Articles
Pickleball And Tennis
The only thing more prevalent than pickleball these days is this question: “Should we line our tennis courts for pickleball, too, or just have separate pickleball courts?”
Play Up Social Opportunities
One of the great advantages of sports is they bring people together. Let’s face it—it’s just plain fun to catch up with friends, whether watching kids in Little League or finishing a great game of pickleball or tennis and wanting to unwind and talk.
Catching The Cricket Bug
There’s no end to the number of sports that have been brought to the USA through immigration, such as soccer, field hockey, and rugby. And that’s not even taking into consideration other popular fixtures on the competition calendar like wrestling and track and field.
Accessible Facilities
More than three decades ago the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. At the time, it was groundbreaking, ushering in an era in which accessible restrooms, wheelchair ramps for public facilities, curb cuts, and other means of accommodation were mandated.
Everybody Into The Pool
Swimming pools are as much a part of summer as the end of school, Popsicles, and bright, sunny days. And with the worst of the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for those facilities to welcome back the crowds.
A Bump In Activity
One of the up-and-coming forms of volleyball is played on snow. In fact, the sport is expected to experience a veritable blizzard of growth in years to come.
The 411 On 3x3
3x3 basketball might have been new to the Olympics (where the American women’s team won the gold medal), but it wasn’t new to anyone in the park and rec world, or those familiar with basketball in urban areas. In fact, the discipline—which has its roots in the urban game—has long been a staple of recreational play.
Want Big Results?
Wildly popular at the youth level, soccer and lacrosse are big tournament draws. One of the most successful formats—and one seeing tremendous growth—is small-sided play.
Field Of Play
It’s easy to host. It’s affordable to maintain. There are plenty of potential players. And it’s hot and growing and can bring a younger demographic into your park.
Quidditch And Ultimate
These are not your father’s sports. Or your mom’s, come to think of it, and they’d probably cause extreme confusion for plenty of other generations.
Serve It Up!
While beach volleyball was added to the Olympics in 1996, there is plenty of evidence to suggest the sport originated in Hawaii in the early 1900s. Like surfing, the activity was carried to the United States, becoming a fixture in California—where it was noticed by the rest of the world.
For The Love Of The Game
A tennis court (or a pickleball court, for that matter) is so flat. So rectangular. So symmetrical. It’s easy to think of it as a simple venue that doesn’t need much attention.
Field Of Study
The old axiom, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,” might be appropriate for almost any sports field this time of year. With play returning and athletes absolutely determined to make up for lost time, it’s not surprising fields aren’t looking their best.
Marking Fields For Functionality
Raise your hand if your fields have an identity crisis.Oh, come on. You know what I mean. With all the games that take place on an athletic field--soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, softball,
A Field Day In The Field House
It's no wonder people do only the minimum to maintain field-house floors. After all, when there's grass to mow, leaves to blow away and weeds to keep in check, why go inside to tend a surface that is
Tending To Turf
Long before the first kids take the field, long before the first parent shows up with a folding chair, and certainly long before the umpire yells ТPlay ball!,У baseball and softball facility managers
Natural Grass Or Synthetic Turf?
The good news is that you're acquiring a new multi-sports field. The bad news is that your desk suddenly resembles a city skyline, with different stacks of brochures and catalogues advertising
Beyond Accessibility
Sure, your indoor rec area complies with ADA regulations. The bathrooms, water fountains, and doors are accessible. The parking lots have handicap-friendly parking, and there are curb cuts where
Designing Dog Parks
Dog parks--while nowhere near as ubiquitous as ball fields, picnic tables or tennis courts--are starting to become part of the American park landscape. Particularly in urban areas where dog owners
Repair, Resurface, Or Rebuild
When tennis players begin to complain about court conditions, it's time to give the courts a check-up. A walk-through can reveal problems such as cracks, weeds, puddles and stains. After some quick