Build It Right - Winter 2024, Issue 7

ASB Foundation Announces Ed & Martina Norton Scholarship

Meet ASBA’s New Officers & Directors

Association to Have a Presence at Inaugural RacquetX Conference

Build It Right

Winter 2024, Issue 7 sportsbuilders.org

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

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 Randy Resley

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 © 2024. 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

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HEADLINE NEWS

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FEATURES

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MEETING NEWS

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PLAYING BY THE RULES

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DIVISION REPORTS

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ASBA?

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TRENDING TOPICS

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MEMBER NEWSLINE

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NEW MEMBERS & CERTIFIED BUILDERS

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Meet ASBA’s New Officers & Directors ASB Foundation Announces Endowment of Ed & Martina Norton Scholarship ASBA to Participate in Inaugural RacquetX Conference Flag Football: Coming On Strong

ASBA Technical Meeting Overview & Photos Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit Covers New Ground for ASBA Good Sports at the Technical Meeting ASBA Announces Winners of Facility Awards Technical Content: Here’s What You Might Have Missed ASBA Announces Industry Award Winners

Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Randy Resley

As I write this column, we’re coming off a very successful Technical Meeting in Houston, Texas. With over 300 first-time attendees, nearly 1,100 overall attendees and the debut of ASBA’s first Indoor Sports Flooring Summit (a meeting within a meeting), we couldn’t be more pleased.

The success of this meeting gives us a great deal of momentum coming into 2024. ASBA’s “Build it Right” message is being embraced by more of us in the design/build community and is being seen by more of our customers than ever before.

Our years of investment in our Certified Builder programs, our partnerships with other industry associations and the governing bodies with whom we work and the marketing of this consistent message is paying off.

I was elected as your Chairman to continue to carry the “Build it Right” message forward and to continue to build out the infrastructure (through programs, staff and volunteer resources) necessary to support it. I’m honored to take the baton

from our esteemed Immediate Past Chairman, David Clapp, who has provided his leadership over the past two years and has successfully guided us through a robust strategic planning effort that has set us up for great success.

Our most immediate next step will be to convene in Puerto Rico on February 23-25 for the 2024 Winter Meeting to engage with one another on building an even better offering and continuing to lead the industry forward! See you in Puerto Rico! ★ Sincerely,

Randy Resley

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HEADLINE NEWS Meet ASBA’s New Officers and Directors Mary Helen Sprecher ASBA has announced its officers and directors for the coming membership year. The new slate took its place at the conclusion of the ASBA’s Technical Meeting, held in Houston, Texas. (More information on this meeting is found elsewhere in this magazine).

Randy Resley of Sport Court of the Rockies, LLC (Highlands Ranch, Colorado), has been named Chairman of the Association. Resley, who previously served as Chairman-Elect, as well as President of the Courts Division of the Association, has been extensively involved with ASBA, serving on the Board of Directors and as a part of the editorial committee for the new publication, Courts and Recreational Facilities: Construction & Maintenance Manual.

Allen Verdin, CFB, of The Motz Group in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the ASBA’s new Secretary/Treasurer. Verdin previously served as the Association’s Secretary-Treasurer-Elect.

The new President of the Supplier Division is Anthony Graham (MAPEI, Dalton, Georgia). Graham previously served on the board as a representative of the Supplier Division.

New members of the ASBA Board of Directors are the following: •

Alex Fletcher (Sportsfield Specialties, Delhi, New York), Supplier Division

•

Rick Hardin (STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc., Clarksburg, West Virginia), Supplier Division

•

Sam Titchener (Colony Landscape & Maintenance, Alviso, California), Builder Division

Continuing in their positions on the Board of Directors are the following: Todd Dettor (Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. & 10-S Tennis Supply, Pompano Beach, Florida), President of the Tennis Division; Kirk Grego, CFB (Mid-America Golf and Landscape, Inc. DBA Mid-America Sports Construction, Lee’s Summit, Missouri), President of the Fields Division; Jordan Fisher, CTB (Fisher Tracks, Inc., Boone, Iowa): President of the Track Division; and Craig Honkomp, PE, PS, LEED, AP (Sportworks Design, West Chester, Ohio): President of the Professional Division.

Continuing in their positions on the Board of Directors as representatives of the Builder Division are Ryan Auer (Leslie Coatings, Indianapolis, Indiana), Fred Kolkmann, CTCB (Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sport Surfaces, LLC, Grafton, Wisconsin), John Nelson, CFB (Peacock Services, Ft. Myers, Florida) and Jonathan Wright, CTCB (Court One, Youngsville, North Carolina).

Continuing in their positions as representatives of the Professional Division are Tim Gerrits, ASLA (GMB Architecture + Engineering, Holland, Michigan) and Sean Hufnagel, PLA, ASLA (HNP, LLC, Birmingham, Alabama).

David Clapp, CTB, CTCB, of Baseline Sports Construction in Knoxville, Tennessee, remains on the board for the 2023-2024 membership year as the Association’s Past Chairman. ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

HEADLINE NEWS ASB Foundation Announces Ed & Martina Norton Scholarship Mary Helen Sprecher

The Technical Meeting in Houston was a tribute to how far the Association has come and how much it has grown. One of the most important developments has been the creation of the American Sports Builders Foundation (ASBF), the Association’s philanthropical arm.

The ASBF 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 Association is able to take an enormous step toward the second part of its mission, thanks to longtime ASBA member HNP, LLC, who endowed the Ed & Martina Norton Scholarship, on behalf of Ed and his late wife.

The Foundation Board’s goal is to award its first scholarship(s) for the Fall 2024 school year. ASBF expects to make a membership-wide announcement of the opening of the scholarship application process soon. Students interested in applying for the scholarship will be able to do so through an online form, which will include a field to identify any ASBA members with whom they are connected. (The Foundation will also welcome online nominations from ASBA members, who know of deserving students.)

More information on this process will be available in the very near future.

ASBA members are encouraged to make a donation toward the effort. Full information, plus a donation portal, is available on the Foundation’s page at sportsbuilders.org/page/asbf-scholarships.

For more information, contact the ASBF Executive Director, Nikki Augsburger, at nikki@sportsbuilders.org. ★

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HEADLINE NEWS ASBA to Participate in Inaugural RacquetX Conference Mary Helen Sprecher ASBA will be participating in the inaugural RacquetX Conference, to be held in Miami, Florida, concurrent with the Miami Open.

A global first, RacquetX is a conference for all racquet sports under one roof, encouraging ideas and collaboration between industry professionals in tennis, pickleball, padel, racquetball and beyond. It has been established to celebrate the current boom in racquet sports and will be one of the highlights of the industry calendar when the inaugural conference runs from March 24-26, 2024, the middle weekend of the Miami Open tennis tournament.

RacquetX will be held in the Miami Beach Convention Center. ASBA will have a presence on the exhibit hall floor and will be sponsoring a panel session with member participants, entitled “Design and Build: What Goes into Creating the New Wave of Racquet Sports Facilities?” Speakers are Todd Dettor (Fast-Dry Courts), Pete Francesconi (Racquet Sports Industry Magazine), Tim Gerrits (GMB), David Lasota (The Tennis Design Studio) and Eric Loftus (Northeast Padel).

ASBA considers the education of industry professionals essential to its mission. Raising awareness of the importance of quality design, workmanship and materials can help avoid improper construction by unknowledgeable builders, which can, in turn, result in a facility that does not hold up, and does not provide a quality playing experience.

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By providing information to consumers, ASBA can encourage use of its website (and its Find a Builder/Designer/Supplier feature), as well as the purchase of its publications, such as the tennis courts and pickleball courts manuals.

Planning to be at RacquetX? Make sure to stop

by ASBA’s booth and say hello! ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

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FEATURED ARTICLES Flag Football: Coming On Strong Mary Helen Sprecher Photo courtesy of NFL FLAG

Although it was approved as a showcase sport for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, flag football was already growing almost stratospherically in popularity, not only nationwide but worldwide – so the announcement of its Olympic inclusion might not have come as a shock.

The sport began getting global attention when it was presented at the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in 2022; in that event, Team USA won the gold medal in the men’s competition, and the silver in women’s, with Mexico taking the gold.

On the youth level, flag has gained tremendous yardage, with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) reporting that a total of 20,875 girls participated in the sport in 2022-23, a whopping one-year increase of 32 percent. Seven states now sponsor a state championship in girls flag and more are in the planning stages. All indicators are that high school players are moving on to college, and they’re bringing their interest with them; in fact, NAIA and NJCAA already count women’s flag among their sanctioned sports.

In early 2023, NFL FLAG (which operates programs nationwide) announced a partnership with the Atlantic East conference in NCAA Division III, bringing female flag football as an emerging sport for the first time in women’s collegiate sports history.

Every NFL team has aligned with the NFL FLAG movement, something that has helped to grow the sport; in fact, the NFL notes that according to data from the International Federation of American Football, 2.4 million children under age 17 are playing organized flag football in the U.S., while millions more participate in flag globally.

What does all this mean for field builders, designers and suppliers? A lot, since there will be a call for more fields. Flag football’s season begins in the spring. Although high schools and colleges might not see it as a competitor for field time initially, the growth in numbers of students and the likely result (more teams at not just the varsity but the JV and club/intramural levels) are fully expected to result in a need for additional playing space.

At the same time, it is expected that more travel tournaments will be held. One note, however, from NFL FLAG: A flag football field

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

FEATURED ARTICLES is shorter than a standard tackle field at 30 yards wide and 70 yards long, with two 10-yard end zones and a midfield line-to-gain.

To prevent power football in tight spaces, no run zones are located five yards before the end zone and on each side of the midfield line-to-gain. If the ball is spotted on or inside the no-run zone, the offense must use a pass play to get a first down or touchdown.

IFAF is currently working on specifications for fields for wheelchair flag football, which it defines as “a co-ed sport with a big future.” Information on these fields will be released as soon as it is available; however, expect surfaces to be accessible to those with mobility devices like wheelchairs. (The Miracle League, for example, an organization dedicated to creating accessibility in baseball, has specific recommendations concerning surfaces that will be flat, smooth and free of any irregularities; it is possible such specifications may be used when IFAF develops its own rules for an accessible game.)

Additionally, the game is played in a small-sided format (such as 5v5) for youth players. In such cases, the size of the playing area is smaller as well, allowing one field to host two to three games, depending upon the layout. ★

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ASBA Technical Meeting: A Wire to Wire Success ASBA’s Technical Meeting, the highlight of the membership year, took place at the Marriott Marquis Houston, from December 1-4 in Houston, Texas.

The meeting served as a testament to ASBA’s growing membership, as well as its reach in the industry, having a record-breaking attendance of 1,100 individuals, an increase of more than 30 percent over any of the Association’s meetings to date.

Enjoy a few of the best photos from the meeting! And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the 2024 Technical Meeting, to be held from December 2-6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

ASBA TECHNICAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW DECEMBER 1 - 4 | HOUSTON, TEXAS

RECAP

Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit Covers New Ground for ASBA The 2023 Technical Meeting marked a first for ASBA: the inaugural Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit. All programming took place alongside ASBA’s Technical Meeting in Houston (leading to what chairman Randy Resley termed “a meeting within a meeting.”)

The programming for the summit was targeted toward builders, architects, designers, specifiers, influencers, contractors and suppliers involved with indoor sports flooring.

Attendees of the summit attended not only sessions pertaining to their interests but participated in all aspects of the ASBA Technical Meeting, including the Exhibit Hall and all meals and networking events.

The program for the Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit, most sessions of which were eligible for AIA and ASLA CEUs, was as follows: Why ASBA? Why Now? - Joe Covington, Covington Flooring; Paul Nelson, Western Sport Floors; Randy Resley, Sport Court of the Rockies, LLC; Fred Stringfellow, American Sports Builders Association Evolution Of Coatings (Best Practices/Case Study) - John Prater, Praters Flooring Performance Characteristics Of Sport Floors - Paul Elliott, PhD, PE, CPSI, ASET Services, Inc. Padded Polyurethane Sports Flooring - Pad N Por - Spencer Proud, Abacus Flooring Project Management In Today’s World - Abby Mitchell, Ponder Company, Inc. Environmental Conditions For Application Success Problems/Causes/Cures) - Adam Taylor, CTB, Mondo USA, Inc.; William Thornton, Fieldturf Tarkett Equipment And Maintenance - 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 Maple 101 - Todd Goodridge, Robbins Sport Surfaces Count on more programming for indoor professionals later this year. Want to know more or become more closely involved?

Contact ASBA headquarters.

This year’s Technical Meeting was much richer as a result of the contributions of our Indoor Sports Surfacing community. Here are some statistics: •

8 indoor surfacing sessions

•

37 flooring companies attended the meeting; 85 individual registrants from those companies.

•

4 flooring companies exhibited at the Trade Show ★

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Good Sports at ASBA At the same time many of ASBA’s Technical Meeting attendees were checking into the Houston Marriott Marquis (or in the air on their way to the meeting), the Association’s weekend warriors were preparing to do battle for bragging rights on the courts and on the course in ASBA’s official tournaments.

The ASBA Golf Tournament, held at the Wildcat Golf Club on December 1, was sponsored by Liberty Tire. After the dust (grass?) settled, the following winners were announced: Winning Foursome: Matt Moyse (Sportsfield Specialties), Kevin Fuselier (SLR International Corp.), Tom DeRosa (DeRosa Sports Construction), and Matt DeRosa (DeRosa Sports Construction).

Longest Drive Winner: Paige Casto (SCG Fields) Closest to the Pin Winners: Kevin Timmons (Welch Tennis Courts) and Robbie Plett (Facility Armor).

Those who competed on the courts (on Saturday, December 2, at the Downtown Clubs/Met Center Club) also found a great way to release their competitive streaks.

The ASBA Tennis Tournament culminated in a hard-fought final between the doubles teams of John Hanna (Racquet Sports Industry Magazine) and Chris Machnich (ClearSpan Structures) against Steve Brillhart (CaliClay Basalt Surface Systems) and Greg Duffy Jr. (Super Seal Sealcoating). The team of Hanna/Machnich took the title.

The ASBA Pickleball Tournament enjoyed good attendance from a variety of members who competed intensely in the rising sport. This event will be offered at future meetings as well.

For those who want to defend their title (or those who are simply itching for some payback – or even those who want to play), mark your calendar for the 2024 ASBA Technical Meeting, to be held from December 2-6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

ASBA TECHNICAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW DECEMBER 1 - 4 | HOUSTON, TEXAS

RECAP

ASBA Announces Winners of Facility Awards Projects are scored individually based on considerations such as layout and design, site work, drainage, base construction, surface, amenities, innovation and overall impression. Winning entries are those whose cumulative scores met or exceeded the standard.

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 Sparta High School: Sparta Memorial Field Sparta, Wisconsin Rettler Corp.

Silver Award Fort Payne High School Baseball Field Fort Payne, Alabama HNP LLC OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL FACILITY OF THE YEAR Bill Noble Park Gardendale, Alabama Lower Bros. Co. Inc.

Silver Award City Walk Park Birmingham, Alabama Lower Bros. Co. Inc. Bronze Award Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch Bradenton, Florida Welch Tennis Courts Inc.

OUTSTANDING RESIDENTIAL TENNIS FACILITY OF THE YEAR Root Residence Leawood, Kansas McConnell & Associates Corp.

OUTSTANDING MULTI-FIELD FACILITY OF THE YEAR West Ottawa High School Stadium Holland, Michigan GMB Architecture + Engineering

Silver Award Cleveland Browns Training Facility at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus Berea, Ohio SCG Fields LLC Bronze Award Iowa State University Football Practice Field-Johnny Majors Field Ames, Iowa Shive-Hattery Inc. OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR TENNIS FACILITY OF THE YEAR Sparta Public Schools High School Tennis Courts Sparta, Michigan GMB Architecture + Engineering

Silver Award IMG Academy Bradenton, Florida Welch Tennis Courts Inc. Bronze Award The Eren Family Tennis Center at Rumsey Hall School Washington Depot, Connecticut Classic Turf Company LLC OUTSTANDING COURT & RECREATION MULTI-PURPOSE FITNESS AND WELLNESS FACILITY OF THE YEAR Manasquan High School MultiPurpose Facility Manasquan, New Jersey Suburban Consulting Engineers Inc.

OUTSTANDING COURTS RECREATION MULTIPURPOSE FIELDHOUSE OF THE YEAR Future Legends Windsor, Colorado Sport Court of the Rockies LLC ★

Scan here to check out the Awards Brochure:

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Technical Content: Here’s What You Might Have Missed If you missed any of the sessions at this year’s Technical Meeting in Houston (or if you missed the whole meeting), you missed a LOT. Need proof? Here is a quick rundown of some of the programmatic highlights.

There’s still some good news, though: All session presentations are online on the ASBA’s website at the address of sportsbuilders.org/page/TMPresentations2023 and you can download and review them free of charge. While it’s not the same as being able to hear them in person – and be able to do the Q&A with the presenters afterwards – it’s a great way of catching up on some of the meeting’s content.

Note: Many sessions were AIA/ASLA CEU eligible, meaning attendees could receive credit at the conclusion, providing yet another reason to attend.

Want to make sure you don’t miss any of the next meeting?

Mark your calendar for ASBA’s 2024 Technical Meeting, taking place in Orlando from December 2-6. More information will be available later this year.

In the meantime, enjoy these highlights from Houston!

Evolution of Coatings (Best Practices/Case Study) John Prater, Praters Flooring Programming Track: Indoor Sports Surfaces Summit This presentation covered the evolution of sport floor coating and design. Wood floors were once unadorned, with the exception of being finished and including playing lines in colors appropriate to the sports expected to be hosted.

Today, branding is king, and flooring is expected to reflect team/school colors as well as the logos of not only the school and its mascot but of sponsors, as well as any sanctioning body, something that can be seen during March Madness games, for example.

John Prater provided a three-decade overview of the changes in the industry. Between 1989 and 1999, he noted, vector graphics simply did not exist. Designs had to be hand-painted onto floors, which necessitated artistic ability. (Prater showed a photo of a floor at the University of Tennessee (circa 1990), with discussion of the application of all markings.)

With the advent of CorelDRAW, design of floors became more sophisticated, allowing flooring companies the ability to present prospective clients with multiple conceptual images.

However, large stencils were still unavailable and designs

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still needed to be transferred by hand to the floor itself.

As technology continued to evolve, so did customer expectations. Prater stated that graphic design is expected of companies and he presented multiple images that a customer (such as a school, team or other organization) could view with an eye to selecting a combination of colors and graphics that conveyed the desired message. On the hiring side, employees who were educated and skilled in graphic design became desirable to flooring companies.

Prater also spent time discussing the pros and cons of stain or glaze vs. paint, as well as water-based coatings vs. oilbased finishes; more extensive information on these can be found on the downloadable PDF of the session. (Additional technical documents are found in the links at the end of it.)

The latest means of court branding is through LED lighting; FIBA recently sanctioned this method.

Ground Penetrating Radar Issam Khoury, PhD, PE, Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University; Paul Nagle, CTB, AstroTurf Corporation Programming Track: Running Tracks Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an active geophysical technique that uses wide-band electromagnetic (EM) pulses to non-invasively assess subsurface conditions. It can be used to obtain a variety of data in a track setting, including depth and variability of the track surface and underlying asphalt.

It also can provide information on the density of asphalt in the top inch, as well as the depth and variability of the stone base depth. This makes it an excellent diagnostic tool to use when evaluating an existing facility.

The technology has been around since 1926 (when the first patent was presented) and was originally developed for use in examining glaciers. It is interesting to note that while GPR is also commonly used to examine sites of unrecorded cemeteries, it does not, as the public sometimes thinks, operate like an x-ray to show exactly what is beneath the surface.

Presenters noted that in visually evaluating a track facility, it is relatively easy for a track professional to see what the surface looks like, and to spot problems with its planarity, markings, etc. The use of GPR, meanwhile, allows the professional to get a sense of any underlying problems without disturbing

ASBA TECHNICAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW DECEMBER 1 - 4 | HOUSTON, TEXAS

RECAP

the facility, making it a particularly desirable diagnostic tool if the track is still actively in use.

As the GPR is activated, it sends a pulse down through the surface. Reflections from subsurface materials occur when the GPR energy changes its speed at the interface between layers or objects. Velocity changes occur when there are contrasting chemical and electrical properties between materials. Objects below the ground are seen as a parabola on the readout.

Presenters showed images of various types of equipment, describing how it works, and showed images generated.

They used a case study of a 23-year-old track, and indicated where on the surface of the track readings were taken. With the help of four people, nine profiles were compiled, taking approximately 30 minutes (plus time to analyze the data collected). The images obtained were shown to attendees, and discussion ensued about the interpretation of the data.

Presenters discussed how contractors can access GPR equipment, the importance of using the right type of equipment for the installation and the fact that operators should be trained not only to use the equipment but to understand the data.

The relative cost (and value) of GPR was also discussed.

Padel 101 Whitney Kraft, All Racquet Sports; Eric Loftus, Cape and Island Tennis & Track Programming Track: Courts Whether padel will be the new pickleball remains to be seen but its growth, propelled by demographic shifts, continues.

If the crowd at the session is an accurate barometer, it’s a sport that is garnering a great deal of interest at both the contractor and the consumer level.

Padel is recorded as being invented in Acapulco in 1969 but became popular when it entered the Spanish market in the mid-1970s. It is wildly popular in Mexico, as well as in Argentina, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, the U.K. and Portugal. (In the USA, it is most popular in Miami, followed

by Southern California.) Unlike pickleball, however, which has both singles and doubles, padel uses only doubles play.

Like pickleball, padel combines aspects of other racquet sports, including squash and tennis. Demand and awareness are also growing; PTR recently began offering a padel-specific certification, the Padel Coaches Registry. The United States Padel Association is its national governing body, and there

is a pro tour as well as a pro league. The largest growth sectors in the USA are expected to be (in order of investment) private investors and club operators; existing country clubs and tennis clubs; and residential construction.

The surface is sand-filled synthetic turf over a paved base.

The court itself is 32’ 10” x 65’ 7” (10m x 20m). The court surround is steel or aluminum with glass panels on the ends and in the corners. (A full description of the court, including further dimensions, placement of amenities and surface options, can be found in the presentation.) The presentation also covered the conversion of tennis courts to padel courts.

During the course of the presentation, the presenters passed around padel paddles (which look similar to a pickleball paddle but are heavier and thicker and have holes drilled through to create less resistance when the paddle is swung.

(Worth noting: Padel balls are slightly smaller and lighter than tennis balls.)

Sports Fields Environmental Impacts Christian Huntress, Huntress Associates, Inc.; Phil Stricklen, PhD., Firefly Sports Testing Programming Track: Fields This session discussed trends and concerns related to the impact of both natural grass and synthetic turf fields on the environment, and on personal health. Because it was the topic at the forefront of most conversations around fields, the presenters first discussed Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (collectively known as PFAS).

Continues on page 18...

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Because they do not biodegrade, PFAS have become known as “forever chemicals.” Some regulatory agencies are considering banning PFAS as a whole; however, research on their impact on health and the environment is ongoing.

PFAS, when present at low concentrations, are difficult to measure, and the only current test methods being used are specific to drinking water; the EPA is also evaluating test methods for soil.

While PFAS is often brought up in conjunction with synthetic turf, it is worth noting that what have been identified as “PFAS of concern” have never been used in the production of synthetic turf (and additionally, there is no standardized test that can measure individual PFAS in turf).

In the past, fluoropolymer processing aids were used in producing some turf fibers; however, manufacturers are phasing out these aids, and have committed to not adding PFAS in turf any longer as of this year. (However, any product, turf included, can be contaminated with PFAS as a result of environmental exposure.)

At the state level, there has been some adoption of regulatory limits of PFAS in drinking water, ground water and soils, and many states have banned the intentional addition of PFAS to food packaging. The only regulation of PFAS as it pertains to turf is in California, where regulated added PFAS in turf is banned as of 2026. (Note: The definition of “regulated” means intentionally added or present at more than 20 parts per million.)

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

The next area of discussion was microplastics (defined as any plastic particle less than 5 mm in length). Primary microplastics include crumb rubber and polymeric infill material; secondary microplastics include degradation products like fiber fragments. At this time, there are no current regulations proposed for microplastics in the USA; however, presenters covered best practices for containing infill.

Heat is another concern, particularly on synthetic turf fields. In 2023, California SB 499 attempted to mandate the replacement of “low specific heat surfaces, such as cement, asphalt, brick, pebbles, sand, aggregates, rubber and synthetic turf, with high specific heat surfaces, such as cool pavement technologies, natural grass, shrubs, trees, wood chips or other natural systems that mitigate heat and pollution, as provided.” The bill died in committee.

Presenters also discussed the issue of PFAS in natural soil, showing a Milford, Massachusetts study in a high school area, in which PFAS in synthetic turf products were not detected, as compared to high concentrations found in the soil of natural fields in the same area. ★

ASBA TECHNICAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW DECEMBER 1 - 4 | HOUSTON, TEXAS

RECAP

ASBA Announces Industry Award Winners ASBA has announced the winners of its industry awards of recognition. Presentation of awards took place at the close of the Association’s 2023 Technical Meeting, which was held in Houston, Texas. (Information on this meeting is found elsewhere in this magazine.)

The Industry Merit Award, ASBA’s highest honor, given in recognition of exemplary service to the Association, was presented to David H. Pettit, ASBA’s longtime legal counsel. Pettit, who has been with the Association for 40 years, was the unanimous choice of the Board of Directors to receive the award.

“It would be hard to overestimate David Pettit’s contributions to the Association,” stated David Clapp, ASBA’s Chairman, “and much growth and success is attributable to his guidance and professionalism.”

In addition to advising the Association, Pettit has been a presenter at meetings, discussing business-related issues such as succession planning and contract drafting.

Pettit received a standing ovation from the Association as he accepted his honor.

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 American Tennis Courts, Inc. of Mobile, Alabama and its owner, Jeff Nichols.

American Tennis Courts has been operating since 1969, and Nichols took the helm in 1995. He has a strong record of service to the Association, is a Certified Tennis Court Builder, holds the Pickleball Builder certificate, and is a member of the Joint Editorial Board that is working on the revisions of the publications, Tennis Courts: Construction and Maintenance Manual.

Nichols has often noted that it is commitment that makes a company successful, and that his is no exception to the rule.

“You have to make a commitment to quality and to your customers. You have to be delivering to them exactly what you promised you would. You also need to have a commitment to your employees to give them the tools they need to perform quality work, like knowledge and training.”

Game Changer Award winners were also announced at the conclusion of the Technical Meeting. The Game Changer Awards program allows 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 Dominator Pro Max Pickleball Net Company: Dominator Dominator Pro Max Pickleball Net is an aluminum, heavy-duty competition-grade pickleball net built to last in any type of climate. It is lighter, easier to assemble and easier to move than other competitive nets and built with a 4” x 4” high strength 6061 T6 aluminum. A proprietary lever on each side can be lifted to move the system. When the levers are dropped, the system locks into place and withstands professional play and any type of weather.

Fields Division Softball Mat Pro Defender Series Company: The Perfect Mound The Perfect Mound’s new softball mat is engineered backing to ensure durability, has tapered edges to eliminate lips and turf curling up and is made of high-grade materials to increase grip; SpikeTekTM to keep the mat in place; and a rubber anchor system. It also matches ground anchors to the pitcher’s rubber and provides protection against toe drag.

Mats are designed for every level of play and every surface type and will defend fields from wear and tear.

More detailed information on award winners is available through individual companies listed above. ★

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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.

NFHS: Spirit (Cheer):

Performing Surfaces (Clarification) Performing surfaces and areas must be suitable for spirit activities. When utilizing mats during practices and games, consideration should be given to the total area necessary for the performance. Extra attention should be given to the difference in the performing surfaces if transitioning on and off the mat. ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

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DIVISION REPORTS ASBA’s Membership Divisions (Courts, Track and Fields) met during the Technical Meeting in Houston, Texas. The following is a synopsis of those meetings.

COURTS DIVISION MEETING Members of ASBA’s Courts Division met with Division President Todd Dettor and guest speakers.

Director of Tennis Venue Services for the U.S. Tennis Association, Todd Carlson, reported on the steady growth of tennis players to 23.6 million players (up 33 percent since 2019). Carlson highlighted the advocacy, business and technical services and parks services being provided through USTA’s Venue Services. Over $17 million in grants have been awarded to public facilities since 2005.

President & CEO of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR/PPR/PCR) Dan Santorum discussed and highlighted the explosive growth of pickleball. Recent estimates cite 16 million pickleball players currently, with estimates as high as 35 million players by 2030. That equates to a significant increase in the number of new pickleball courts that will be needed in the coming years and is excellent news for all segments of the membership involved with the pickleball industry.

Winners of the 2023 Distinguished Facility of the Year Awards were recognized in categories that included Tennis Courts and Pickleball Courts (indoor, outdoor and residential), as well as Multi-Purpose Fitness and Wellness Facilities.

The growing number of Certified Tennis Court Builders (CTCBs) was recognized, including ASBA’s newest recipients, Don Pierson, CTCB; Greg Radcliff, CTCB; Bradley Taylor, CTCB and Kevin Timmons, CTCB, as well as ASBA’s newest Pickleball Certificate holder, Jeff Nichols, CTCB. Results of ASBA’s recent 2023 Quick Pulse Survey were presented. More than 35 percent of court builder respondents indicated growth in their businesses of 20 percent or more over 2022; with more than 65 percent of these same members anticipating continued growth for 2024. ★

TRACK DIVISION MEETING The Track Division Meeting was led by Track Division President Jordan Fisher, CTB, Fisher Tracks, Inc. Attendees heard an update from Julie Cochran, Director of Sports at the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), who shared an overview of the rules writing process, rules interpretations, and 2023 rules changes for track and field.

The Distinguished Facilities in the Track Division were announced in the Track and Field Facility and Outdoor Track Facility categories.

Chad Cosby, CTB; Josh Musser, CTB; Dalton Pafford, CTB and Matt Schnitzler, CTB recently earned the Certified Tack Builder designation. Certificates were presented to those in attendance.

Results of ASBA’s recent 2023 Quick Pulse Survey were presented. More than 30 percent of track builder respondents indicated growth in their businesses of 20 percent or more over 2022, with more than 65 percent of these same members anticipating continued growth for 2024.

Awards Committee members Sam Fisher, CTB and Troy Rudolph, CFB, CTB, CTCB shared tips for completing award applications and took questions from the audience about the awards process.

Fisher announced that an error was identified on Figure 2-5: 400 Meter Standard World Athletics Track in the 2023 edition of the Running Tracks: Construction & Maintenance Manual. Since the meeting, the error has been corrected and distributed to all those who purchased the 2023 edition. The corrected drawing has been replaced in all unsold publications (both electronic and print) and the new publication, with the correction, is available for purchase on ASBA’s website: www.sportsbuilders.org/page/OnlineStore. ★ 22

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FIELDS DIVISION MEETING After Fields Division President Kirk Grego, CFB welcomed members to the meeting, Megan Buczynski PE announced the 2023 Fields Distinguished Facility Awards, including Multi-Field, Single Field and Track and Field category winners.

The Fields Division Certification Chair, Jim Catella, CTB, CTB, recognized the Certified Field Builders (CFBs) and acknowledged the newest class of CFBs: Michael Allen, CFB; Robert Boyer, CFB Bill Gillan, CFB; Adam Heese, CFB; Ryan Laley, CFB-S; Parker Lohman, CFB; Dalton Pafford, CFB-S; Austin Place, CFB-S; Damon Richardson, CFB-N; and Nick Von Hollen, CFB-S. Results of ASBA’s recent 2023 Quick Pulse Survey were presented. More than 30 percent of field builder respondents indicated growth in their businesses of 20 percent or more over 2022, with more than 70 percent of these same members anticipating continued growth for 2024.

Julie Cochran, Director of Sports at the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), gave updates on the latest rule changes and news from the NFHS. Kirk Grego shared information about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and updated the audience with a summary of what PFAS is, a background of where PFAS is used, state regulations and more. ★

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

JANUARY - Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Conference ASBA participated at the SFMA Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida on January 22-25.

FEBRUARY - ASBA Winter Meeting ASBA members, leadership and staff will gather in Puerto Rico, February 23-25 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. ASBA will be exhibiting in the show and sponsoring a panel entitled, “Design and Build: What Goes into Creating the New Wave of Racquet Sports Facilities.”

APRIL - Regional Sports Flooring Hands-On Workshop ASBA announced its first annual indoor flooring meeting and educational event in Chattanooga, TN on April 23-25.

This 50-person event is excited to encourage networking among members and provide an opportunity for outreach within the sports construction community.

MAY - Track/Fields Meetings with NCAA & Governing Bodies ASBA’s Track and Fields Divisions and Staff will meet with representatives of NCAA, NFHS, NIAAA and USAT&F in Indiana on May 8. This annual event is intended to strengthen communications between builder and designer members, as well as with the organizations who set the rules for all relevant sports.

Continues on page 24...

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ASBA? ASBA IN PRINT - Where are ASBA’s Technical Articles Appearing?

ASBA publishes technical articles in a variety of publications across all divisions, using quotes from its members.

Would you like to receive questions for an upcoming article? Contact technical writer, Mary Helen Sprecher, at maryhelen@sportsbuilders.org.

Parks & Rec Business, August 2023: Accessible Facilities-The ADA is Just a Steppingstone Parks & Rec Business, September 2023: Catching the Cricket Bug Parks & Rec Business, October 2023: Play Up Social Spaces Track Coach Magazine, Spring 2023: Track Facilities-Keeping Them in Shape SportsField Management, March 2023: Infield Care SportsField Management, April 2023: Creating a Safety Audit SportsField Management, July 2023: Step by Step Design and Construction SportsField Management, October 2023: Are Your Fields Ready for Winter?

SportsField Management, November 2023: Sports Field Lighting SportsField Management, January 2024: ASBA’s Award-Winning Facilities Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, January 2024, Champions of Tennis: Tennis Court Contractor of the Year – Jeff Nichols, American Tennis Courts, Inc. Coach & AD, August 2023: Pickleball: The Big Sport on Campus Coach & AD, September 2023: Indoor Sports Surfaces: The Ultimate Four-Season Athlete Coach & AD: November 2023: What You Need to Know About Beach Volleyball NIAAA Athletic Administrator, Summer 2023: The End of the School Year Means a New Season in Field Care NIAAA Athletic Administrator, Fall 2023: Even Your Field Needs R&R Between Games NIAAA Athletic Administrator, Winter 2023: Maintenance Schedule for Indoor Sport Surfaces ★

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Build it Right | Winter 2024, Issue 7

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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.

Iowa Women’s College Hoops Plays Outdoors, with 55,000-Plus Fans The good news for women’s sports, particularly at the college level, and even more particularly in the Midwest, just keeps on coming. In mid-October, the Iowa women’s basketball team opened its 2023-24 season with a 94-72 victory in its exhibition game over DePaul at Kinnick Stadium in front of 55,646 fans. The Crossover at Kinnick was the first ever women’s basketball game to be played outdoors in a football stadium and set a NCAA single game record for most attended in women’s basketball history.

This follows “Volleyball Day in Nebraska,” where a world record for attendance (92,003) was set when the five-time NCAA champion Nebraska women’s volleyball team beat Omaha 3-0.

Local High School Rivalry Sells Out Ticket Block at SoFi Stadium Yes, you read that headline correctly.

Two rival Los Angeles-area high schools, Downey High School and Warren High School, played at SoFi Stadium, drawing a sellout crowd of 18,815 spectators. It was the first high school football game to be played at the stadium in Inglewood, which previously hosted the Super Bowl.

Women’s Wrestling Closer to Becoming NCAA Championship Sport More than the requisite 40 NCAA institutions now offer women’s wrestling at a varsity level, clearing the first hurdle for it to become an official NCAA championship sport. In fact, it is on track to become the NCAA’s 91st NCAA championship; however, some administrative hurdles still need to be cleared. This could lead to more indoor facilities, and more training areas being needed to accommodate the event. In addition, female wrestling continues to grow in youth, high school, college and adult categories in travel and other competitive events nationally.

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Don’t lose sight of the fact that the NCAA is continuing to promote other events that could impact sports facility demand.

Still on the roster of emerging sports for women under NCAA are Acrobatics & Tumbling (similar to gymnastics), Equestrian (Divisions I and II), Rugby, STUNT (a team sport similar to cheer, but without the crowd-leading aspect) and Triathlon.

Will New Olympic Showcase Sports for LA 2028 Spur Growth in the USA? In addition to flag football (information can be found elsewhere in this magazine), the IOC approved five other showcase sports to appear at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games: Baseball, Cricket, Lacrosse, Squash and Softball.

Appearing as a showcase sport is different from becoming a full medal sport; showcase sports are suggested by the sponsoring city and agreed upon by the IOC, but they may (or may not) be included in future Games. For example, baseball and softball were announced as showcase sports in Tokyo but will not be included in Paris this summer.

Among the sports which have not been seen by this generation in previous Olympics, cricket and squash will be most closely watched in terms of whether growth will follow stateside. Note: Cricket was last featured in the 1900 Olympic Games.

(Lacrosse, already popular nationwide, continues to grow at the youth level.)

New in Paris 2024 (though not a showcase sport) will be kayak cross, in which four athletes begin from the starting gate at the same time, then challenge one other on a course with a maximum of six downstream gates and two upstream gates. One element of the course is a kayak roll, which means completing a 360° rotation that includes the athlete’s head going under the water. (Who will win this new event is anyone’s guess, since the event has not

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been contested at the Olympics, although strong performances are expected out of athletes from Great Britain, Australia and the Czech Republic.)

FIFA Women’s World Cup Could Return to the USA The joint bid by the United States and Mexico to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is one of three remaining, after South Africa withdrew in November (officials said they wanted to focus on landing the event in 2031). The other contenders?

A joint bid by Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, and a solo bid by Brazil. FIFA plans to make on-site visits in February, with the host to be named in May. Emergence of PWHL Could Spur Growth of Indoor Facilities More than 25 years after women’s ice hockey made its Olympic debut, the puck dropped in January for the first time at games for the Professional Women’s Hockey League. After several attempts, women have a paying hockey league and many venues are selling out. With the majority of the world’s top players on its rosters, the league stands to impact youth female ice hockey.

Challenges remain, however, in the form of a shortage of rinks and ice time to a lack of college and varsity high school programs and the need for more education about ice hockey opportunities for girls and women. However, with enough demand, multi-sport facilities that can accommodate ice hockey can be expected to grow. ★

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. *ASBA reserves the right to edit all information submitted.

Court 16 Adds ASB GlassFloor Pickleball Courts to Long Island City Facility Court 16, renowned for its commitment to innovative sporting experiences, has raised the bar once again with the installation of state-of-the-art ASB GlassFloor pickleball LED courts at its Long Island City facility. These additions mark a significant leap in recreational sports technology and offerings.

When the ASB MultiSports system was installed at Court 16 in 2018, pickleball was far from the popular sport that it is today.

Court 16 asked ASB GlassFloor to return to install the new pickleball lines in order for them to cater for this fast growing sport.

ASB GlassFloor’s cutting-edge LED technology doesn’t just enhance gameplay; it transforms the entire sporting experience.

Players can now enjoy the thrill of pickleball on high-performance courts, elevating the excitement without compromising on optics.

The courts signify more than just a technological advancement; they represent a commitment to creating memorable sporting experiences and fostering a sense of community through the joy of play.

West and involved extensive earthwork and the installation of site utilities. An eighth design/build field is underway.

Randy Sterling, Key West Parks and Rec Director and former pitcher for New York Mets, envisioned rejuvenating this community landmark (named after his father, Clayton Sterling), particularly for the annual Key West Classic Baseball tournament.

Marcus Davila, Director of Community Services for the City of Key West, stated that Burke Sports did an incredible job on the project. Davila is also a former pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Burke Sports Construction completed over 80 percent of the project. Work self-performed included the demolition of existing fields, earthwork, installation of design-build subsurface drainage and laser grading. Burke also completed the installation of batting tunnels, foul poles, pitchers’ mounds, bases and field padding. The all-new synthetic fields were completed using Brockpad (shock pad) and organic Brockfill (infill) products.

Subcontractors completed the curbing, fencing, netting and turf installation. ★

Unified School District (HUSD) holding the land, the facility features a central area connecting courts with amenities like shaded picnic tables, bleachers, restrooms and a drinking fountain. It accommodates two senior courts on either side, further divisible into four junior courts.

The design prioritizes sustainability, capturing onsite runoff through permeable surfacing. The Sunset Futsal Courts play a vital role in breaking barriers to sports and recreation and fostering inclusivity and accessibility for the surrounding Ashland and Cherryland communities.

“The importance of this facility for this community is a game changer… in that it evens out the playing field and allows us to train and have a facility that is conducive for technical skills and has lights… [that allow] our kids to play year-round,” remarked Glenn Van Stratum, Soccer Director for DSAL. ★

This showcases perfectly how ASB MultiSports can be fully upgraded to keep up to date with current sporting trends or even rule changes in a particular sport. ★

Burke Sports Group Completes Renovation of Key West Baseball Complex The renovation of the Clayton Sterling Baseball Complex features the addition of four Little League fields. This was the seventh design build field that Burke Sports Group has completed for the City of Key

Carducci Associates Announces Opening of Sunset Futsal Courts Carducci Associates served as the landscape architects for Sunset Futsal Courts, the first outdoor futsal facilities in the region. Managed by DSAL (Alameda County Deputy Sheriff’s Activities League), the courts offer low-cost and free sports programs year-round, promoting fitness in the underserved Hayward community.

Owned by HARD (Hayward Area Recreation and Parks Department) with Hayward

Ecore Becomes Exclusive Distribution of OSSTSPORT Products Ecore International, a global leader in the recycling and transformation of reclaimed materials into innovative, performance-driven surfaces, is now the exclusive distributor of OSSTSPORT (Optimum Sport Surface Technology) products in the U.S. Continues on page 28...

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OSSTSPORT, a brand of King Arthur Industries Co. Ltd., specializes in manufacturing running tracks, game courts and weight room surfaces. This partnership expands and diversifies Ecore’s product range while further elevating Ecore as a resource for athletic surfaces.

“OSSTSPORT Performance Surfaces redefine the athletic experience, empowering athletes to reach new heights,” stated Julie Chen, Sales Manager of OSSTSPORT. “Our collaboration with Ecore signifies a strategic move to broaden our product reach, leveraging Ecore’s robust presence in the U.S. market. With Ecore’s extensive support, spanning from dedicated outside sales assistance to impactful marketing initiatives, we anticipate substantial growth and an enhanced presence for our line.”

The following OSSTSPORT products are now available exclusively through Ecore: OSSTrax-Elite and OSSTrax track surfaces, TruCourt and TeamPlay-M for multi-court sports and the ComPact Collection for fitness spaces.

All OSSTSPORT products adhere to Ecore’s commitment to sustainability.

Manufactured in Taiwan, they meet the highest quality standards and are GREENGUARD GOLD certified by Underwriters Laboratories. ★

of over 50 footcandles on the courts. ★

Mateflex Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2024 In 1973, Edward Mele, an avid tennis player for over 30 years, was investigating tennis court surfaces for two private courts.

He found a product called Mateflex that had been used as a tennis court surface overlay in professional tournaments in Europe and in three of six Grand Prix Masters tournaments.

The 1973 Grand Prix Masters final was played on Mateflex in Boston, Massachusetts, and Mele had the opportunity to try the surface for the first time. He immediately purchased two new courts and was so impressed by the material that he began to consider the product as an option for one of his personal business ventures, a plastic manufacturing plant based in Utica, New York.

He, along with his brother, Joseph Mele, ultimately acquired the rights to manufacture Mateflex in the United States and formed the Mateflex-Mele Corporation in 1974. Shortly after forming this new corporation, Mateflex joined the ASBA in 1975 where it has remained steadfast as a supporting member.

Frasure Reps Illuminates New Pickleball Facility Lone Palm Pickleball at Lone Palm Golf Club in Lakeland, Florida opened its new $16 million facility on October 24, 2023.

The 13-court facility made its debut with a $50,000 player showcase that included many top professional pickleball players.

The facility also includes a clubhouse, pro shop and a snack bar.

From the beginning, with just one product designed strictly for tennis courts, to the multiple product lines now supporting limitless applications today, Mateflex is still here and stronger than ever as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. ★

The lighting design was developed by Frasure Reps using LSI Zone LED fixtures.

A total of 28 78,000 lumen Zone Large fixtures provides an average light level 28

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Game-Changing Growth: Sportsfield Specialties Unveils New Location Sportsfield Specialties has a longstanding reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of sports construction equipment, as well as an extensive history in developing game-changing products.

Recently, the company unveiled its latest achievement; a cutting-edge facility that promises to continue to revolutionize the sports construction industry.

Located in Deposit, New York, this state-ofthe-art facility is equipped with advanced technologies and expanded manufacturing capabilities to meet the needs of the sports construction market throughout North America now and beyond. The facility is the result of years of meticulous planning and continued dedication to advancing the sports construction industry, culminating in a bold step forward to achieve the company’s vision of providing top-tier products and services.

Sportsfield Specialties’ commitment to quality is evident in every aspect of its operations, from the raw materials used to the precision engineering of its products.

The company’s products are rigorously tested to meet the highest safety and performance standards. Sportsfield Specialties’ team of experts is always available to guide and support customers, helping them choose the right products to meet their unique project needs. ★

Sports Turf Company Selected to Renovate High School Athletic Facilities Sports Turf Company is proud to announce it has been awarded the contract for Fulton County schools to renovate 11 practice fields, one stadium field, three tracks and two shot put and discus facilities.

Following a request for proposals, Sports Turf Company was selected by Fulton County Schools to be the most qualified athletic construction company based on numerous stipulations, including work

experience, quality of products and history of completing projects on time and within budget.

Sports Turf will convert the existing natural grass practice fields at all 12 high schools, as well as Cambridge High School’s stadium field, to an AstroTurf artificial turf system. The artificial turf system that will be installed will feature monofilament fibers with a rootzone layer of texturized fibers for optimum durability and better shock absorbency.

“It’s important to note that third-party testing of previous versions of our artificial turf detected only minuscule levels of non-soluble PFAS. These were far lower than the levels that have been found in common consumer products like dental floss and prescription medications, and significantly less than that allowed by the Food and Drug Administration in packaging for food,” Fields said. “We still took action, however, because we’re dedicated to giving our customers complete peace of mind.” ★

sees Halderman as asset in the years to come, allowing it to provide its customers with the high-quality laboratory testing and support that they deserve. ★

In addition to the field renovations, the existing eight-lane running track surfaces at Johns Creek High School, Cambridge High School and Langston Hughes High School will be resurfaced with Rekortan M synthetic surface, a World Athletics-certified, impermeable system featuring two distinct layers. This system delivers force reduction, ensures stability for predictable footing and is sealed to protect against moisture intrusion. ★

TenCate Begins Making Synthetic Turf Without Using PFAS TenCate, manufacturer, distributor and installer of synthetic turf for sports and landscape applications, is now manufacturing its top-of-the-line artificial grass without the use of PFAS. “TenCate has worked tirelessly to eliminate any PFAS from our manufacturing process,” said Joe Fields, President and CEO of TenCate Americas. “We are dedicated to making the most innovative, highest quality turf that is both safe and sustainable, and this advancement is one more pivotal way we are accomplishing our mission.”

TenCate performed an in-depth review of how it manufactures its synthetic turf.

Engineers discovered a manufacturing processing aid used in fiber extrusion that contained trace levels of non-soluble PFAS and were able to replace it with one that does not contain PFAS.

Chip Halderman Joins Turf & Soil Diagnostics Turf & Soil Diagnostics, the physical testing laboratory serving the golf, sports turf and landscape markets, is excited to announce the addition of Chip Halderman to its staff as a consultant. Halderman will be responsible for performing soil testing, analyzing data and preparing test reports, as well as for providing customer service and consultation.

Before joining Turf & Soil Diagnostics, Halderman served as superintendent at The Orchards Golf Course in Lawrence, Kansas from 2019 to 2023, where he managed golf course operations and staff, including keeping top-quality course conditions, as well ass planning and scheduling maintenance activities according to assessment and agronomic needs.

Prior to working at The Orchards, Halderman held various laboratory positions with responsibilities including sample testing and personnel management. He has degrees in sports turf management and biological sciences and is a Class A Superintendent.

Turf & Soil Diagnostics is very pleased to be adding an individual with the skill and experience needed to successfully enhance its operations and meet its goals for customer satisfaction; the company

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INFO@NGISPORTS.COM 30 (800) Build835-0033 it Right | Winter•2024, Issue 7

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

Professional

Supplier

Beebe’s Sports Floors • CDSMuery • Bonitz, Inc. • Ferretti Professional Group Inc. • CourtCo, LLC • PBK Sports • ForeverLawn • The Sports Facilities • H2I Group, Inc. Companies • I-Solutions LLC • Ancillary Narragansett Improvement Co. • • Tennis Canada New England Overland • Floor Specialists • Provisional O’Sullivan Flooring Company, Inc. • • ACE Pickleball Club Ohno Construction Company • • DP Padel LLC Oscar Services LLC • • Kentucky Sports Pro Lighting Texas Construction, LLC Sport Court Carolina, Inc. Stalker Sports Floors The Ohio Floor Company World Class Courts

AEON LED Sports Lighting AquaFuse by CMF Global, Inc. En-Plast Technology Flat Top Turf and Ag Services Flexground GameTime Wraps GreenSet USA Mallard Creek Polymers NLS Lighting, LLC Re-Match Turf Recycling Shinetoo Lighting USA, LLC Sportafence Holdings, Inc.

NEW CERTIFIED BUILDERS • • • •

Ryan Laley, CFB-S Bryne & Jones Sports Construction Marcus Ohno, CFB Ohno Construction Company Scott Starman, CTCB Pickleball Court Creations Brackett Vaughan, CTCB Tennis Courts, Inc.

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American Sports Builders Association 2331 Rock Spring Road Forest Hill, MD 21050

ASBA TECHNICAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW DECEMBER 2–6, 2024 | ORLANDO, FLORIDA