May June 2024 - 36

Walk around the track regularly and look for areas of
wear, including places where markings may look faint,
where surfacing may be damaged or loose, or even
areas where the track
appears to rise or fall.
Problems don't get
better with time, so
if minor repairs aren't
working, it's time to get
expert help.
" Owners and
managers should always
call the professionals, "
says Narozanick.
" Remember that you
absolutely need to
use an experienced
contractor or other
professional when
repairing a running track
as many tolerances must
be kept in order to have
the track able to host
the required level of
competition. "
ASBA offers two publications, Running Tracks:
Construction and Maintenance Manual, and Sports
Fields: Construction & Maintenance Manual, which
provide a great deal of information presented in a userfriendly
fashion.
Court Maintenance: Best Practices
Those with outdoor courts-tennis, basketball,
or pickleball-already know that staying on top of
maintenance means staying just a few steps ahead of
the curve.
" Owners should be doing visual inspections of all courts
throughout the year, " says Donald Pierson of Courts
Unlimited LLC. " At the beginning of spring and at the end
of the season, the court should be looked over thoroughly.
In a perfect world, it should be inspected yearly but
realistically, a professional should be coming by every two
to three years or at the first sight of any surface issues. "
Of course, notes Brackett Vaughan of Tennis Courts,
Inc., nobody is going to know about those surface issues
unless a regular inspection is conducted.
" Coaches should take notice on a daily basis when in
use. I would suggest checking periodically during the
warmer months. Once the weather warms and stabilizes,
I would do a court inspection for cracks or failures in
previous repairs. It's when the weather temperature
changes a large amount in a short period of time that
courts seem to be stressed the most. "
Keep courts free of debris, including leaves, twigs,
and so forth, since this can stain the surface if left
long enough.
" If courts are close to trees and have a black-looking
moldy surface, we recommend having the courts soft36
COACH & A.D. | MAY/JUNE 2024
washed by a professional, " says Vaughan. " This cleans the
court without pressure that could damage the playing surface. "
If used regularly, a broom or a leaf blower may be
sufficient to keep
debris from collecting.
If there are stains,
or if debris does
not seem to be
moving, call the court
contractor for advice,
since some surfaces
may be damaged by
treatments that are
too vigorous.
" Please don't try
to power-wash the
courts yourself, "
adds Pierson.
Another way to
cut down marks
on the surface of a
basketball, pickleball,
or tennis court is to
post signage noting
that only court shoes with non-marking soles may be worn.
However, the ability to reinforce this will be dependent
upon the amount of supervision courts receive.
If you spot cracks in your court, the best course of action
is to take photos of them and send them to your court
contractor. Trying to paint over or fill in cracks with a DIY
method can do far more harm than good.
" I have seen many owners try to fill/seal cracks,
resurface, and paint their courts, " says Pierson. " Trust
me, it never turns out well and it becomes a much more
expensive fix. When someone has to fix a DIY job, it can be
far more expensive. "
Something else to consider: To those without knowledge
of asphalt and concrete, cracks look like, well, cracks. In
reality, though, some can be minor while others can signify
a serious underlying problem. In every case, it is better to
engage someone with expertise early.
Of course, nothing can beat regular court inspections,
so in this case, make your students stewards of the court.
Whether playing basketball, tennis, or pickleball (or really,
any other sport on a hard surface), it's the users who
will see the court day in and day out, and who will notice
problems, such as cracks, discoloration, uneven spots, etc.
Post signage with contact information (a number to text or
call, an e-mail, etc.) and encourage students to reach out if
they see anything that concerns them.
ASBA offers three publications, Tennis Courts:
Construction and Maintenance Manual, Courts &
Recreational Surfaces: Construction and Maintenance
Manual, and Pickleball Courts: Construction &
Maintenance Manual, all of which provide a great deal
of information presented in a user-friendly fashion.
Information on all publications is available through
ASBA: sportsbuilders.org.
http://www.sportsbuilders.org
May June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May June 2024
