Rzepka, VSR Design; Craig Shonk, CFB-S, Midwest Synthetic Turf Professionals

7D General: Managing Expectations And Dealing With General Contractors/ Owners Speakers: Kayleigh Hammond, Sportworks Design; John Schedler, CFB, CTB, Baraka Sport

Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Equipment and Maintenance

*7B Track: The Effects Of Weather On Polyurethane

Speakers: Christian Martinkat, STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc.; Darin Olofson, CTB, Fisher Tracks

DIAMOND STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc. PLATINUM Aer-Flo, Inc. Beacon Athletics MAPEI Corp. NGI Sports Sportsfield Specialties, Inc. GOLD California Sports Surfaces Douglas Sports GEZOLAN (KRAIBURG), LP Jaypro Sports, LLC Neyra Dynaflex NORDOT® Adhesives by Synthetic Surfaces Inc. RiteWay, LLC SMG Equipment SportMaster Sport Surfaces

Speakers: Jim Asciutto, City Floor Supply; Keith Atkins, City Floor Supply; Jerry Brainerd, Revolution Manufacturing, LLC; Eric Downing, Emack Manufacturing; Rob Zehnder, Lord of Wood LLC

*8A Courts: General Practices For Maintaining Clay Courts

Speakers: Tom Benz, CTCB, Oval Tennis, Inc.; Ed Montecalvo, Har-Tru Sports

*8B Track: Aging Behavior Of Running Track Surfaces Speakers: Jessica McManus, Michael Karpe, Gezolan (Kraiburg), LP

*8C Fields: Sports Fields Environmental Impacts

Speakers: Christian Huntress, Huntress Associates, Inc.; Phil Stricklen, PhD., Firefly Sports Testing

*Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit: Maple 101 Speaker: Todd Goodridge, Robbins Sport Surfaces

2023 Sponsor List SILVER Action Floor Systems Brock USA C&M Surfacing LLC (Pro-Cushion) Frasure Reps Sports Lighting LSI Industries No Apologies LLC dba. C&D Pickleball Nets Putterman Athletics

WIFI Advanced Polymer Technology, Corp.

BRONZE Advanced Polymer Technology, Corp. Berger - Seidle Consan USA INC. EPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions Genan Inc Hydraway Drainage Systems Kataskeves Dapedon LTD - KDF Musco Sports Lighting Nova Sports, USA PLS Logistics Services SportsEdge Tech-Con Systems, Inc. Unlimited Sports Solutions

GOLF TOURNAMENT Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC

PTI SEMINAR Tech-Con Systems, Inc. OPENING RECEPTION Tencate Turf Recycling Solutions

TENNIS/PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT NLS Lighting HOTEL KEYCARDS SportMaster Sport Surfaces AWARDS RECEPTION Consan USA INC.

For the complete schedule, list of sponsors and exhibitors, and additional details about the conference, visit: sportsbuilders.org/technicalmeeting Or scan the QR code! sportsbuilders.org

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FEATURED ARTICLES Shortage of Pickleball Courts Becoming a Nationwide Concern Mary Helen Sprecher Marstons Mills Pickleball and Tennis Facility

With courts going into clubs, backyards, homeowners’ associations and tournament complexes, there can be no doubt that we’re in the midst of a pickleball boom. The indicators for the future are good as well: More people are taking up the sport, players are getting younger (the Association of Pickleball Professionals says 70 percent of core pickleball players are between the ages of 18 and 44) and there are more leagues and competitions (at all levels of play) than ever before. The only obstruction to all this growth is the number of courts available to all those players. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association and Pickleheads (SFIA’s industry partner in research), there is a definite shortage of courts. How short? Significantly short. The SFIA/Pickleheads data shows that the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have only about one dedicated court per 1,000 participants. (A dedicated court means one that is not shared with another sport, like tennis, volleyball or basketball.) And as ASBA’s members will be glad to tell you, that’s not nearly enough. Many of America’s largest metropolitan cities are far behind the curve when it comes to pickleball courts, with New York and Los Angeles both 98 percent below the national average in terms of dedicated courts per 10,000 people. With over 70 percent of pickleball courts currently temporary in nature, there remains a large opportunity to build dedicated facilities, especially in America’s core metropolitan areas. Some areas have built pickleball courts in response to the demand. The Pacific area (with 1.5 million players) and Northeast region (1.4 million) had the second and third highest level of participation. The mountain region (defined by SFIA as Arizona, California and Utah), has the highest number of dedicated courts per 1,000 participants (4.6), over twice the national average. Pickleheads/SFIA estimates that more than $900 million will need to be invested in court construction in order to meet the current demand (and to keep up with the growth that indicators say is on the way). 18

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FEATURED ARTICLES Another problem is that, in the rush to install courts, communities are cutting corners. Some are simply lining tennis courts for pickleball too, setting the stage for conflicts between athletes in both sports. Some are putting down taped lines and installing temporary nets on gymnasium floors or in parking lots, which have to be used for other purposes later. In other cases, pickleball courts might be built, but no thought is given to increasing (or even creating) parking near the courts, adding restrooms or pathways to the courts, or even to addressing neighbors’ possible concerns about noise or lighting. An offshoot of the rush for growth is the problem of communities doing blind internet searches on dimensions, clearances and other aspects of facilities, as well as on builders or designers, meaning they could receive erroneous information or inquiries from unqualified builders, and that, as a result, they might build courts that endanger players. ASBA works to counteract these problems by putting articles into industry publications like Coach and Athletic Director, Parks & Rec Business, Interscholastic Athletic Administration, Common Ground, SportsField Management and Parks and Recreation. Articles in these magazines inform potential court owners and managers about the work that needs to be done on the back end of any project, before any shovels meet dirt. Articles in such publications establish ASBA as the definitive source for information, and provide links to the Association’s website, as well as information on its publications, specifically, the book, Pickleball Courts: Construction & Maintenance Manual. ★

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FEATURED ARTICLES Lining Sports Facilities for Athletes with Color-Blindness Mary Helen Sprecher Photo by Tim Chow on Unsplash

Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

Fact: Many advancements have been made in designing and building accessible sports facilities (particularly since the advent of the Americans with Disabilities Act). Another Fact: Athletes who suffer from color-blindness are still struggling. Fortunately, the governing bodies of sports are starting to recognize the problem and, in some cases, even trying to provide assistance. Color-blindness is largely misunderstood. Compounding the problem is an ongoing disagreement over whether color-blindness constitutes a disability. While many think of it as an inability to see color entirely (in other words, to literally view the world in shades of black and white, like an old movie), there are various types of color-blindness. According to the website of the National Eye Institute (a part of NIH), they are as follows: Red-Green Color Vision Deficiency As the name suggests, this makes it hard to tell the difference between red and green. There are four types of red-green color vision deficiency: • • •

Deuteranomaly is the most common type of red-green color vision deficiency. It makes certain shades of green look more red. This type is mild and doesn’t usually get in the way of normal activities. Protanomaly makes certain shades of red look more green and less bright. This type is mild and usually doesn’t get in the way of normal activities. Protanopia and Deuteranopia both make someone unable to tell the difference between red and green at all.

Blue-Yellow Color Vision Deficiency This less-common type of color vision deficiency makes it hard to tell the difference between several different color combinations. There are two types of blue-yellow color vision deficiency: • •

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Tritanomaly makes it hard to tell the difference between blue and green, and between yellow and red. Tritanopia makes someone unable to tell the difference between blue and green, purple and red, and yellow and pink. It also makes colors look less bright.

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Complete Color Vision Deficiency Those with this type of color-blindness (which is rare) cannot discern colors at all. This is also called monochromacy or achromatopsia. Another good development of the Information Age: It is possible to get examples of what images look like with various types of color blindness by using Google. (You can also test yourself to see if you have any of the previously mentioned forms of color-blindness by taking an online test.) Color-blindness in general is more prevalent in males than females; according to the British website, Colour Blind Awareness (CBA), approximately one in 12 males and one in 200 females are color-blind. In the USA, 13 million people are color-blind. (Trivia point: Many athletes, including NFL running back Christian McCaffrey and golfers Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, are color blind.) A chief concern for athletes is the fact that many fields are now lined for multiple sports; depending upon the individual athlete, those lines may look either identical or so similar as to be confusing. CBA notes, “Color-blind players, coaches and match officials have the most to lose where sports do not take their needs into account; yet they are the group which has been ignored the most to date. At the grassroots level, young children can be put off playing sports simply because they can’t easily tell uniforms apart or see equipment clearly, but for those players who are dedicated to a specific sport, who play at a high level and who want to make that their profession, or are already playing at elite level, being color-blind has the potential to cost them their professional careers. Fear of being treated differently is the reason most color-blind players who have been diagnosed tend to hide their condition.” Youth sports are starting to tackle the problem. USA Lacrosse notes, “Ball colors at the high school and youth level can be white, yellow, lime-green or orange for the boys’ game and yellow, lime-green or orange for the girl’s game. Lime green was added on the advice around color blindness for both games. Additionally, there is no restriction on the color of the lines on the fields as long as they are contrasting.” One of the most difficult parts of color-blindness is getting the public to realize it is a problem, and that goes for spectators as well as for players. The NFL, for example, got a wake-up call in 2015 when it instituted its “Color Rush” campaign, in which players on both teams wore colored jerseys. (Generally, an NFL game has one team in white and another team wearing its home color.) The game in question, played on a Thursday night by the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, had uniforms in red and green – a nightmare for many viewers and players who had some type of color blindness, and who could not tell (or could not tell easily) the difference between players’ uniforms (or between their helmets, since both teams wore white headgear). Frustrated viewers took to social media, taking no prisoners in letting the world know how they felt, even posting greyscale images that showed what the game looked like to them, so that individuals with full vision could understand the problem. In the meantime, those with color-blindness have continued to petition national officials for changes at the youth, college and professional levels, although it is still a tough battle to fight. The fact that turf now comes in a variety of colors, and that there are multiple lines on fields (and even on courts, which often are lined for traditional tennis, 30-foot and 60-foot courts, as well as pickleball) means such challenges can be expected to continue. The advent of so-called “color-blind glasses,” has gotten a great deal of press; however, ophthalmologists are quick to note that such glasses don’t actually correct or cure color-blindness. They can make it easier for people with some forms of color-blindness to tell colors apart, but depending upon the extent or type of color-blindness a person has, glasses may not have any effect. With more awareness being generated, and more national governing bodies weighing in, it is certain we have not seen the last of this issue. ★

Note regarding technical content of BUILD IT RIGHT: One of the most important advantages of ASBA’s new magazine will be its upgraded technical content. It is our goal to provide articles covering trends in sports facility design, construction and appointment. As always, we value your input on any issues you believe warrant coverage in this section. Please contact our editor, Mary Helen Sprecher, at maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org.

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FEATURED ARTICLES An Olympic Esports Games? It’s a Possibility (and Could Mean More Indoor Facilities) Mary Helen Sprecher While everyone has heard about the five sports to be showcased in Los Angeles in 2028, it is likely that a few might have missed some other news coming out of the IOC Session that recently wrapped up in Mumbai, and that news could have an impact on indoor sports facilities. IOC President Thomas Bach admitted the committee was studying the prospect of an Olympic Esports Games, to be held separately from the traditional Summer or Winter Games. The IOC has long delayed making any kind of decision on esports. Enthusiasts of gaming believed the IOC had simply ignored the issue until it became too big (and, in all likelihood too lucrative) to ignore. Additionally, the organization has long expressed a desire to grow its youthful fanbase, and esports is certainly going to play into that. The National Federation of State High School Associations noted that its sports participation survey for the 2022-2023 academic year captured esports data for the first time. At the collegiate level, the National Association for Collegiate Esports (NACE) is the governing body; NCAA has passed on studying the issue. But not all gamers are jumping up and down about the announcement. In years past, Bach has noted that if and when the IOC decides to endorse esports, it will be with the understanding that games included will be based on actual sports and would not include games based on violence. That leaves out some of the most popular titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite and League of Legends. ★

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ASBA? As part of its continuing effort to position itself as an industry resource in sports construction issues, ASBA regularly attends industry meetings. Some of those are the following.

OCTOBER - NRPA Annual Conference Executive Director Fred Stringfellow represented ASBA at the National Recreation & Park Association’s Annual Conference in Dallas, TX on October 10-12. OCTOBER - FSB Cologne Show ASBA staff and members represented ASBA at the FSB Show in Cologne Germany, October 24-27. DECEMBER - ASBA Technical Meeting and Tradeshow ASBA’s members, leadership and staff will gather at the Marriott Marquis Houston in Houston, TX for ASBA’s Technical Meeting and Tradeshow on December 1-4. ASBA’s first Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit will be held in conjunction with the Technical Meeting in Houston. JANUARY - Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Conference ASBA will participate at the SFMA Conference in Daytona, Beach, FL on January 22-25. FEBRUARY - ASBA Winter Meeting ASBA members, leadership and staff will gather in Puerto Rico, February 23-26 for the Board of Directors meeting and Winter meeting. Each division will meet in breakouts to discuss issues pertinent to their respective sports; and to develop presentation topics for the 2024 Technical Meeting. MARCH - RacquetX ASBA will participate at RacquetX in Miami, FL, March 24-26, a first-ever festival for operators of racquet sports facilities being held concurrently with the Miami Open Tennis Tournament. ★

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TRENDING TOPICS ASBA keeps an eye on subjects that are getting attention at the sports facility level. Here is a brief review of a few of those. Making Headlines on Fields: Robotic Line Markers Robotic field lining equipment has made big inroads into the industry. The GPS-controlled devices, which can line a field in a fraction of the time it would take to do the job by hand are also incredibly accurate, with one manufacturer claiming precision down to a 1-centimeter variation. The robots, which are being purchased by high schools, colleges and sports parks, are not always universally welcomed, however, with many claiming they will put field staff out of work. (Others say it simply allows staff members to be moved to other jobs while the robots do the onerous work more quickly.)

91,648 in attendance at a 2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg at Camp Nou.

synthetic surfaces, will convert to natural grass, and that such work will be done well in advance, so that the fields are established and ready to host matches.

Turf Conversion Questions Back in the News With the Women’s World Cup having wrapped up, the USA is now gearing up for the 2026 event. One of the questions already being raised has to do with the playing surface of fields. FIFA demands a natural grass field, (hybrid turf is acceptable too).

The big question, however, is whether they will be converted back once those games are done. (The debate over synthetic turf vs. natural grass flared up after Aaron Rogers’ season-ending Achilles tendon injury, despite the fact that NFL executive Jeff Miller stated that there were no statistical differences in injury data dating back to 2015 in terms of Achilles injuries suffered on natural grass compared to synthetic turf.)

It is expected that stadiums chosen to host, which currently have fields with

Sports Facilities in Demand in New Housing Developments According to various industry sources, developers who want to attract residents to newly constructed neighborhoods had better offer fitness amenities. And while weight and cardio equipment are considered standard, even more in demand are facilities like pickleball, interconnected trails and pathways (usually with fitness stations), half-court basketball, tennis, climbing walls and ninja-style obstacle courses. Putting greens are also gaining traction, as are bocce courts. How Big is Women’s College Volleyball? Big Enough to Break a World Record According to the NCAA, Nebraska and Omaha shattered the all-time record for DI women’s college volleyball attendance when 92,003 fans packed Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, home of the Cornhuskers football team (Note: Not the gym, the football stadium) on August 30. In fact, the regular season match (Another note: Not even a championship game, just a regular old game) officially broke the world record for attendance at any women’s sporting event, surpassing the 24

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TRENDING TOPICS Obstacle Racing Now a Part of Modern Pentathlon The equestrian component in the competitive sport of modern pentathlon has been replaced with obstacle racing. (It was not a decision that was accepted by everyone in the sport but the IOC made it clear to UIPM, the international governing body, that the sport would not appear in the Olympics again unless and until it

removed horseback riding; this followed animal cruelty concerns surrounding the most recent Summer Games.)

than an outdoor race with obstacles that include fire, electric wires and freezing water.

And while many automatically associate brands like Spartan and Tough Mudder with obstacle racing, the Olympic version will be more sanitized and less, well, muddy. Expect it to look more like an indoor ninja challenge over a matted surface

As a result of the change, indoor fitness facilities are expected to see increased demand not just for ninja-style courses but also for functional fitness programs like CrossFit. ★

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Think you know which one is LED? They both are. See the vast disparity in how different LED lighting performs. That’s Musco on your left.

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©2023 Musco Sports Lighting, LLC - ADASBA23-1


MEMBER NEWSLINE Want your company featured in Member News? 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. ASB GlassFloor Hosts FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup In July, Madrid witnessed a world premiere that will profoundly impact the sports world. During the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, starting from the quarterfinals, games were no longer played on traditional parquet flooring but on the ASB GlassFloor, a high-tech video sports floor made of glass. In conjunction with the specially developed application GlassCourt OS, the German company ASB GlassFloor demonstrated a new dimension in presenting a sports event. This new technology opens up opportunities for many sports to position themselves for the future, competing for Olympic relevance and the next generation of sports fans. Players, fans, and FIBA were thrilled with the experience. In September, FC Bayern Munich Basketball opened their Bundesliga season in Munich’s BMW Park on the ASB GlassFloor. For the first time an official first league match was played on a glass video sports floor, with NBA representatives attending. Establishing a glass floor as an equal playing surface alongside parquet is nothing short of a revolution. ★

CaliClay Basalt Surface Systems Announces New Project CaliClay Basalt Surface Systems has announced the completion of a project at Cedar Rock Country Club in Lenoir North Carolina. Four existing courts were converted to CaliClay with a concrete base. A local contractor in Charlotte performed the work. ★

Frasure Reps Supplies Lighting for RPSI Rivertown Pickleball of Southern Indiana (RPSI) recently debuted their new 10-court facility. The facility is located at Vann Road Park in Newburgh. The new courts have been over two years in the making and while memberships are available, the facility is also open to the surrounding community. University of Houston Chooses Covington Campus recreation programs and facilities have become major components of the modern university recruitment strategy. These programs and facilities are major components of the ultimate decision a student makes to attend a certain institution. Covington continues to be the choice for sport and recreational flooring in the mega-recreational facilities being constructed or renovated on college campuses. The University of Houston is no exception, choosing Covington for its Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) Gym.

One of the many features of the facility is that it is open for night play. Frasure Reps supplied LSI Zone LED fixtures for the 10 courts. The light levels on all courts meet USA Pickleball standards. The light levels on three of the courts are capable of being adjusted to higher levels for featured play. The light level adjustment is possible with the Airlink Blue wireless control system and can be accessed with a Bluetooth phone app. ★

The new Air-Channel Star hardwood flooring system serves as the focal point of the facility, offering students and faculty participants an optimal balance of slide versus traction, safety, performance and comfort found in Robbins’ bio-mechanically correct systems. Alongside the Robbins Air-Channel Star Hardwood floor, the MAC Gym features a durable multi-purpose floor designed for heavy use, making it a popular choice at universities nationwide. Both floor systems were installed by Covington professionals in the summer of 2023. ★

Wisconsin’s Largest Post-Tensioned Concrete Tennis Facility Completed After a decade of planning and designing with Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sport Surfaces, LLC, Wisconsin’s largest post-tensioned concrete tennis facility has been completed. Continues on page 26...

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“Three Pillars Tennis Complex,” built by the Kettle Moraine School District in Wales, Wisconsin, began construction in the summer of 2022 and was finished in the summer of 2023.

ball/baseball diamonds, batting cages, bullpens and a football/soccer field. It features eight renovated tennis courts, 11 pickleball courts, two basketball courts and a sand volleyball court.

This milestone was possible with the hardworking employees of the Kettle Moraine School District, particularly Dale Zabel, Director of Building and Grounds.

Other special features include an honor wall, concession buildings and grandstands, playground, community building with exterior social space, misting area, event lawns, maintenance facility and a designated area for future nature trails. Throughout the summer, the park hosted adult softball and kickball. Fall is in full swing with baseball, softball, football and pickleball. ★

Fred Kolkmann would also like to recognize members of the ASBA who were crucial to this project’s success, including David Moore, CTCB; Harley Nethken, P.E. and Ueli Geissmann with Tech-Con; Wesley Baum with Laykold; and those at Douglas Industries and Har Tru. ★

HNP Landscape Architecture Completes Work on Bill Noble Park Bill Noble Park opened in the spring of 2023 in Gardendale, Alabama, 12 miles north of Birmingham. Just minutes off of Interstate 65, this 46-acre multi-faceted sports complex has already proven to be a destination park for both residents and traveling athletes. HNP Landscape Architecture provided design services from initial site planning and program development to trajectory studies, playground design concept and coordination, site furniture and amenity specifications, landscape drawings, irrigation coordination, estimation, field construction documentation (fencing, equipment, surface, grading, drainage) and ongoing construction observation. The park boasts synthetic turf fields (SprinTurf, Specialty Turf Supply) for nine soft-

*ASBA reserves the right to edit all information submitted.

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Mateflex looks forward to 2024 where they will enter their 50th year of providing custom modular surfaces to the racquet sport world and beyond. ★

PCC Completes New Track and Field at Wes-Del High School Precision Construction and Contracting, headquartered in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, recently completed work on a post-tensioned (PT) concrete running track and synthetic football field at Wes-Del High School in Gaston, Indiana. It is the first PT track in Indiana and among the four post-tension tracks PCC Sports has built.

Roger Federer Shines on Mateflex In New York City Event Roger Federer, one of the all-time greats in the world of professional tennis, recently held an eye-catching expo on the Mateflex TopCourt tennis and pickleball surface at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The demonstration, sponsored by international clothing company Uniqlo, featured an in-person tennis clinic provided by Roger Federer himself, along with custom artwork on the court material by artist Kaws, and other assorted cultural and educational exhibits geared toward fostering growth and awareness in local tennis and art communities. The expo was a great success with Federer providing tennis tips and tricks to local players, and the event garnered attention from several high-profile media outlets including a feature episode on the web series Around the World with Roger Federer.

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The base of the track is a post-tension overlay on top of the existing asphalt track. A D-zone, long jump run-up and shot put ring were also added. The track features a polyurethane surface by Beynon Sports Group. The manufacturing and installation of synthetic turf on the football field was completed by FieldTurf USA. “This was a marquee project for our team, adding another showcase venue to our portfolio,” said PCC Sports owner Brandon Jackson. “We are very proud to build a beautiful stadium and track for the WesDel school community and the athletes who will compete on them for years to come.” ★


Quality Court Industries Showcases Residential Project With the heightened demand and incredible popularity of pickleball, there are calls for facilities (public or in this case private) that accommodate multiple sports options. Quality Court Industries LLC recently designed and built a residential multi-sport court for an owner who wanted both tennis and pickleball. Quality Court Industries provided extensive turnkey service including the post-tension slab construction, acrylics surface system application as well as striping, court accessories, LED court lighting and black vinyl fencing. ★

Turf Company President Todd Wiggins. “Both Columbia County and Brookstone’s industry-leading facilities provide safety, durability and performance that will continue to make a difference for their athletic programs for years to come.”

Sports Turf Company Wins Honors in Two AGC Build Georgia Award Categories Sports Turf Company received first place in two 2023 AGC Build Georgia Award categories for its renovations at Brookstone School Mack Strong Stadium and Columbia County Schools. This is the seventh consecutive year that the Associated General Contractors of America statewide chapter has recognized the firm. “We’re honored to receive recognition on both of these projects that created a great impact on these communities,” said Sports

Sportsfield Specialties Announces PaDelhiTM Padel Court Systems Sportsfield Specialties has introduced its new line of PaDelhiTM Padel Pillar and Panoramic Court Systems, proudly manufactured in the USA. The padel court systems feature an engineered design and user-friendly installation comprised of raw materials and high-quality manufacturing processes.

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Brookstone School’s natural grass field features an eight-inch USGA sand rootzone over a gravel blanket with lateral drain lines. The TifTuf Bermudagrass was installed to improve the playing surface’s durability and maintenance. Sports Turf also constructed a new eight-lane running track and events around the perimeter of the stadium field. At all five Columbia County high schools, Sports Turf renovated the natural grass fields into artificial turf, and Rekortan M synthetic track surfacing was installed at the five facilities. ★

THE OFFICIAL COURT SURFACE OF THE US OPEN

Sportsfield’s line of PaDelhiTM padel court systems incorporate everything needed for installation, including the structural posts with welded base plates, wire mesh frames, tempered glass panels, light posts/ fixtures, posts/net, synthetic turf surfacing and sand infill material. Coming soon: PaDelhiTM Portable Padel Court Systems. ★ 800.455.1620 info@rekortan.com rekortan.com

866.669.6940 info@laykold.com laykold.com

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ASBA MEMBERS New Members & Certified Builders NEW MEMBERS Builder • • • • • • • • • • •

Abacus Sports Installations, LTD. AstroTurf Great Lakes Atlantic Sports Floors Cascadia Sports Systems Center Court Sports Geary Floors Inc. Goals & Poles, LLC Gym Masters HY Floor and Gameline Painting Inc. Precision Wood Floors LLC Quality Courts and Outdoors

• • • • •

• • •

• • • • • • • • •

Professional • • •

de Bruin Engineering, P.C. FW Architects, Inc. MJW Sales and Consulting, LLC

Emack Manufacturing Floorcloud Loba Wakol, LLC Nexxfield Inc. PLS Logistics Services PoloPlaz Revolution Manufacturing, LLC The Perfect Mound Unitech Inc.

Ancillary • •

NEW CERTIFIED BUILDERS •

Supplier

Right 2 Rec (R2R) Rubber Flooring Systems, Inc. Soriano Sports Floors Spartan Sport Services, LLC W2W Sport

John Burkus, CFB-S Hellas Adam Heese, CFB Bryne & Jones Sports Construction Dalton Pafford, CFB Bryne & Jones Sports Construction Damon Richardson, CFB-N Pacific Sports Turf

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