How To Prepare Courts For a Looming Hurricane or Tropical Storm

September 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment
A detailed guide to preparing sport courts for a storm

Written by Rich Buerkle, COO, 10-S Tennis Supply

Storm-Prep-ImagesAs the 2017 Hurricane season moves in to full swing, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the best ways to storm-proof your sport courts.  For all properties, your sport courts or sporting facilities are an asset you want to protect.  The better you pre-plan when a bad storm is looming, the more likely you are to decrease the damage sustained and therefore minimize any expense incurred to get your facility back up to par.  Many of the tips shown here are very cost effective to enforce – it’s just a matter of taking the time to protect your investment before it’s too late.

As we’ve seen in year’s past, both tropical storms and hurricanes can pose a real threat in the southeastern coastal states especially, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.  Those threats include damage to all types of sport courts (tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, Pickleball, basketball, volleyball, etc.), their surrounding fencing, amenities and lighting.  It is recommended that you take the following steps to prepare for an impending storm.

Tips for Windscreens

  • Many of the most important storm preparedness tips surround the area of securing windscreens around your facility.  During heavy winds, windscreens can act almost as a sailboat sail, catching strong wind gusts and potentially damaging your fencing.  It is not uncommon for a windscreen to pull over a fence completely when bad winds are blowing through your area.  This is why this portion of storm preparation is often one of the most important for safeguarding your facility.
  • If your facility has windscreen be sure to order plenty of extra windscreen ty-raps, fastening rope and snaps before the storm season approaches.
  • As the storm makes it way towards your facility, remove, label and store your windscreen.
  • If it is not practical to remove your windscreen or you don’t have adequate storage, the following process will reduce stress on your fencing:
    • For 6-foot windscreens:
      • Cut the ty-raps along the bottom and sides of the windscreen.
      • Roll your windscreen to the top of the fence.
      • Fasten and secure with rope.
  • For 9-foot windscreens:
    • Cut the ty-raps along the top and bottom of the windscreen.
    • Roll your windscreen to the middle of the fence.
    • Fasten and secure with rope.

Tips for All Types of Sport Courts – these include Hard Courts (asphalt and/or concrete), Clay Courts & Synthetic Turf Courts

  • Remove all tennis and/or Pickleball nets.
  • Remove cabana awnings.
  • Remove all unsecured court benches, tables and chairs from cabanas or viewing areas and secure in a safe area.
  • Remove all court equipment from fences (liner brooms, squeegees, etc.).

Tips for Standard, Sprinkler Irrigated Courts

  • Roll the courts the day before the storm is expected to compact the Har-Tru as much as possible.  This will reduce the amount of material that is lost during the storm.
  • If high winds are expected, water the court before the storm to reduce the amount of material lost due to the wind.
  • If the irrigation system is on a timer, be sure to manually shut off the system so that it does not turn on during the storm.
  • Remember to turn the timer back on after the storm has passed.

Tips for FDC HydroCourt Subsurface Irrigated Clay Courts

  • Shut off water to the control boxes +/- 12 hours before the storm and open the drain pipe on the control boxes.  This will allow the system to fully drain and prepare the FDC HydroCourt to receive the torrential rains experienced with most hurricanes.
  • Remember to turn the water back on and close the drain pipe after the storm has passed – specifically after there is no longer any standing water on the court.

Please remember, 10-S Tennis Supply offers a full line of windscreen accessories to help get you through the hurricane season.  Visit us online at www.10-S.com for all of your sport court needs.  Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. is also available to help you get your sport facilities in top notch shape – regardless of the weather.  Visit us online to see more ways we can assist with making your facility even more desirable to new residents – www.Fast-Dry.com.

Article By Rich Buerkle

 

10-S Tennis Supply & Fast-Dry Courts
1400 NW 13th Avenue
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
800-247-3907
www.10-S.com

Filed Under: clay courts, Pickleball, Storm Prep, tennis, Windscreen Tagged With: , , , , ,

7 Tips to Choose the “Perfect Bench”

November 9, 2016 by 4 Comments

A nice spot to relax is something we all seek from time to time…whether it’s during a changeover in tennis to take a quick breather or at the park while the kids play.

But how much time was spent deciding which bench to use at that particular venue? 

It’s not something the majority of people would spend a lot of time thinking about, but there are a number of factors that go in to selecting the “PERFECT BENCH.”

1.)    Location

Probably the most important factor to consider first is where the bench will be located.  If its outdoors and exposed to the weather, that will require a particular type of bench to withstand the elements.  If you envision a cover overhead, you may choose to go with a bench with a built-in canopy or awning.  If you need benches for an indoor facility, say a locker room, you may find that a wooden bench is more aesthetically pleasing.  Start by thinking “Where will this bench be located?”

2.)    Durability

The locale will often determine the durability you are looking for in a bench.  If a bench is exposed to outdoor elements such as sun, rain, wind, ocean air, etc., you will have to take into consideration how long you’d like the bench to stand up for over time.  For example, a bench made of recycled plastic or high-density polyethylene may be your best bet for longevity.  These also give you the additional bonus of never needing a new coat of paint, since the color you choose is the actual color of the material the bench is constructed out of.  PVC and Vinyl benches can also last the test of time – and if ordered in white will keep cool on hot days.

3.)    Color

The color you choose will oftentimes be based on the other aesthetic features of your surrounding area.  For an example, if you have a green fence, with green windscreen and green amenities such as trash receptacles and water fountains, a green bench is probably right up your alley.  The colors available range from white, gray, green, natural wood, cedar and brown – the choice is yours!

4.)    Size

The size of the bench you are seeking will depend on its use – i.e., how many people may use the bench at one given time.  If it’s a bench used for spectators during a soccer or basketball game, the longer the bench better.  If the bench is used for one or two tennis players to take breaks during changeovers, a shorter bench will likely work just fine.  Lengths vary from 4-feet to 8-feet long so choose accordingly.

5.)    Style (Back or No Back?)

The style of bench is easily determined by the purpose it will serve – specifically in terms of the direction you would like people to face.  For example, a bench located between two tennis courts would likely be used from both sides – therefore a bench with no back, accessible for sitting from both sides, is your best bet.  Now envision a park bench facing a pond where you may take the kids to feed the ducks – this would better lend itself to a “classic park bench” style with a contoured back – for comfort.

6.)    Portable or Secure

Do you need the bench to be portable or secured to a fixed location?  If you’d like a portable model, those are typically shorter/smaller and lighter weight, for ease of transport.  A secured bench may be ideal for a high traffic area where it’s important that the integrity of your landscaping/ornamentation is maintained.  Benches that can be secured are readily available.  These are typically fashioned to install bolts through the legs, into the ground material beneath, for example a concrete sidewalk.  Securing a bench will also provide added security to those sitting there since it will not move or flip over.

7.)    Material

All of the factors above will leave you with a number of bench options – once you’ve narrowed down your needs.  The final step will be to determine the material you are most interested in.  The materials available include wrought iron, wood, plastic, recycled plastic (some of today’s recycled plastics even resemble lumber), PVC, aluminum and polyethylene.

10-S Tennis Supply is a premier supplier of benches that will fit every need.  Check out our online store and see just how easy it is to choose your bench.  We’ll even deliver it direct to you!  Visit us at www.10-S.com to view our large selection of Benches or search the keyword Bench in our search bar.

Filed Under: benches, tennis Tagged With: , , , , ,

PRESS RELEASE: Fast-Dry Courts builds 10,000th 10 & Under Tennis Court in U.S.

March 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

USTA Court 10K Press Release

USTA TO CELEBRATE INSTALLATION OF 10,000 YOUTH-SIZED TENNIS COURTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS PART OF ITS COMMITMENT TO FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA’S LET’S MOVE! INITIATIVE

 

U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez to Join Celebration on March 19 in Miami’s Tamiami Park

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 19, 2013 – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced that it will celebrate the refurbishment and creation of 10,000 youth-sized tennis courts in the United States as part of USTA’s commitment to First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.  A special celebratory event, Court 10K, will be held on March 19 at the Tamiami Tennis Center in Miami to commemorate this exceptional milestone.  The celebration will feature U.S. Fed Cup captain, Olympic gold medalist and Miami native, Mary Joe Fernandez.  The host site, Tamiami Tennis Center, is emblematic of the 10,000 courts that have been installed throughout the country. 

“We know that kids need 60 minutes of exercise a day to stay healthy and reach their full potential, so having access to fun opportunities to get moving could not be more important,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.  “The USTA has provided thousands of kids the chance to run and play, to learn a new game and perfect their skills, and to make new friends in a safe environment.  I am incredibly proud of the USTA’s commitment to encouraging kids to lead healthy lifestyles and to opening new doors to explore a wonderful sport they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.”

The USTA teamed up with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative in 2011 to encourage young people across the country to get active, play tennis and lead healthy lifestyles.  In addition, a component of the collaboration with Let’s Move! was the commitment to encourage children to participate in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA), in which more than 226,000 kids participated and completed the challenge through the USTA.  To date, the USTA has had more kids complete the challenge than any other youth sports organization in the United States.

“Tennis is the perfect sport to get kids active and keep them healthy,” said Dave Haggerty, USTA Chairman, CEO and President. “The USTA’s Youth Tennis initiative was designed to make it easier and more fun to get involved in the game, and our commitment to creating and refurbishing youth-sized tennis courts across the country has been another step toward making the sport more accessible to more kids.”

“By providing infrastructure, the USTA’s efforts will help foster the game at the grass-roots level and get more kids active,” said Fernandez.  “In addition, these efforts will help improve communities across the country and I am thrilled to be part of this momentous occasion.”

Through its facilities assistance arm, the USTA has succeeded in the construction and renovation of more than 4,500 youth-sized tennis courts in 371 markets in 44 states throughout the nation in 2012.  In all, the USTA has constructed or refurbished 10,000 kid-sized courts since 2005. The courts were built in public parks, school yards, tennis facilities and at local community based youth organizations, like the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs.

As part of this initiative, all courts that were built or renovated were specially lined to enable participation in the USTA’s youth participation initiative, 10 and Under Tennis.  Youth tennis is geared toward getting more kids to participate in tennis using modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s age and ability.  By featuring shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly and easily while having more fun in the process.  For the past two years, the USTA has invested significantly in 10 and Under Tennis, and the initiative is the organization’s number one recreational tennis initiative.

In total, the USTA through its facilities assistance program, has built more than 35,000 tennis courts across the country in the past six years, for all ages and abilities to enjoy the sport of a lifetime.

***This facility was built by Fast-Dry Courts***

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level, from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 770,000 members, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking nine summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for
the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s national charitable foundation, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter. 
 
For more information, contact:
Tom LaDue, Corporate Communications, USTA, Tel: (914) 697-2352, Email: LaDue@usta.com
Trina Singian, Corporate Communications, USTA, Tel: (914) 697-2223, Email: Singian@usta.com
Filed Under: 10 & Under Tennis, tennis, USTA Tagged With: , , , ,