News & Articles https://sportsbuilders.org/news/default.asp Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:11:56 GMT Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:29:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 American Sports Builders Association Playing In The Sand https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=723870 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=723870 Continue reading...]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:29:00 GMT Different Courts for Different Sports https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=720116 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=720116 Continue reading...]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:46:00 GMT Prepare for Padel https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=702605 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=702605 Heads up, pickleball; there’s a new court sport in town. Padel, which has been growing internationally – and is wildly popular in Spain and Mexico – is spreading across the United States. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s only a matter of time.

According to the Global Padel Report by Playtomic Powered by Deloitte, interest in the sport (as measured by an uptick in Google searches on the term “padel”) has been surging. That interest is expected to lead to an increase in the construction of padel facilities. The report indicates that by 2026, there will be approximately 85,000 courts worldwide, more than doubling the current figure of 40,000.

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]]> Thu, 29 May 2025 14:00:00 GMT Serving Up Success https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=696682 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=696682 PICKLEBALL is wildly popular, and that means more courts are needed. A recent study by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and Pickleheads, a website devoted to the game, found that there is a major shortfall in construction, to the tune of nearly 26,000 courts. 

Yikes, right?

With that volume, communities with the space and budget for courts may wish to do some advance planning. That includes figuring out how many people in your community will be using the courts, when, and how many courts will be needed.

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]]> Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:00:00 GMT Your Serve https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=696679 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=696679 One of the great things about the internet is the amount of information it has put at our fingertips. Want some esoteric battery you can’t find in a store? Go to Amazon. Need pet food delivered? Go to Chewy.

But one of the not-so-great things about the web is the same thing that makes it great: It has put a world of information at our fingertips—but that information, to put it kindly, is not always accurate.

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]]> Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT Consumer Demands Driving New Trends in Sports Fencing https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=688992 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=688992 "Problem-Solving" might be the buzz phrase for 2025 when it comes to fencing for sports facilities. In fact, most of what drives the design, manufacturing and construction industry forward in sports is understanding what consumers want. 

 The American Sports Builders Association provides an overview of key trends

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]]> Tue, 3 Dec 2024 01:10:00 GMT Return to Form: Consider These Sports to Refresh Your Camp Recreation Lineup https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=687176 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=687176 When campers are ready to return, directors and counselors are tasked with keeping them
happy and occupied, but it’s also important to create camp programs that stand out. What
is interesting enough to make kids share their experience with friends—who, in turn, will ask their
parents if they can attend, too?

Several sports (or variations on sports) have gained popularity recently, all of them interesting and
fun for kids, particularly at a recreational level. And while the ability to incorporate any sport is limited
by space, budget, and restrictions governing land use, as well as its suitability to campers’ ages and skill
levels, there are a few universal options that provide a jumping-off point.

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]]> Fri, 1 Nov 2024 14:00:00 GMT Problems Unseen https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=687172 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=687172 Sometimes, not everything is black and white. There are plenty of shades of gray between.

And in sports, that can cause a problem. Colorblindness (also known as color vision deficiency and CVD) among youth athletes is not uncommon; in fact, according to UK-based organization Colour Blind Awareness (CBA), approximately one in 12 males and one in 200 females are colorblind. In the U.S., 13 million people have the condition.

Let that sink in for a minute: nearly 10 percent of all men have colorblindness. That means on each
boys’ (or men’s) sports team that plays in a park, odds are at least one person is colorblind.

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]]> Mon, 5 Aug 2024 14:00:00 GMT Best Practices for Track and Court Maintenance https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=675502 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=675502 Continue reading...
 
]]> Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:33:00 GMT Champions of Tennis: Tennis Court Contractor of the Year – Jeff Nichols, American Tennis Courts, Inc https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=662485 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=662485 This year’s Builder/Contractor of the Year, Jeff Nichols of American Tennis Courts Inc. of Mobile, Ala., has seen the demand for facilities grow—and he would certainly know. His company was founded in 1969 and he took over as owner in 1995.

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]]> Tue, 9 Jan 2024 20:39:00 GMT What you need to know about beach volleyball https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=662486 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=662486 Beach volleyball made its first appearance at the Olympics in 1992 and by 1996 had firmly cemented its place as a medal sport. It rocketed through the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program, achieving full championship status in only three years. Now, with scholarships being offered in the sport, beach volleyball facilities are in demand in high schools as well as in clubs, and in tournament venues, as well as at the college level, where explosive growth continues.

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]]> Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:00:00 GMT Drawing the line for optimal playability https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=658071 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=658071
  • 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?”
  • It’s a difficult question because there is no right answer for all parks; the answer in any given area will
    depend upon a variety of factors:

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    ]]>     Thu, 2 Nov 2023 12:50:00 GMT     Indoor Athletic Surfaces-The Ultimate Four-Season Athlete https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=655643 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=655643 Indoor sports surfaces are the ultimate multi-taskers, hosting everything from high-level competitions to community meetings to indoor recess to assemblies and graduations.

    With the rise in expectations has come an enlargement of the market, with various types of flooring, ready to meet the needs of each program.

    The question, of course, is this: What are your needs? While it’s easy to head into a meeting with the idea of putting down the best possible flooring, it’s imperative to be able to answer the questions that will allow you to specify what surface actually works best in your given situation.

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    ]]>     Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT     Indoor Athletic Surfaces-The Ultimate Four-Season Athlete https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=655642 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=655642 Indoor sports surfaces are the ultimate multi-taskers, hosting everything from high-level competitions to community meetings to indoor recess to assemblies and graduations.

    With the rise in expectations has come an enlargement of the market, with various types of flooring, ready to meet the needs of each program.

    The question, of course, is this: What are your needs? While it’s easy to head into a meeting with the idea of putting down the best possible flooring, it’s imperative to be able to answer the questions that will allow you to specify what surface actually works best in your given situation.

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    ]]>     Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT     Use Shade to Increase Use of Sports Facilities https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=654732 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=654732 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.

    In other words, the social experience is its own part of the game. If your park regularly hosts sports (for adults or youth), one of the best ways to drive engagement is to play up the enjoyable aspects of the experience.

    Now, ask yourself: Are your sports facilities doing the same thing? If you haven’t carved out space for people to sit and enjoy sports in progress, the facilities aren’t quite as welcoming as they can be. Here are a few
    ideas to up the fun factor and bring in the people.

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    ]]>     Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:01:00 GMT     The Big Sport on Campus is Pickleball https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=646301 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=646301 Once upon a time (maybe five years ago), the majority of pickleball players were age 50 and up. Now, pickleball is the hottest sport on campus, and USA pickleball (the national governing body) is strongly considering a collegiate category when it hosts its National Championships in Dallas this November. 

    All that growth has trickled down to a demand for more courts at the college level, and in some cases, even in high schools. Members of the American Sports Builders Association, the professional organization for design professionals, contractors, and materials suppliers, are on the frontline and have seen firsthand the demand. As a result, they have some advice for institutions. 

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    ]]>     Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:00:00 GMT     A Bump in Activity https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=625631 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=625631 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. International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), the governing body, hopes this will ultimately lead to its inclusion in the Winter Olympic Games.

    Snow volleyball was showcased as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the inaugural FIVB Snow Volleyball World Tour began in March 2019, and continues today. (The USA’s snow volleyball teams have become a force to be reckoned with on the international level; the reason is that the discipline translates well to people who are used to playing the beach game.)

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    ]]>     Fri, 9 Dec 2022 14:00:00 GMT     The 411 on 3X3 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=623573 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=623573 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.

    The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) first introduced 3x3 basketball (pronounced three-ex-three, not three-on-three, three-by-three, or any other permutation)as a sanctioned sport at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. 

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    ]]>     Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:00:00 GMT     How to Prepare for a Beach Volleyball Infiltration https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=601483 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=601483 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.

    At whatever point you want to specify as ground zero for the sport’s meteoric rise, it achieved NCAA championship status in 2015, and that led to additional growth, resulting in a demand for courts in the USA not only at the collegiate level but at high school, junior, and recreational levels.

    In fact, beach volleyball is known in many areas as sand volleyball because of desert climates, as well as landlocked areas like the Midwest. Even in coastal areas, some institutions are building courts on school property for the sake of convenience.

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    ]]>     Sat, 2 Apr 2022 14:00:00 GMT     Making Tennis Courts User-Friendly, Fun, and Safe https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=587329 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=587329 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. 

    Maybe that's why many courts don't get the care they need - and it shows. Hard courts (those built using asphalt or concrete and covered with an acrylic coating) make up the bulk of municipal and park installations. And they get a lot of use: lessons, pick-up games, leagues, and even individuals who come in to groove their shots. In order to keep those user groups happy (and safe), here are some measure to take.

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    ]]>     Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:00:00 GMT     Builder/Contractor of the Year Cape and Island Tennis & Track, Champions of Tennis Awards https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=573174 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=573174 in a company that has been around since 1972. Two employees—Gordy Pierce and Kristoff Eldridge—who have served as chairman of the American Sports Builders Association, and a number of others—including David Moore and Eric Loftus— involved in committee work and as speakers at ASBA meetings.

    Click here to continue reading...]]>     Fri, 1 Jan 2021 19:38:14 GMT     Tennis Industry Service Award Alex Levitsky, Champions of Tennis Awards https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=573172 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=573172
    Click here to continue reading...]]>     Fri, 1 Jan 2021 19:33:51 GMT     Fill Down Your Time, Racquet Sports Industry https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=583443 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=583443 With businesses on hold and stay-at-home orders in place due to the coronavirus, lots of people have lots of time right now. So, what’s a good and productive use of that time? For facility owners, putting your courts in order, so they’re ready to go when your facility is open for business again.

    Unfortunately, given the circum-stances, there might not be (a) much of a budget for drastic improvements,(b) many people available to do those improvements or (c) the opportunity to do as much as you’d like, improvement-wise. But assuming you can overcome these challenges, these guidelines may help. Be sure, though, to check to make certain all state mandates are being followed—and first and foremost, be safe.

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    ]]>     Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:00:00 GMT     Changeover: Conversion of Courts from Tennis to Pickleball https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=583417 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=583417 If, like many club pros, you’ve made the decision to bring pickleball on board, you know there are multiple reasons, and multiple options, for doing so.

    But it’s also important to be realistic. Pickleball players have more opportunities for playing on dedicated courts these days and if you want to remain competitive (and keep your pickleball players as well), it will necessitate some changes to your facility.

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    ]]>     Sun, 10 May 2020 14:00:00 GMT     Inside the Lines, Racquet Sports Industry https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=583486 https://sportsbuilders.org/news/news.asp?id=583486 Pickleball growth continues to surge around the U.S., and the push on club owners and tennis directors to create additional playing space isn’t let-ting up. Since pickleball is driven by racquet sports enthusiasts who simply want to stay on a court, it behooves clubs to carve out more times, as well as more places, to play the game.

    While it is possible to add permanent pickleball courts—and many clubs already have—a better avenue to start may be to simply add pickle ball lines to one or more existing tennis courts. In addition to being far less expensive and time-consuming, it allows courts to continue to be used for both sports, and will allow club management to gauge interest in pickleball, with a view to possibly building more facilities in the future.

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    ]]>     Fri, 1 May 2020 14:00:02 GMT