Build It Right - Winter 2023, Issue 3

Technical Meeting Awards Coverage From Technical Session Recaps Meeting

Marketing Value of ASBA Awards Program

Build It Right

Winter 2023, Issue 3 sportsbuilders.org

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Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

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

Editor

Mary Helen Sprecher

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 05

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

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HEADLINE NEWS

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09 09 10

12 12 13

INDUSTRY VIEWS An Interview with Laura Simmons, Sports Field Management Association An Interview with Duffy Mahoney, USA Track & Field

MEETING NEWS Technical Meet Recap Good Sports at the Technical Meeting: ASBA’s Tournament Results

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TRENDING TOPICS

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FEATURES

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ASBA’s Educational Offerings ASBA Forges Partnership with Yellow

Technical Meeting Sessions Recap ASBA Awards ASBA’s Awards: A Great Marketing Tool

DIVISION REPORTS Courts Division Update Fields Division Update Track Division Update Professional Division Update Supplier Division Update

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ASBA?

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PLAYING BY THE RULES

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MEMBER NEWSLINE

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NEW MEMBERS/CERTIFIED BUILDERS

Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN David Clapp, CTB, CTCB

more involvement with ASBA as well as help shape the content of the Technical Meeting, which this year will be held in early December in Houston, Texas. Relaxing around a pool in the Caribbean is a great way to make new friends or rekindle old ones. If you are thinking of going, make reservations sooner rather than later. Hotel blocks are filling up.

As I write this column, we are one month removed from our Technical Meeting which took place in Palm Desert, California. It was a tremendously successful meeting. Attendance was over 800, an all-time high for this meeting. The number of first-time attendees was over 200, another high-water mark for that category.

The content of the sessions was very solid, and many positive reviews have been received by the association in the form of feedback. The weather was just about perfect. In short, it was everything we hope for in a technical meeting.

A finer group of work associates in any industry would be difficult to find. ★ Sincerely,

David Clapp David Clapp, CTB, CTCB

I am humbled that you have allowed me to be your chairman for these two years.

This is no time to rest on our laurels, however. ASBA leadership is working on its strategic planning initiatives which were formulated last summer. The four areas of focus are 1) Partnerships, 2) Education and Programs, 3) Membership and 4) Awareness and Brand Expansion. We are currently appointing task forces to focus on each of these areas to shape the future of ASBA. If you think you’d like to help us with any of these initiatives, please let me know or contact ASBA headquarters.

To that end, we will be gathering for our annual winter meeting next month in Cancun, Mexico. This meeting is a great opportunity for anyone who would like

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ASBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

DIRECTORS

ASBA STAFF

Chairman David Clapp, CTB, CTCB Baseline Sports Construction

Ryan Auer Leslie Coatings, Inc.

Executive Director Fred Stringfellow, CAE fred@stringfellowgroup.net

Secretary/Treasurer Megan Buczynski, PE, LEED AP Activitas, Inc. Chairman - Elect Randy Resley Sport Court of the Rockies, LLC Courts Division President Todd Dettor Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. & 10-S Tennis Supply Track Division President Jordan Fisher, CTB Fisher Tracks, Inc. Fields Division President Kirk Grego, CFB Mid-America Golf & Landscape, Inc. Professional Division President Craig Honkomp, PE, PS, LEED AP Sportworks Design

Tim Gerrits, ASLA GMB Architecture + Engineering Anthony Graham MAPEI Corp.

Sean Hufnagel, PLA, ASLA HNP, LLC Fred Kolkmann, CTCB Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sport Surfaces, LLC John Nelson, CFB Peacock Services, LLC David Painter STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc. Jameson Sheley, CFB-S, CTB Byrne & Jones Sports Corporation Jonathan Wright, CTCB Court One

Supplier Division President David Burke NGI Sports

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Associate Director Nikki Augsburger nikki@sportsbuilders.org Director of Meetings/Member Services Cynthia Sanchez cynthia@sportsbuilders.org Director of Education Kaylee Derby kaylee@sportsbuilders.org Program Manager Kristin Evans, QAS kristin@sportsbuilders.org Association Coordinator Jordan Langeheine, QAS jordan@sportsbuilders.org Financial Manager Amy Chetelat, CAE amy@stringfellowgroup.net Technical Writer Mary Helen Sprecher maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org Legal Counsel David H. Pettit, Esq. Flora Pettit PC

HEADLINE NEWS

ASBA’s Educational Offerings Always Available and Always Being Updated Mary Helen Sprecher ASBA is always seeking to elevate the knowledge base of those in the industry. And while everyone has heard of ASBA’s certified builder program, the Association also has a robust library of e-learning programs.

Sessions provide up-to-date information that can benefit new hires, experienced builders, design professionals and suppliers.

ASBA’s offerings are always being updated as well, to better serve the needs of the industry. And the big bonus: These courses can be taken at the convenience of the industry member.

To access ASBA’s educational offerings, go to ASBA’s website and on the top blue toolbar, mouse over to Programs. When the drop-down menu appears, choose “E-Learning.” ★

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HEADLINE NEWS ASBA Forges Partnership with Yellow

New Agreement Allows Members to Access Special Discounted Shipping Rate Mary Helen Sprecher

ASBA continues to work on behalf of its members to help access new and better ways of doing business. Case in point: The Association’s new relationship with Yellow.

Yellow is a leading transporter of industrial, commercial and retail goods, specializing in solutions for businesses across North America through a full-service network, advanced information technologies and proactive customer service. And now, with the new agreement in place, the company will offer special rates to member companies.

Yellow offers a wide range of services, including transportation of materials across

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the U.S. and Canada, domestic ocean service, freeze protection service and even transportation of hazardous materials. Next-day delivery is available. Plus, ASBA members can use Yellow to move exhibit materials and equipment to trade shows and conventions. (In fact, Yellow has a 24/7 dedicated national tradeshow team, accelerated service and 30 days of free storage when shipping to a show).

Erica Rosignolo, Yellow’s Director of Inside Sales, Tradeshow & Associations, said that Yellow best works with companies who are aware of the market.

“Always have options,” she says, “as the

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shipping industry is consistently changing.

To avoid unexpected costs, be aware of freight characteristics, lanes, packaging, pick up and delivering accessorials (lift gate, construction sites). Taking the time to have your freight needs, including your inbound freight, evaluated by a professional will result in more options to extend quality expectations to your customers.”

To start leveraging the advantages of ASBA’s partnership with Yellow, contact Stephanie Smith, who is ASBA’s account representative at Yellow, at 1-855-8923435 or stephanie.smith@myyellow.com. ★

INDUSTRY VIEWS An Interview with Laura Simmons, CAE

CEO of the Sports Field Management 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.

The year was winding down when the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) made its long-awaited announcement: It had appointed a new CEO. Laura Simmons, CAE, took over on December 1 and is primed to lead the association’s growth initiatives and execute its strategic plan.

We also need to build a higher level of awareness of the knowledge and skillsets our members have; we’re hopeful that will lead to higher wages.

Simmons has a proven track record of association leadership, including developing innovative programs, growing membership, managing finances/budgets and implementing strategic plans. Most recently, she served as deputy director for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards and has more than two decades of experience serving associations and working in the world of property management.

Laura Simmons: I really do think it’s the outside perception of what we do. The younger generation does not realize that field management is a viable career option. All they might see is a guy on a mower. In reality, the science of turfgrass is so complex, and keeping a field ready and resilient year-round means taking into consideration so many different factors – the use, the geography, the environment, the type of grass, pest control, the weather, the soil and more. It’s also a field where the technology is always evolving and this is something the younger generation is really primed to understand.

ASBA sat down with Simmons to find out about her plans for SFMA. American Sports Builders Association: SFMA is an organization with a lot going on. What initially impressed you most about it?

Laura Simmons: It’s a really great association. It has a good history and a solid foundation and I’m looking forward to working with the board to build on that foundation. They are very open to change and to the evolution of the association.

American Sports Builders Association: What are your goals?

Laura Simmons: I’d like to focus on growth – not just on growing the membership but growing the membership by attracting younger and more diverse individuals to this field. There are so many underrepresented groups right now, and we see potential for a lot of growth there.

American Sports Builders Association: What are some obstacles to that growth and that awareness?

Laura Simmons: Yes – SFMA has certification and education programs in the environmental aspects of the industry as well, as well as a great deal of research.

American Sports Builders Association: Where does SFMA see the biggest opportunities for growth – is it in professional sports fields, the college market, park and rec or somewhere else?

Laura Simmons: I don’t know about a particular growth sector, but parks and rec are really an enormous market. They get a lot of exposure and they might be the first place people learn about fields as a whole.

American Sports Builders Association: It’s definitely a case where one size does not fit all.

American Sports Builders Association: What are you looking forward to the most about working with SFMA?

Laura Simmons: Exactly – what works for a field in Philadelphia won’t work for a field in Alabama. Something else people don’t understand is how much field maintenance factors into player safety, all the way from pee-wee to professional. People think of helmets and pads but field management is the profession that makes it possible to help protect kids and allow them to develop as athletes.

Laura Simmons: I’m honored to be entrusted to join the team. This association really has such a solid foundation. The industry is so open to communication, to helping one another and to sharing best practices. It’s exciting to be part of such a great group. ★

American Sports Builders Association: There’s also a lot of environmental concerns when it comes to field care, and those outside the industry may not be aware of those either.

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INDUSTRY VIEWS

An Interview with Duffy Mahoney

Chief of Sports Performance, USA Track & Field 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.

it was the way it was being used.

When ASBA presented its Distinguished Service Award to Duffy Mahoney at the most recent Technical Meeting, it wasn’t just to denote his three decades of service to USA Track & Field; it recognized dedication to ASBA as well. Duffy Mahoney has been a fixture at Technical Meetings and has shared his expertise with ASBA for years; additionally, he has played an integral role in the Association’s annual meetings in Indianapolis with the Governing Bodies of Track & Field. Since Duffy plans to retire from his full-time position this year, it was a great time to sit down and catch up with him.

American Sports Builders Association: You’ve seen a lot of changes after 30 years in the industry.

Duffy Mahoney: I started as a high school coach in 1967 or 68 (nobody else was interested in that job, by the way) and they had a classic cinder track. It was in terrible shape, and I really wanted to refurbish it, so I rerolled it and compacted it. We got a striping machine, and I started using it.

American Sports Builders Association: Was that what everyone had?

Duffy Mahoney: As I recall, Rutgers had a clay track. It proved to be pretty fast; unfortunately, in April, it turned into a quagmire. A few years after I started with our cinder track, I convinced our principal to let us get our first synthetic facility, this three-lane track made of rubberized 10

asphalt. People were laughing at it, but it was a big advancement for us.

American Sports Builders Association: How did it perform?

Duffy Mahoney: Oh, it quickly got chewed up. Indoors, we were having a similar revolution because at the time, we were running on tracks made of plywood panel – spikes chewed those up too, so we had to replace them constantly.

But the industry was changing, and new and better tracks were being developed.

What’s interesting is that these days, we are seeing some of the best-performing tracks in the world and high schools are able to use them.

American Sports Builders Association: It’s great for the athletes.

Duffy Mahoney: It is but back in the beginning, there was a lot to learn about using those surfaces. I remember I was brought in by a school board to give them some advice. They had just put in a new synthetic track, and they were having a rash of injuries among their distance runners.

They were contending it was a problem with the track surface. I looked at their track and there was nothing wrong with it. Then I talked to the coach and watched some practices and realized those were overtraining injuries; as a result of having a great new track, the intensity of the workout had increased, which was leading to stress fractures and other injuries to their lower extremities. It wasn’t the track;

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American Sports Builders Association: Switching gears for a moment, how do you feel about the future of the sport?

Duffy Mahoney: USA Track & Field has done so much that is positive and I am very optimistic. It’s all good and it can only get better. I would say a big goal is growing the visibility and popularity of the sport on the way to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. That is going to be a concerted effort. I don’t think track & field will reach the NFL or NHL level of popularity, but I can see us growing to be a much larger niche market sport.

For 2024, Sebastian Coe wants the pole vault downtown in Paris; it could attract crowds and give people what pretty much amounts to a front-row seat. People ask me if I think it would work; I say, “Think of it this way – only so many people were allowed into Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral but there were absolutely millions of people lined up on the street to watch the cortege go by.”

American Sports Builders Association: What are you planning to do in retirement?

Duffy Mahoney: I’ll restart my consulting business now that I have time. I also plan to stay in touch with ASBA. But really, my wife retired from her job as an athletic trainer and given our two jobs, we’ve never traveled together. I’ve traveled to 54 countries over the years, but I have a bucket list of others and we’re going to do that together. That’s what we’re looking forward to – spending time together. ★

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RECAP Good Sports at the Technical Meeting

Golf Tournament, Sponsored by Liberty Tire Recycling Winning Foursome: Jay Henley (Covington Flooring Co., Inc.), Gerry Finney (Barton Sports Construction), Robbie Platt (Facility Armor, LLC) and Conner Glennon (Barton Sports Construction).

Longest Drive: Courtney Rousseau (Verde Design) Closest to the Pin: Mike Sims (Foresite Design, Inc.) and Mike Reed (RiteWay, LLC)

Tennis Tournament Winner: Todd Dettor (Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. & 10-S Tennis Supply) Second Place: John Hanna (Racquet Sports Industry Magazine) Third Place: Jan Pruemper (Sports Venue Calculator)

Pickleball Tournament Winners: Jeffrey Howlett (DGF Pickleball Court Solutions) and Gerry Finney (Barton Sports Construction)

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TRENDING TOPICS Will NFL Players Association’s Message About Field Care Get Owners’ Attention?

Mary Helen Sprecher It was just prior to the holidays that the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) came out with a blunt message to the NFL: It’s your fault injuries are happening on fields.

While the NFLPA’s message, written by its president, JC Tretter, initially touched on surfaces, it spent far more time discussing the fact that the NFL was allowing play on fields that had visual abnormalities, such as natural grass facilities that had suffered damage and had not been repaired before games.

It’s a message field owners (at all levels) need to understand, since every field

requires regular maintenance to look and play its best.

Tretter also mentioned another safety threat: the presence of too many non-playing people and too much equipment on the sidelines. Over the years, players in pursuit of the ball have collided with other players, with officials, with coaches and even with cheerleaders, as well as with media members, all of whom were stationed on the sidelines.

parents (and in some cases, fellow students) away from the field during games in any number of sports (not just football).

While it’s unknown whether the NFLPA’s words will kickstart change within the league, it just might sound a warning call to coaches and athletic directors at the youth level, making clear the importance of well-maintained fields, as well as the need to limit the number of individuals on the sidelines. ★

This is something even coaches and officials at high schools and youth sports battle on a regular basis as they try to keep

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FEATURED ARTICLES Didn’t Get to Attend the Technical Meeting?

Here’s Some of the Content You Missed One of the best aspects of the Technical Meeting is its in-depth programming, covering issues of interest to each division from a design, construction and supply perspective. The following is a sampling of these sessions.

Site Visit to Palm Desert High School Track - Track Facility Workshop Presented by Kristoff Eldridge, CTB, Cape & Island Tennis & Track; Mike Gentile, Firefly Sports Testing; Noel Gilstrap, Beynon Sports Surfaces, Inc.; Duffy Mahoney, USA Track & Field; Aaron Pankoke, CTB, Track Surfaces Company and Ryan Pierce, New England Track & Field Striping This offsite session allowed participants to visit a local track facility, and to discuss with presenters the various aspects of its design, construction, maintenance, surface testing and even meet management.

Participants rotated around to different stations on the track, where presenters covered various topics, from meet management to track striping to testing to maintenance and other topics.

The session, which covered two and a half hours (including travel time to and from the site) allowed attendees to gain a perspective on post-installation issues from all presenters.

Pickleball: Why 2024 won’t be like 1984 Enabling the Boom, Eliminating the Bust Jeff McClure, Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. & 10-S Tennis Supply; Carl Schmits, USA Pickleball The presenters noted that growth in pickleball has been nothing short of stratospheric. In its 2022 Single Sport Report, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) estimated there are now 4.8 million pickleball players in the United States, meaning the sports has essentially doubled in the past five years.

At the same time, however, the question becomes whether such growth is sustainable. The title of the presentation refers to 1984, the year racquetball hit its peak, then began to slide out of popularity. With fewer courts available, fewer tournaments, little sponsorship money and an aging player base, racquetball is struggling to keep its athletes, much less attract new ones.

Presenters noted that pickleball is different, and that they believe its differences will continue to drive growth. It can be played outdoors in a municipal setting, with its equipment inexpensive and readily available. Its players are sociable and welcoming to newcomers, something else that works to increase engagement.

One of the mechanisms USA Pickleball uses to track the growth the sport is its comprehensive data base of venues and locations, found on its website. ‘Places 2 Play’ provides the public with the ability to locate courts both public and private in all 50 states. At the moment, this feature has a record of 10,000 venues.

ASBA continues to work with USA Pickleball to produce the book, Pickleball Courts: Construction & Maintenance Manual. ASBA also offers a pickleball certificate program, and presenters noted that USA Pickleball receives 15 to 20 calls a week from those interested in having facilities put in.

Presenters covered some design and accessory options for courts, including means of creating better acoustics so as not to cause complaints about court noise from passersby or from those playing other sports in adjacent areas.

Continues on page 16

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FEATURED ARTICLES Didn’t Get to Attend the Technical Meeting? Here’s Some of the Content You Missed, continued Indoor Sports Flooring & Site Evaluation Best Practices - Preparedness and Evaluating Flooring Requirements and Conditions Erica Parker, Covington Flooring Co., Inc. The prospective buyer of an indoor floor may be unsure of the options available, in which case, it will become necessary to provide guidance. Parker recommended that a list be made of all activities the facility is expected to host, as well as the sport that is expected to occupy the area the most often. She also noted that owners should know what other activities might be hosted, such as meetings, assemblies or graduations.

Next, it is imperative to discuss options for flooring type, and where this factors into the budget for purchase and maintenance.

The performance needs and characteristics of the sport to be hosted most often must also be taken into consideration.

Parker also spent time discussing concrete bases for such projects and if new construction, how they should be prepared, given the choice of flooring to be used.

Case Study: Modernization of a Historic Field: LSU Tiger Stadium Sean Hufnagel, HNP, LLC; Ed Norton, RLA, ASLA, LEED–AP, HNP, LLC The challenges of renovating a facility that had been built in 1924 were extensive. The facility had undergone various improvements over the years, said the presenters, but it had been more than 20 years since the last significant improvement was made to the field’s drainage system; an upgrade was long overdue. Multiple problems existed. Runoff from the stadium was coming onto the field (along with water that was backing up outside the facility) and the field’s rootzone drained too slowly.

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Various steps taken included dredging the outfall canal to eliminate the soil buildup, the installation of perimeter drain systems, adjustments to the perimeter drain line and correction of the elevation of the goal posts (which was uneven). There was also a full removal of the subsurface drainage system and an increase in the storm storage capacity (the area is prone to hurricanes and major rain events).

Once the field was ready to accept it, sod was delivered in refrigerated trucks and installed at night to prevent it from drying out. The process of installation took two nights. Decisions on the various aspects of field surfacing took into consideration the fact that it hosts events outside of sports, including a sold-out Garth Brooks concert.

(Following that concert, groundskeepers used a care regimen to assure the field was brought back to game-ready condition).

Since the new field’s installation, presenters said that even two hurricanes have not caused flooding on the field. One of the sayings on the LSU campus the presenters mentioned was, “It never rains in Tiger Stadium but sometimes there is a heavy dew.”

This year, the project was named a winner (silver award) in ASBA’s awards program, in the category of Sports Fields: Single Field of the Year. ★

FEATURED ARTICLES 2022 ASBA Award Winners Announced at Technical Meeting ASBA has announced the winners of its annual awards. Awards are presented each year to facilities built by ASBA members, which best exemplify construction excellence.

Winners of awards were announced at the Association’s 2022 Technical Meeting.

A full list of award winners can be found both on ASBA’s website and on the awards brochure. These winners include all of the following: • • • • • •

Distinguished Tennis Courts (Outdoor, Indoor and Residential) Distinguished Running Tracks Distinguished Track & Field Facilities Distinguished Fields (Single Field and Multi-Field Facilities) Distinguished Pickleball Facilities Distinguished Multipurpose/Gym Facilities

Within each category, specific facilities were chosen from among all winning entries to represent the best of athletic facility construction. The winners were as follows: OUTSTANDING SINGLE-FIELD FACILITY OF THE YEAR MLS Stadium FC Cincinnati TQL Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio The Motz Group Silver Award LSU Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, Louisiana HNP Landscape Architecture

OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR TENNIS FACILITY OF THE YEAR Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills, Michigan GMB Architecture + Engineering Silver Award Woodfield Boca Raton Boca Raton, Florida Welch Tennis Courts Inc.

Bronze Award Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio SCG Fields LLC

Bronze Award Torrence M. Hunt ’44 Tennis Facility at Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts Classic Turf Company

OUTSTANDING MULTI-FIELD FACILITY OF THE YEAR Rantoul Sports Complex Rantoul, Illinois Byrne & Jones Sports Construction

OUTSTANDING RESIDENTIAL TENNIS FACILITY OF THE YEAR Fanelli Residence Tuscaloosa, Alabama Lower Bros. Co. Inc.

Silver Award Scituate High School Scituate, Massachusetts Activitas Inc.

Silver Award Coastal Farmhouse Tennis Pavilion Bradenton, Florida Welch Tennis Courts Inc.

Bronze Award Columbus Crew Training Facility at MAPFRE Stadium Columbus, Ohio SCG Fields LLC

Bronze Award Rhode Island Residential Tennis Court Jamestown, Rhode Island Cape & Island Tennis & Track

OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL FACILITY OF THE YEAR Marstons Mills Pickleball and Tennis Facility Marstons Mills, Massachusetts Cape & Island Tennis & Track Silver Award Veranda Gardens Port St. Lucie, Florida Welch Tennis Courts Inc. OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR TRACK FACILITY OF THE YEAR Southwestern School District Athletic Stadium Hazel Green, Wisconsin Fisher Tracks Inc. Silver Award Baldwin-Woodville Area Schools Athletic Stadium Baldwin, Wisconsin Fisher Tracks Inc. OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD FACILITY OF THE YEAR Franklin High School Stockton, California Verde Design Inc. Silver Award Center Playfields Lexington, Massachusetts Activitas Inc. OUTSTANDING MULTIPURPOSE/GYM FACILITY OF THE YEAR Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater Albertville, Alabama Covington Flooring Co. Inc. ★

Scan here to check out the Awards Brochure:

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FEATURED ARTICLES ASBA Announces Jerry Douglas as Recipient of Industry Merit Award ASBA has presented its Industry Merit award to Jerry Douglas of Douglas Sports in Eldridge, Iowa. The award, the Association’s highest honor, given in recognition of the combination of professional achievement and service to the industry, was presented at the recent Technical Meeting.

Douglas has been involved with the sports industry since 1967 when his father’s company, then known as Douglas Industries, was supplying industrial fabric and upon the request of a customer, branched out to create a set of curtains for a fitness club.

Very soon, the company was making backdrop curtains for the booming indoor tennis market, as well as backdrop curtains and windscreens. Today, the company manufactures and sells products for baseball, basketball, golf, hockey, badminton, soccer, volleyball and more. Its tennis market, the genesis of all its sports endeavors, also includes nets and posts, as well as padding and portable tennis systems.

Douglas has also been active in ASBA, back in the days when it was known as the U.S. Tennis Court & Track Builders Association.

He was a constant presence at Technical Meetings, where he was a speaker – as well as an instantly recognizable figure in the exhibit hall. He served on the Board of Directors, becoming president of what would eventually be known as the supplier division – and still found time to seek out emerging markets; in fact, a product modeled on his original design for a portable pickleball system was named a winner in the 2019 ASBA Game Changer Awards program. Additionally, he was recognized as a Pioneer in Tennis by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine in 2013.

Throughout his time with the Association, Douglas maintained close friendships with his colleagues, setting an example that competitors did not need to be enemies and could in fact enjoy each other’s company outside of business settings.

As Douglas came up to receive his award, every attendee present stood in his honor. ★

ASBA Announces Industry Award Winners ASBA has announced the winners of its industry awards of recognition at the close of its recent Technical Meeting.

The Distinguished Service Award, presented by the Association to recognize notable work benefitting the ASBA, was given to Duffy Mahoney, Chief of Sport Performance at USA Track & Field. Mahoney, who has announced his plans to retire from his full-time position with USA T&F after 30 years there, has been a fixture at Association meetings and a longtime contributor to publications and articles.

In honoring Mahoney, Paul Nagle, CTB, ASBA’s current Track Division President, called all those who had served as Track Division Presidents to the stage, noting that all had benefitted from Mahoney’s expertise during their time on the Board of Directors.

Note: For an in-depth look at Mahoney and his career, see the interview in the Industry Views section on page 10.

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Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

ASBA Announces Industry Award Winners, continued

Also during the Technical Meeting, Racquet Sports Industry Magazine announced the winner of its Court Builder/Contractor of the Year Award, recognizing outstanding contributions in tennis facility construction. This year, the award was presented to Elite Sports Builders, LLC of Phoenix, Arizona, and to its president, Troy Rudolph, CTB, CFB, CTCB. Rudolph, who holds the designations of Certified Track Builder, Certified Field Builder and Certified Tennis Court Builder, has been active in ASBA as a member of the board of directors, as a speaker at meetings, and as a frequent contributor to the Association’s publication, Running Track Facilities: A Construction and Maintenance Manual. ★

ASBA Announces 2022 Game Changer Award Winners ASBA announced the winners of its Game Changer awards at the conclusion of the 2022 Technical Meeting.

The Game Changer Awards program allowed attendees in the ASBA’s Exhibit Hall to learn about new technologies and products on the market. Attendees were able to vote for those products they thought best exemplified excellence and innovation in the industry.

Winners were as follows: Courts Division Wipe-Out Stain Blocker (California Sports Surfaces) Wipe-Out Stain Blocker is a concentrated acrylic latex stain blocking primer that provides exceptional adhesion and stain blocking properties as a preparation for the installation of athletic surfaces, as well as existing acrylic surfaces. This product can help prevent the formation of unsightly rust spots that can detract from the appearance of a new court. The product is available in conveniently sized 30- and 55-gallon drums. It is easy to apply with a 50-to 70-durometer rubber squeegee and takes just two hours per coat to dry for most applications, depending upon local weather conditions.

Fields Division Synthetic Turf Infill Containment System (Sportsfield Specialties) Sportsfield Specialties’ Pedestrian and Equipment Synthetic Turf Infill Containment Systems are designed to be installed in the access areas of a synthetic turf field to capture the infill and other potential contaminants as people and equipment exit the playing surface.

The pedestrian version incorporates brush assemblies designed to remove infill from cleats as athletes walk across them, and the equipment version uses heavy-duty galvanized steel grates that allow maintenance equipment and emergency vehicles to be parked on them while the infill is removed using air or water. The infill is contained within the bottom of the trays and can easily be removed using a vacuum. The trays are modular and can be installed in a variety of configurations to meet the needs of a specific project. ★

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FEATURED ARTICLES ASBA’s Awards: A Great Marketing Tool!

If You’re Not Publicizing Your Project, You’re Missing Out homeowners associations, knowing that a company has been honored.

An award from ASBA, recognizing construction excellence, looks great on a company’s wall. But its impact can go much further than that.

This year, every award winner came home from the Technical Meeting to find a message from ASBA in their e-mail box.

In addition to congratulating them on their award, it encouraged them to make the most of that award and included a press release template and a 2022 ASBA award winner logo (suitable for adding to websites, social media pages, business cards and letterhead) – as well as ideas on how to leverage the award for maximum publicity. And ASBA members responded with enthusiasm.

“There are many methods and opportunities to publicize these facility awards,” said Troy Rudolph of Elite Sports Builders, “the most basic being the presentation of the award plaque to the facility owner utilizing a presentation ceremony with a photographer present so it can be utilized with photos to create a news release or blog. Advertising these projects on your website as well as the facility owner’s website is a simple way of promoting the awards. Electronic news mailings are another simple way of spreading the good news of a facility award. So few projects

designed and built every year are worthy of an ASBA Facility award that it would be a true shame to not spread the news of achievement if your project is honored.”

Sharing the news on social media accounts is another great way to get the word out without expending much time or costing anything extra. Company websites also can be an invaluable marketing tool when it comes to awards.

“Something we have found to be instrumental is providing a list of the facilities that have received awards from ASBA,” said Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks. “Decisionmakers are charged with determining the lowest responsible bid. This is also true with cooperative purchasing. The question is frequently asked by the decisionmakers: “Why should we choose your company for our project?” They are asking for a lot of information indirectly here other than just price. Showing the list of projects that have received awards from ASBA goes a long way.”

Rudolph agreed on that point, and noted, “In my opinion, these awards programs can create a company brand buzz that regular advertising money simply can’t buy.”

Awards are a great advantage at the bidding table as well, where it can set a company apart from the crowd. It never hurts to have prospective clients, like local schools and universities, as well as park and recreation departments and even

Fun Fact: More than 70 member companies have submitted facilities in ASBA’s Awards Program over the past three years.

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 Membership Directory – please make sure we have the most updated and accurate information.

To update any information, please contact Kristin Evans at kristin@sportsbuilders.org.

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Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

So what’s holding people back from some of the best free publicity available? Often, said Fisher, individuals are intimidated by the application process; some find it confusing to fill out. ASBA has a video on its website to help demystify the application. To access it, mouse over the top blue toolbar to “Programs.” A drop-down menu will appear and one of the options is “Awards.” Select “Facility Awards” and you will be taken to a special landing page that includes the video.

Note from ASBA Headquarters: Applications for awards become available this month; watch for an announcement. ★

Awards Update: New Certification Point Opportunities for 2023 ASBA is continually working to find and create opportunities for Certified Builders to earn ASBA points that can be applied toward their certification renewal. The ASBA Awards program recognizes distinguished facilities, in which builders can complete an application online detailing their project, tell the story of the project and possibly win a Distinguished Facility Award or even the Facility of the Year Award.

In conjunction with the Awards Committee, the Certification Committee has approved one (1) ASBA point towards certification renewal for any “Passing” award applications that the builder submits. A builder can earn a maximum of three (3) ASBA points for renewal in any given year and a maximum of 6 within a three-year renewal cycle.

Information about the Awards Program can be obtained by visiting this page: https://sportsbuilders.org/awards ★

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DIVISION REPORTS ASBA’s membership divisions met during the Technical Meeting; highlights are as follows:

COURTS DIVISION MEETING •

President & CEO of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR/PPR) Dan Santorum discussed and highlighted the explosive growth of pickleball, the fastest growing sport in America.

•

Winners of the 2022 Distinguished Facility of the Year Awards were recognized in categories that included tennis courts, pickleball courts and multi-purpose gyms.

•

The growing number of Certified Tennis Court Builders (CTCBs) were recognized, including ASBA's newest recipient, Matt Graft, CTCB; along with our Pickleball Certificate holders, Michael Robinson and Troy Rudolph.

•

The newest ASBA publication, Courts & Recreational Facilities: Construction & Maintenance Manual was unveiled with an expected publication date of March 2023.

•

Results of ASBA's recent 2022 Quick Pulse Survey were presented. More than 62% of court builder respondents indicated growth in their business of 20% or more over 2021; with more than 50% of these same members anticipating continued growth of 2023.

•

Resley welcomed Todd Dettor as the new Courts Division President. Todd took over as Division President at the close of the meeting. ★

FIELDS DIVISION MEETING •

The 2024 edition of Sports Fields: A Construction and Maintenance Manual will begin production soon; volunteers are being requested to help with the update process of the publication.

•

Meg Buczynski announced the 2022 Fields Distinguished Facility Awards, including Multi-Field, Single Field and Track and Field category winners.

•

The Fields Division Certification Chair, Jim Catella, recognized the Certified Field Builders (CFBs) and acknowledged the newest class of CFBs: Daniel Brenner, Anoop Bains, Nick Brantley, Joseph Martin, Christopher Carnahan and Derek York.

•

Julie Cochran from the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) gave updates on the latest rule changes and news from the NFHS.

•

ASBA Staff member, Kaylee Derby, shared the new Certified Field Builder video with the group. This video is available for any Certified Builder to use on their websites to promote using a Certified Builder on a project. To get a copy of the video, email info@sportsbuilders.org. ★

TRACK DIVISION MEETING •

22

The Track Division Meeting is seeking additional volunteers to participate in committees and task forces including Certification, Technical, Position Papers, ASTM Track Task Force, Track Awards and Technical Meeting.

Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

•

The Track Division Meeting is seeking additional volunteers to participate in committees and task forces including Certification, Technical, Position Papers, ASTM Track Task Force, Track Awards and Technical Meeting.

•

Attendees heard an update from Julie Cochran from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) who provided updates to the latest rule changes and news from the NFHS. Track & field also enjoys strong participation among students, remaining in the top-10 spot for both boys and girls.

•

Accomplishments of the Track Division over four years have included publication of two editions of the book: Running Tracks: A Construction and Maintenance Manual; developing curriculum for the Fundamentals in Track Construction online course; development of new CTB test questions; four new position papers and working with governing bodies on rule changes.

•

New Certified Builders: The following were recognized as the Association's newest Certified Track Builders: John Eren and Larry Reinmuth.

•

Outgoing Track Division President Paul Nagle thanked Duffy Mahoney, who is retiring from USA Track & Field, for his dedication and support to ASBA, its members and the industry.

•

A recent QuickPulse survey found that 94.73 of respondents expect their business to at least remain flat/consistent compared to 2022 and of those (63.15%) expect to see their business grow in 2023. Some of the recent trends and customer requests builders are seeing include colored exchange zones, colors other than black or red, refurbishing older tracks, and more emphasis at the public school level on track & field. In fact, 80% of respondents said they have seen increase in building at the high school level in 2022.

•

Jordan Fisher, CTB, Fisher Tracks, Inc., is the new Track Division President; Fisher will serve a two-year term. Fisher has been an active volunteer and leader in ASBA having served on many Track Committees, the Marketing Committee, and the Board of Directors. ★

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION MEETING

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

•

Publications: The new edition of Running Tracks: A Construction & Maintenance Manual is currently under revision to be published in 2023 along with the brand-new Courts and Recreational Facilities: Construction & Maintenance Manual.

ASBA published Asphalt Guidelines earlier in the year.

•

The number of entries was down this year, perhaps due to the earlier deadline; entry deadline will be later for 2023.

•

ASBA Professional Certificate of Distinction Program is available; the program demonstrates an individual’s involvement with completed projects, ASBA engagement and commitment to the industry. Division members are encouraged to pursue this.

•

The Professional Division has been hosting quarterly virtual meetings (March, June, and September 2022) with 20 to 25 members joining each time. These meetings, considered very successful, will continue in 2023.

•

Craig Honkomp will serve an additional two-year term as Professional Division President through December 2024. ★

SUPPLIER DIVISION MEETING

SUPPLIER DIVISION

•

Most of the suppliers present (many of whom were exhibitors at this year's Technical Meeting) expressed optimism and satisfaction with the attendance at this year's meeting, and with business in general. There were suggestions offered for format/ schedule changes for the 2023 Technical Meeting in Houston to better maximize exposure for exhibitor partners.

•

Leadership discussed plans for the upcoming FSB show in Cologne, Germany - seen to be one of the largest international events for sports surfaces. ASBA intends to host a pavilion at the show, with kiosks available within for ASBA members. There was substantial interest from supplier members present about shared participation in the ASBA pavilion. Members have been notified of this opportunity. ★

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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, following are some of the recent and upcoming events at which ASBA has had/will have a presence: JANUARY - Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Conference ASBA participated at the SFMA Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 16-19. ASBA hosted a panel presentation January 19, on “Designing/Building a Sports Field with Grounds Managers in Mind.” Panelists included Casey Scheidel, Sam Titchener, Mark Baginski and Casey Carrick.

FEBRUARY - ASBA Post-Tensioned Concrete Workshop ASBA held its first-ever post-tensioned concrete workshop, presented by Tim Christie of the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI), on February 8-9 in Dallas, Texas. Candidates who successfully passed the post-course examination were able to obtain their Level 1 & 2 Slab-on-Ground Certification through PTI. MARCH - ASBA Winter Meeting ASBA members, leadership and staff will gather in Cancun, Mexico, March 10-12 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 2023 Technical Meeting.

MAY - Track/Fields Meetings with NCAA & Governing Bodies ASBA’s Track and Fields Divisions, led by Jordan Fisher, Kristoff Eldridge, Ryan Auer, Kirk Grego, Mark Heinlein, Jim Catella, Megan Buczynski and Executive Director Fred Stringfellow will meet with representatives of NCAA, NFHS, NIAAA and USAT&F on May 11 in Indianapolis, Indiana. This annual event is intended to strengthen communications between ASBA’s builder and designer members, as well as with the organizations who set the rules for all relevant sports. It also provides an excellent opportunity to review any rules changes being considered by those organizations. ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

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. (For example, the USGA and The R&A announced updates to the Rules of Golf in November; however, as these apply to the players and not the course, they are not discussed).

Information presented here is only reviewed briefly; full information can be gained through the governing bodies mentioned.

NCAA: Changes to Men's and Women's Soccer Rules

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the use of video review to include determining whether a foul occurred inside or outside the penalty area. While this does not change the field itself, it may cause a demand for better connectivity and more placement of livestream cameras around the playing areas.

Note: A similar change was enacted earlier in the year for men’s and women’s ice hockey. Other sports at the NCAA level

have added video review over the past few years, making it likely there will be an increased call for more video technology at facilities.

American Association of Professional Baseball: Pitch Clocks to Debut in 2023 Season

American Association of Professional Baseball has voted to institute pitch clocks as part of effort to address pace of play.

Each ballpark must now be equipped with three pitch clocks; two of these must be located behind home plate, with the third

in the outfield. Exact outfield installation location will be determined by each club in the 12-team circuit.

The change, which mirrors that of Major League Baseball, is effective for the 2023 season. In 2022, the American Association average game time reached three hours and eleven minutes (3:11) and has been on an upward trajectory for over a decade.

Pitch clocks were utilized on a trial-basis throughout Minor League Baseball in 2022, which resulted in an average savings of 26 minutes per game. ★

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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.

Activitas Announces Promotion of Crisafulli to Project Manager

Activitas, Inc. is pleased to announce Stephen Crisafulli has been promoted to Project Manager. Steve will continue to provide best-in-class client service, supervise project development on a daily basis and will be the primary point of contact for the projects he manages. Based in Activitas’ Gorham, Maine office, Steve will continue to support the firm’s growth in northern New England.

Directly hired as a graduate from University of Rhode Island, Steve joined Activitas in 2013. Steve is a registered Landscape Architect in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is a member of the American Society Landscape Architects, the American Sports Builders Association, the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, and the Rhode Island Chapter of the ASLA. Steve has provided significant design support on numerous projects, including the design of the New England Revolution’s new training facility and award winning projects at Colby College and Dexter Southfield School. Most recently he has spearheaded projects with the Towns of Dedham, Reading and Weston, Massachusetts.

APT Announces Hiring of Lance Fisher Advanced Polymer Technology (APT) is pleased to introduce Lance Fisher as Team Laykold’s newest addition. Lance, a 2020 graduate of Slippery Rock University, has a degree in Geology. Prior to joining Laykold as an Inside Sales Representative, Lance worked at EnviroTrac Ltd. performing environmental consulting work where his strong communication skills and geological training to resolve important client issues while meeting strict deadlines.

Jeff Bryant, Laykold National Sales Manager, states “Lance is a great addition to the Laykold’s sales team. His geological background and work experience with asphalt and concrete substrates has enabled Lance to learn the Laykold product line and acrylic sport surfacing basics very quickly. I really look forward to watching Lance’s growth within our wonderful industry.”

Lance states, “I’m super excited to become a part of Team Laykold! This is an amazing career opportunity for me. Everyone at APT and Laykold have an amazing amount of industry experience and knowledge.

That’s why they’re the best in the business! Thank you everyone for the warm welcome the past two months. I look forward to building strong relationships with everyone as I help Team Laykold service your acrylic surfacing needs.”

Lance can be e-mailed at lance.fisher@advpolytech.com or called at 724-631-1027. ★

Steve’s current projects include a multischool master plan for the Town of Belfast, Maine, the track & field renovation at Fryeburg Academy and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts DCR for improvements at the Crown Hill Pond Beach. ★ *ASBA reserves the right to edit all information submitted.

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Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

Advanced Sports Group Renovates University of Tampa Baseball Field Home to eight national championships, and with over 100 players selected for the MLB draft, the baseball program at the University of Tampa has a new field, according to Advanced Sports Group.

Renovations took approximately two and a half months to complete and included excavation of the existing field and an extensive drainage and underlayment package necessary due to the low elevation of the Tampa Bay. ASG teams installed Shaw Sports Turf with two custom logo inlays, as well as new fencing, netting and backstop padding.

Installation of over 130,000 sq feet of the premium B1K product, complete with two custom logos, line and graphics packages, and Shaw’s GEOfill infill, creates a winning surface for the school’s community. The combination of the synthetic turf and infill makes for a cooling effect for players and overall better playability, despite weather or amount of use.

Patrick Remke, ASG president, states, “We are excited to watch the Spartans play on their new field for the 2023 season. Their new surface will be more impervious to rainouts and will keep the players cooler in the hot Florida temperatures.”

To learn more, visit www.asgsportsfields.com or contact at info@asgsportsfields.com. ★

Beaulieu International Group Acquires Act Global Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) has reached an agreement with leading US synthetic turf manufacturer Act Global, to acquire its complete range of activities (November 1, 2022). Through this acquisition, B.I.G. strengthens its position in the global artificial grass market, especially in the sports segment.

In line with Beaulieu International Group’s purpose statement, “Shaping sustainable living, together,” the group aims to develop and create innovative and sustainable flooring and material solutions to enhance the quality of living and working for every generation.

As part of its corporate strategy, the group is actively investing in key growth markets, including artificial grass, in order to further strengthen and expand its solutions portfolio. Today B.I.G. is a market leader in the fast-growing padel market, targeting further growth in soccer, hockey and other segments.

With headquarters in Austin, Texas, Act Global is a FIFA licensee (soccer), FIH Preferred Supplier (hockey) and a World Rugby Preferred Turf Producer with over 300 certified fields installed around the world. Its experience includes projects in over 90 countries, multiple NFL football installations, a growing North American landscaping business, patented aviation and landfill solutions, and recognition by the industry Synthetic Turf Council for its sustainability and philanthropic efforts. ★

Covington Announces New Floor at Vanderbilt NCAA basketball is in full swing and Covington spotlights its latest NCAA Division I, installation - Vanderbilt University Memorial Gym.

qualities necessary to mitigate athlete fatigue coupled with consistent shock absorption and ball bounce.

For more information on the Robbins MVP solution or other possibilities, contact the company the champions call: www.covington.com.★

SMC2 Announces ASBA Membership SMC2 is pleased to join this prestigious institution and looks forward to meeting and cooperating with members.

Facility Armor Offers Solutions for Protecting Gyms Facility Armor has announced two products designed to protect indoor wooden gym floors from damage. To learn more, contact sales@facilityarmor.com.

Tunnel Armor is a new gym floor protection product that is easy to store, clean and deploy. It is meant to counteract the potential damage that occur when cold weather strikes and baseball teams head indoors for batting practice. The product is made of 100% recycled topcloth with an energy-absorbing padded backing. It is available in 6-foot wide rolls that can be cut to any desired length. Two rolls side by side protect a standard tunnel. The hitting zone, made of synthetic turf and same great backing, can also be included.

The topcloth is antimicrobial protected and easy to clean.

As an international company with almost 20 years of experience, SMC2 creates buildings with bright and light architectures in wood and steel structures.

Multi-sports and urban sports areas, basketball courts, ice rinks, tennis and racquet sports courts, soccer fields, gymnasiums and sports complexes, grandstands, play areas... SMC2 invites members to get to know its solutions and references on its new website: www.smc2-construction.us/ All products can be adapted to suit users’ needs and budgets. ★

Facility Armor’s Court Armor Roll Max, a new 8-foot-wide gym floor protection product, was recently installed by Central High School in Carrollton, Georgia, whose new floor would be used not just for basketball and volleyball but for JrROTC exercises and school dances. The system can be deployed by two people in under 40 minutes. By pairing this system with the hook and loop tape and the ReWind automatic winding wand for storage, headaches are eliminated. ★

The new Robbins MVP floor system is a product of years of bio-mechanical research and is designed to provide all the

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Member Newsline Continued...

Sport Court Midwest Completes Pickleball Courts in Kankakee, Illinois Sport Court Midwest finished building three brand-new pickleball courts for the Kankakee Valley Park District. The new courts are located at Beckman Park in Kankakee, Illinois and feature Sport Court’s SportGame Pickleball surface, specifically designed for pickleball play.

SportGame Pickleball optimizes ball bounce and response, allowing for the best possible pickleball experience. Not only is SportGame Pickleball designed for playability, but it is also designed for the safety of the players and injury prevention, offering lateral forgiveness technology to absorb shock and lessen the impact and the risk of injuries.

The courts, using not just SportGame Pickleball surface but netting, are ready for play. Sport Court Midwest is proud to have provided the community of Kankakee with these three new pickleball courts and an area to gather to share the love of sports.

The equipment version uses heavy-duty galvanized steel grates that allows maintenance equipment and emergency vehicles to be parked on them while the infill is removed using air or water. The infill is contained within the bottom of the trays and can easily be removed using a vacuum. The trays are modular and can be installed in a variety of configurations to meet the needs of a specific project.

In addition to the Game Changer Awards, Sportsfield was recognized at the ASBA Awards Ceremony for their role as a track and field equipment supplier in numerous award-winning construction projects.

Highest honors include Outstanding Track and Field Facility of the Year – Franklin High School and Outstanding Single Field Facility of the Year – MLS Stadium FC Cincinnati TQL Stadium. ★

Visit Sport Court Midwest’s website at www.courtofsport.com or call 630-3508652. ★

SportsField Specialties Honored at Technical Meeting

Sportsfield Specialties, Inc. received honors at the ASBA Technical Meeting, including a Game Changer Award in the Fields Division and recognition as an equipment supplier on several award-winning sports construction projects.

Sportsfield’s Pedestrian and Equipment Synthetic Turf Infill Containment Systems are designed to capture the infill and other potential contaminants as people and equipment exit the playing surface.

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Sports Venue Calculator Platform Made a Big Jump in Numbers in 2022 Sportsvenuecalculator.com launched its service two years ago, in 2021, to serve all the sports facility builders in the U.S. Last year, 2022, was the year the service really broke through into the U.S. market.

In 2022, more than 100,000 visitors searched for sports facility-related information like building costs and available grants on the site. Over 4,500 visitors used the free-of-charge cost calculators to get cost estimates on upcoming sports facilities.

Most of the requests made by the users were for the installation or renovation of artificial turf fields, sports lighting, tennis & pickleball courts, sports flooring, sports domes and running tracks. The growth rate of total requests compared to 2021 was a staggering 632%.

The study of the sportsvenuecalculator. com users shows that the profile of a typical site user was one of the following: owner, president, CEO or athletic director.

Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

The institutions that the most active users represented were mostly educational, sports clubs or municipalities.

The platform expects to continue growing this year, especially in terms of the number of requests coming through the cost calculator funnel. ★

STOCKMEIER Urethanes Opens Location in Dubai The fifth location of the STOCKMEIER Urethanes Group is Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). STOCKMEIER Urethanes ME LLC. is the new flagship of the group on the Asian continent.

The vision of establishing a company in Asia has been cherished by Christian Martinkat, Chairman of the Executive Committee, for many years. "Proximity creates trust, which is why establishing a location in the Asian economic area, and thus closer to our local customers, is the next indispensable step for us in the direction of an even more global corporate presence. Asia is an economically strong growth market, especially for our products from the sports and leisure flooring and adhesives sector. Together with Ranjeet Singh, Managing Director of the new location, and his future team, we are looking forward to the new challenges with the goal of taking our globality and proximity to our customers to a new level."

A warehouse has been established for the new site and personnel changes will be announced in the coming weeks. ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2023, Issue 3

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

Advanced Sports Group, LLC American Sports Construction Inc. dba ASC Turf Athletic Fields of America CAMCO Deluxe Surfacing First Serve Productions, Inc. Kalmia, LLC Lovas Group, LLC Next Level Construction Palm Springs Tennis Courts PC Court Company Lte. Prodisa Dominicana SRL Schnieders Excavating

• • • •

SMC2 Superior Tennis Courts Terra Athletics (a division of Terra Excavating, LLC) VTECH Construction, LLC

Supplier • • • •

Bona US PrecisionJet, LLC StreetBond Unlimited Sports Solutions

Provisional • • • •

NEW CERTIFIED BUILDERS •

Professional

•

•

•

DGF Pickleball Court Solutions

First Class Courts, Inc. Once and For All Tires LLC Surface Max Turf Painter

Dalton Pafford, CFB-S / Byrne & Jones Construction Larry Reinmuth, CTB / Carter Construction Company Matt Schnitzler, CTB / Hellas Construction

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BEFORE

X-Section Crushed Rock, Post Tension

AFTER Color Finish

or Asphalt Base Lines ProBounce® Concrete • Overlay RenovationGame Technology® • Memorial Park, Mendon, Massachusetts Moisture-Proof Stable Backing Synthetic Fibers and Infill with Polyseal Binder

X-Section *Note: Cross Section Not to Scale

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Crushed Crushed Rock, Rock, Post Post Tension Tension Concrete Concrete or or Asphalt Asphalt Base Base Moisture-Proof Moisture-Proof Stable Stable Backing Backing Synthetic Synthetic Fibers Fibers and and Infill Infill with with Polyseal Polyseal Binder Binder

Color Color Finish Finish Game Game Lines Lines

*Note: *Note: Cross Cross Section Section Not Not to to Scale Scale

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Build 835-0033 it Right | Winter • 2023, Issue 3 (800) INFO@NGISPORTS.COM • WWW.NGISPORTS.COM