When designing any sports facility for fun and leisure, safety should always be the number one priority. You might have become aware of hazards in a sports hall, or want to extend your sports to the outdoors, in which case, you’ll need a secure and resilient space.
Here at A&S Landscape, we’re used to designing and installing canopies for sporting facilities. And, in this blog, we’ll break down 4 essential ways that you can keep players and students safe when playing sports outdoors.
Ready to create a safe outdoor environment? Let’s get into it…
Potential hazards in a sports hall
First things first, why do you need an outdoor sports area? Whilst many schools and leisure centres utilise their indoor space and sports halls, there are some risks. The best way to combat these is to see if you can extend your facilities to the great outdoors, and a bespoke canopy from A&S is the perfect solution.
Some potential hazards of a sports hall include:
- Slippery flooring – Wet shoes, spills, or dust can turn a smooth surface into a trip hazard. Uneven or damaged floor from extensive use can also be a major tripping risk.
- Improper storage equipment – Having loose equipment like balls or mats left cluttering the floor space can act as obstacles and also increase the risk of falls.
- Faulty apparatus – Equipment that is not regularly inspected could lead to severe injuries.
- Collision risks – Having fixed apparatus, walls, and activities running simultaneously in a shared space can increase the risk of high-speed collisions.
How You Can Create a Safe Outdoor Sports Area
There are plenty of reasons why being outdoors is beneficial; however, when it comes to sports, the successful use of the space depends on one crucial factor: safety. Here at A&S Landscape, we understand that a functional area is first and foremost a safe one.
For example, when designing specialised facilities, like a padel court canopy, you will need to consider specific glass and secure surfacing. It will also need to be the right size and weatherproof for year-round play.
To help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your investment, and more importantly, the safety of your players, we’ve compiled 4 ways to create a safe outdoor sports area. Let’s have a look at them in a bit more detail…
Create a dedicated equipment inspection schedule
As we identified in the hazards in a sports hall, ensuring you have safe and functional equipment is essential. And, wear and tear and rust degrade outdoor equipment much quicker than indoor apparatus. Make sure that you set up daily visual checks and detailed monthly inspections carried out by certain staff members. Check for signs of rust or loose fixings and make sure you’re logging all potential hazards.
If you work in a school, you might also be interested in ways to create a safe school playground.
Invest in a weather-proof canopy
One of the most beneficial solutions is to invest in a sports canopy from A&S Landscape! In particular, one of our covered multi-use games areas is an excellent way to create a safe outdoor area, and that’s mainly thanks to its year-round use.
Our sports canopies have been designed to provide crucial UV protection and shade, preventing your turf from discolouring and meaning players don’t get irritated by harsh sun glare. As well as sun protection, each structure is wind safe and snow safe, reducing the risk of outdoor games being called off due to harsh weather conditions. A sturdy and stable roof covering means that the risk of slips and trips is highly reduced.
Use appropriate lighting and aesthetics
If you want your outdoor sports area to be used outside of daylight hours, which is pretty common for leisure centres or after school clubs, having poor visibility can be an immediate safety risk. The best way to combat this is to install appropriate and weather-proof LED lighting that can illuminate your entire playing area.
At A&S Landscape, our sports facilities’ canopies come with the option to add modern lighting features. For more information, it’s best to get in touch with our team.
Beyond lighting, having the correct signage and safety rules on display can also help to minimise risks.. This will make users aware of dos & don’ts, and ensure that everyone respects the space and each other when playing competitively. You can also choose the colour of your canopy so that it matches your school or facilities’ aesthetics.
Prioritise high-quality surfacing
And finally, another way to enhance safety outdoors is to prioritise the ground beneath the player’s feet. Having an outdoor sports environment introduces constant threats like temperature changes, moisture, UV degradation, and debris. That’s why you should choose high-quality surfacing to not only enhance performance, but to minimise potential injuries.
Choose a surface like a specialised polymeric rubber or high-grade synthetic turf, which provides superior shock absorption. Here at A&S Landscape, as part of our full-package service, we can lay rubber surfaces that provide a safe and reliable ground for users to play on.
Here’s how one school enhanced their outdoor sports facilities
Want to see one of our sports canopies in action? Then you’re in luck.
The Springfields Academy, in Calne, wanted to create a reliable, all-weather sports space. Their existing outdoor surface was not suitable for year-round use, and weather conditions often disrupted outdoor PE lessons and sports activities.
They got in touch with us here at A&S Landscape to design and install a durable solution that would truly transform their outdoor area. We settled on our Motiva Covered MUGA™, which is made up of a steel-framed canopy complete with hot dip galvanising for maximum durability. Opal roofing allows natural light while reducing glare, and the results ensured that the academy had an improved outdoor space regardless of weather conditions.
Read the full case study here.
Enhance safety & extend play with the help of A&S Landscape
Hopefully, you’re now clued up on how you can create a safe outdoor sports area. Whether you’ve learnt more about hazards in a sports hall or want to maximise your outdoor space, we hope the solutions above are enough to keep everyone well protected and safe, all year round.
At A&S Landscape, we’ve got nearly 50 years of experience in helping schools, builders, and local authorities all across the country. We’re trustworthy, confident, and uncomplicated.
Want to get your canopy project underway? Please do get in touch with us for more information. Our friendly team will be more than happy to get back to you.
