SAFETY AND SECURITY
ASBA 2022 Outstanding Sports Facility Award Winner . Photo courtesy of GeoSurfaces Inc .
is snug and unlikely to move when an athlete comes into contact with it . Check gates and make sure they swing cleanly and , if applicable , can be closed and locked when the facility is not in use .
CHECK-UP OF ACCESSORIES AND AMENITIES Bleachers , whether folding , portable or stationary , should be solid and safe . Check seats and steps , as well as handrails , and make sure nothing is loose . If there are dugouts or team seating areas , examine those as well . Lighting systems should be working , not just on the field but in any pedestrian areas .
SAFETY IS A PROCESS , NOT AN EVENT The safety audit is an essential tool when it comes to identifying problems in the facility and correcting them before they result in injuries ; however , it does not take the place of ongoing awareness . Sports surfaces and equipment should be evaluated throughout the competition since conditions can change quickly , depending upon the weather , the sport and the level of play . SFM
Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association ( ASBA ), the national organization for builders , design professionals and suppliers of materials for sports fields , running tracks , tennis courts and indoor and outdoor courts and recreational facilities .
Full information on athletic facility design and construction , as well as other resources , can be accessed by contacting the ASBA . Two publications , Sports Fields : A Construction and Maintenance Manual , and Running Tracks : A Construction and Maintenance Manual , may be of use in designing and building facilities that can , when maintained correctly , provide years of safe enjoyment . More information is available at www . sportsbuilders . org . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com April 2023 | SportsField Management
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