Resurfacing Cracked Asphalt Tennis Courts
Jonnie Deremo, CTCB, Phoenix, AZ
How many times have we all talked about repairing and resurfacing cracked courts?Read more...

An Open Letter to Members
The Search for New Management
As many of you know, our Executive Vice President, Carol Hogan, has announced her intention to retire at the end of her current contract, September 30, 2008. At that time, Carol will have worked for the Association for 20 years. Read more...

Board Happenings
Summer Board Meeting, July 20-21, 2007. Read More...

Obituaries

Don Hansen
Don Hansen, the founder of Athletic Field Services (Genesee Depot, WI), passed away over Labor Day weekend after a long bout with bladder cancer. In addition to founding Athletic Field Services, Hansen was one of the founding directors of the Seal-Flex Group. Our heartfelt sympathy and thoughts go out to daughter Gwenn and son-in-law Bob Zerull, CTB who currently operate Athletic Field Services.

John Gilman
John “Joe” Gilman, a pro football player in the early '60s with the Canadian League and CEO of the sports division of FieldTurf Tarkett (Montreal, PQ), passed away suddenly on July 23. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sue Ellen. Additionally, he was a devoted father and father-in-law to Jack and Eve, Kenny and Elissa, and an adored “Coach” to his grandchildren.

In 1995, John joined his friend Jean Prevost as Chief Executive Officer of FieldTurf Inc. He served in that role from 1995-2004, setting numerous milestones in the synthetic turf industry. In 2004, Tarkett acquired FieldTurf and named Gilman as worldwide CEO of the sports division.

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Mr. Gilman’s family and to his employees and friends at FieldTurf Tarkett.

Important Dates
Mark your calendar for the ASBA Technical Meeting in Austin, TX. Read more...

Prince Sports Promoting Outdoor Racquetball; Seeking Industry Partners
Prince Sports, Inc. is looking to promote outdoor racquetball. Read more...

Multitasking? Good or Bad
Many busy people speak with pride about their ability to multitask. Read more...

Why New Hires Fail
According to one of our favorite websites, www.leadershipiq.com, we’re hiring all wrong. Read more...

Do You Blog?
If you’re over 40, you might be saying “What’s a blog? Read more...

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Have you ever had to be reminded about how good you have it? We get so caught up in the here and now that perception becomes our reality, and reality gets overlooked. My Dad suffered a stroke six years ago, but in many ways he was very fortunate. He no longer has any peripheral vision in his right eye, and he essentially has no short term memory. Other than that, he’s perfectly fine. He can’t remember his great grandchildren’s names (although I have to think about it sometimes, too!), but he can still speak French and Spanish, and can tell you all about his childhood. Sometimes, in conversation, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. He certainly understands his lack of short term memory, but other than the occasional outburst of frustration, he is more likely to joke about it, and then ask you the same question again! I think that he truly counts his blessings, and I am reminded to do the same. I now find it much easier to laugh when we talk.

As you know, Carol Hogan indicated to the Board last year that she would be retiring after her current contract expires in September, 2008. You can read about the Management Transition Committee’s progress elsewhere in Newsline. Carol and her staff, and David Pettit, our legal Counsel, have ably guided and nurtured the ASBA for so long that many of us have known no other. Our Association has experienced tremendous growth, both internally and externally, growing from 160 members in 1988, to approximately 360 members now. We have added two new divisions, along with making tremendous strides in our outreach to world governing bodies of sport, and associated organizations.

When Carol took over our Association, fax machines were still relatively rudimentary (remember thermal fax paper?), and cell phones were in their infancy. As most of us are Builders, typically with limited, if any, prior exposure to participation in organizational Boards of Directors, Carol, her staff, and David, have always tried to make sure that we, as a Board, kept the Association’s car between the ditches. You know that guys always think they know where they’re going, but Carol and David have always been there when we needed a map.

As this is my last column to you, as your Chairman, I look back with many fond memories, and thanks, to all that have given of their time, talent and treasure. I also look forward with the faith that we will properly select our next management team, the hope that our Association will embrace new opportunities down the road, and the desire that Carol enjoy more free time to pursue all the other interests she has, and the new ones she’s sure to develop.

The old poet/philosopher, George Harrison (for you young guys- he was one of the Beatles) told us “if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there”. Your Board knows where they’re going, and has a map in hand.

See you in Austin!

Gerry Wright, CTCB

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MEETINGS

WM2007
2007 Technical Meeting Shaping Up in Austin
If you’re one of those people who has been sitting on the fence about coming to the ASBA Technical Meeting this December, you probably have one or more of these excuses:

• “I’m too busy.”
• “I’ll go next year.”
• “I don’t know that there’s anything there for me.”

Let’s take a look at those excuses, shall we? “I’m too busy” is, of course, understandable, but are you really too busy to make new connections, find out about new products on the market, meet important contacts and reaffirm old ones, and get the best education out there?

“I’ll go next year” – do you really want to wait that long when one of the best programs is happening this year between December 1-3? After all, it’s traditionally a slow time – even in the warmer areas. Don’t you want to use that time productively by attending one of the most valuable meetings around?

“I don’t know if there’s anything there for me” has always been a challenge because after all, you can’t know what you’re missing until you get there. But once you do, you’ll never go back to sitting at home during what could otherwise be the most valuable three days you ever invested.

There are topics at the meeting to address all aspects of the sports facility industry, from design to construction, and from supply to business management. Don’t know if you’ll find your sport? We’ve developed a program that addresses all membership divisions and all interests – tennis, track, fields, indoor, manufacture/supply, design and more.

Take a look at our program! We have a variety of topics. What kind of variety? Try this cross-section: “Handling and Disposing of Acrylics and Polyurethanes,” “Soils Testing: Stabilizing Poor Soils,” “Subfloor Preparation for Indoor Sports Surfaces,” “Concrete 101: Components, Mix Design, Additives, Fibers, Shrinking Compounds and Curing” and “Asphalt Mix Design for Sport Surfaces.”

Still think there’s nothing there for you? We have a session JUST for you. Bring us your “brick wall” – the problem you’ve run into that has you stumped. Put it on the table and get advice from everyone else in your industry during our problem-solving roundtable sessions. We have one for every membership division. How can you pass up this chance to get expert advice – from all the experts, all in one place? You’ll never have this chance again.

And for anyone who thinks there’s nothing new this year, here are a few surprises. Rather than an opening session with a keynote speaker, we’ve moved to something much more interesting – an Opening Breakfast Meet and Greet. After all, who better to kick off the meeting than the real experts on our industry – ASBA’s members and guests? So have some breakfast, introduce yourself to some new colleagues and friends and get yourself into the Austin groove. What else is new? A whole array of products and services, which will be showcased at our trade show. And of course, there are new members, new friends, new topics and new issues. You won’t want to miss our golf and tennis tournaments, and our awards banquet is always fun. Why stay away?

Our meeting is at the fabulous Hyatt Regency Austin, a fully-appointed resort facility within walking distance of the legendary 6th Street entertainment district and the State Capital complex. There’s also a 9-mile hike and bike trail adjacent to the hotel, a full service health club on site, outdoor pool and whirlpool and complimentary mountain bikes available. We have special room rates for ASBA attendees only -- $159 a night, single or double. Call the Omaha Passkey Reservations at 888-421-1442 or 402-592-6464 or register online at www.resweb.passkey.com/go/AmSportsBuilders.

You’re not still sitting on the fence, are you? There’s a great program, new ideas, a fun location and a great time of year to get away. Get off the fence and make your plans now. Any questions? Call Cynthia at ASBA at 866-501-ASBA.

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An Open Letter to Members
The Search for New Management

As many of you know, our Executive Vice President, Carol Hogan, has announced her intention to retire at the end of her current contract, September 30, 2008. At that time, Carol will have worked for the Association for 20 years.

It is natural that the impending loss of a long-term chief staff executive would cause some concern. Carol has presided over a period of tremendous growth. At the beginning of her term, the Association had just 160 members and an annual budget of $121,000. Currently, the Association has 371 member companies and a budget of almost $600,000.

Certainly, Carol’s retirement will mean change, but we view this change as an opportunity for the Association to take a step forward – a chance to find a new chief staff executive capable of guiding us through the next phase in ASBA’s development.

I want to reassure you that, with Carol’s full cooperation, the Board of Directors has been very proactive. First we appointed a Management Continuity Committee, chaired by Randy Futty and including Sam Fisher, David Marsden, Gordy Pierce, George Todd and myself, along with David Pettit, Carol and Cynthia as advisers. That Committee drafted a Request for Proposals (RFP) along with a set of parameters for potential Association Management Companies (AMCs). The RFP was sent to more than 40 companies which met those requirements.

Eleven proposals were returned. Each member of the Management Continuity Committee reviewed those proposals and ranked them individually. Then, in July, the Committee met and discussed the proposals. Three AMCs were short-listed, while two others were held in abeyance in case any of the three prove not to be as expected.

Committee Chair Randy Futty and incoming Chairman George Todd will visit with the short-listed firms and will meet the staff members proposed to serve as ASBA Executive Vice President. Members of the Committee are providing company-specific questions for them to pursue. Additionally, the committee is checking references for those firms. Following the visits, the Committee will hold a conference call to report their findings.

Assuming that all is as expected, the three short-listed firms (or one or two of the short-listed firms together with one or more of the alternates) will be invited to attend the Technical Meeting in Austin. At that time, they will be hosted by members of the Committee, who will introduce them to ASBA and answer their questions.

On Tuesday following the Technical Meeting, the three firms will make presentations to the Board, after which the Committee will make a recommendation to the Board for a new management company.

Gerry Wright and the Board of Directors

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FEATURED ARTICLES

Note: ASBA welcomes articles on industry topics from its members, and from others in the industry. Please contact the ASBA if you are interested in writing or submitting an article.

Worksite Safety – Part Two
In Part One, we discussed accident prevention, through focus and training. This article will discuss what to do when an accident happens.

Despite all precautions, an accident may occur. When that happens, you get a frantic call. That’s no time to think about what to do first.

Before something happens, develop an accident procedure, even a series of forms to complete, step-by-step. Regularly review your accident procedure with all staff, especially those that work onsite. Train employees to respond appropriately to any accident.

The first concern, of course, is to care for an injured worker. If feasible, provide training on basic first aid (don’t move an injured person unless a danger exists, use pressure to stop bleeding) and Basic Cardiac Life Support so that all employees are prepared to render immediate aid. Teach employees not to move an injured person unless there is an immediate risk. And, most importantly, when in doubt, instruct employees to assume an injury is serious and call for help. Once emergency services have been called, position someone to direct them to the injured person.

Keep the company insurance policies and forms up to date and, if appropriate, send a copy of the information with the injured person to the emergency room. Request contact information from the injured person and call the family; be certain to mention what actions already have been taken.

In some cases, such as in the case of a motor vehicle accident, it may also be necessary to notify the police. It’s best to leave vehicles where they are until the police arrive. However, if doing so causes an additional risk, instruct employees to move the vehicles well off the road, away from traffic or any other hazard. Use warning devices such as flares, triangles or cones. Turn off the engines. Check for leaking fuel and guard against fire. When in doubt, call the fire department. Whenever possible, employees should not leave vehicles, tools, equipment or materials unattended, but the first concern is to protect people - employees, others involved in the accident and bystanders.

Once injured persons have been attended to and the proper emergency personnel or authorities have been contacted, the next priority is to document everything – the accident scene, the nature of the injury, date, time, weather, what first aid was administered, how quickly emergency services were called, how long it took for help or authorities to arrive, what actions were taken by emergency personnel on site, etc. If possible, each jobsite or vehicle should have a disposable camera on hand; instruct employees to take pictures. Have any witnesses complete a statement as to what they saw, where they were, what happened and how, in as much detail as they can recall. Get complete contact information from witnesses and emergency personnel in case additional details are required. If there are no witnesses, get the names of all persons who arrive at the scene and the times when they arrive.

Teach employees to be courteous and to provide required information – name, company name, license, registration, supervisor’s contact information, etc. However, employees should not discuss the accident with anyone except as required by authorities.

“Regardless of the circumstances, admit nothing, promise nothing and do not argue,” says safety expert Barbara Mulhern.

Perhaps the most important aspect of job site safety happens after an accident occurs, in the accident investigation. According to Mulhern, “It’s often difficult to get to the real root cause of an accident.” There may be many contributing causes: weather, operator error or inexperience, inattention, equipment malfunction. In each case, however, it may be necessary to ask “why” to get closer to the root cause.

For example, if a crew has an accident on the way to a jobsite, the obvious cause might be that the driver was speeding. Asking the question “why” may lead the supervisor or employer closer to the real cause.

It might be that the employee is a natural risk taker (considered admirable among young men in some cultures) or just a rule breaker (a less than admirable trait). Has the driver been provided with clear guidance and expectations regarding conduct? Who decided that he should be driving company vehicles?

Was the crew delayed because materials or vehicles weren’t ready when they should have been, making them late? Or, was the crew rushing because bad weather is expected? If so, has sufficient time for construction delays been built into the contract?

Was the driver overtired and possibly inattentive? If so, has the company taken on too much work? Are employer expectations for crews reasonable?

Asking hard questions may expose deeper causes of accidents or risk. Given the extraordinary costs related to jobsite accidents (workers’ compensation and other insurance-related costs, lost time and productivity, OSHA penalties, legal fees, human costs, costs associated with recruiting and training replacement workers), preventing future accidents by correcting inherent risk is well worth the effort.

Despite all attempts to avoid accidents and injuries, such things do happen. Make an emergency plan in advance and review it regularly. When someone has been injured, time is of the essence, but so is risk management.

Bibliography

1. “Back Injuries Plague Workforce,” http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm?objectID=6EC8509D-D56F-E6FA-9C6D1DFAB9467172
2. “Build Work Zone Safety Culture,” http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm?objectID=9EFD594B-D56F-E6FA-996826745B086173, Spring 2004
3. “Eye Injuries – Common but Preventable,” http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm?objectID=4430F6A0-D56FE6FA-95C4F112C94CB50XC
4. Michael A. Ferrara, Jr., “Worksite Safety Needs To Be Fixed: 2 Million Injuries and 6,000 Deaths is Unacceptable,” http://cherryhill.injuryboard.com/worksite-injuries/worksite-safety-needs-to-be-fixed, May 9, 2007
5. “The importance of zero: ITT adopts no accident goal,” http://www.reliableplant.com/article.asp?articleid=6228, May, 2007
6. Tim Moore, CSFM, “Training Day: Give your staff the skills they need to be successful,” SportsField Management, April. 23-27, 2007, pp. 23-27.
7. Barbara Mulhern, “Accident Investigation: Getting to the root cause will help prevent recurrence,” Turf South, March 2007, pp. B10, B18
8. Mulhern, “Slips, Trips and Falls: Common and costly injuries can be prevented,” Turf South, April 2007, pp. B24-27.
9. “Sun Sense Campaign Inspires New Habits,” http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm?objectID=44112750-D56F-E6FA-91295929772DB877
10. Patrick White, “Safety All-STARS: PLANET’s program to prevent workplace injuries,” February 2007, pp. B28. 34.

2008 Track and Field Rules-Change Proposals

The rules-change proposals below were approved by the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committees. The proposals will not be final until reviewed and approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP). Text with double parenthesis ((-)) is to be deleted. Underlined text is to be added. Rationale is in italic.

Table of Lane Staggers. Replace Rule 1-1.5 Note (page 17) as follows:

The measurement of lane staggers should be determined by a competent surveyor since they are not the same for races run entirely in lanes and races that use a breakline. Additional variation occurs as the actual length of the straightaway varies. Tables for in lane race staggers and breakline race staggers with varying straight-aways are available on the NCAA Web site.
Rationale: The table should be expanded to include other lengths of the straight-aways and this would make it very long. Also, the table is not used normally to officiate a meet; therefore, having it online should be sufficient.

Lane Lines. Amend Rule 1-1.7 (page 19) as follows:

The intersection of each lane line and the finish line shall be painted black in a pattern to assist photo finish lane identification. Figure 3 is an example.
Rationale: Some think there is only one pattern acceptable.

Water Jump Construction. Amend Rule 1-3.5 (page 23) by adding the following at the end:

For construction or resurfacing after January 1, 2008, the approach to and run-out from the water jump shall be of the same material as the track surface.
Rationale: The elimination of grass or any other surface on the approach and run-out will prevent slippery conditions that result from being wet because of the activity with the water jump.

Water Jump Hurdle. Amend the second sentence of Rule 1-3.5 (page 23) as follows:

The water jump shall, including the hurdle, be 3.66 (+/-.02) meters in length and 3.66 (+/-.02) meters in width.
Rationale: This brings the specifications into conformance with the USATF and IAAF specifications and corrects a common misunderstanding.

Foul-Line Indicator. Amend Rule 1-6.5 (page 28) as follows:

For the purpose of aiding the calling of fouls:
a. The area immediately beyond the foul line. . .
b. The foul may be detected by an electronic foul line indicator with validation by an image capturing system.
((A tray approximately 10 centimeters wide filled with plasticine or other suitable material may be used. The plasticine or other suitable material should be of contrasting color to, and level with, the takeoff board.))
Rationale: Technology is advancing in every area of officiating. This provision solidifies the violation of simply crossing the foul line and provides incentive to developers to provide the technical aid required.

Hammer/Discus Cage. Amend Rule 1-9.1d (page 30) as follows:

Change the panel width measurement from 4.35m to 4.20m.
Rationale: The modification last year was not meant to change values that would eliminate manufacturer product, but to clarify the basic principles of safe design. One manufacturer complained regarding the increase in the door panel width. The change of 15 cm, about 6 inches, is not deemed significant for safety.

Water Jump Hurdle Length. Amend Rule 2-3.3 (page 40) as follows:

The water-jump hurdle, placed in service after January, 2008, shall be 3.66. . .
Rationale: There are several longer models still in use that conformed to earlier specifications. This allows for the grandfathering of those barriers.

ITF Amends Court Pace Rating Program

Beginning January 2008, the ITF’s Court Surface Classification Scheme will be renamed as the Court Pace Classification Programme and will undergo significant changes. Under the new program, surfaces will be classified according to the “Court Pace Rating” (CPR) instead of the current “Surface Pace Rating” (SPR) as measured by the Sestee machine.

The Court Pace Rating is calculated from the SPR and the Coefficient of Restitution (COR) in the form of a “pace correction factor” (k) as shown:

CPR = SPR + k

k= a(b-e)

Where:

a = pace perception constant (150)
b = mean COR for all surface types (0.81)
e = COR of the test surface

COR is measured by the angled bounce test and is reported in existing surface pace test reports, denoted as “e”.

The new program is designed to reduce the discrepancy between theoretical measurements and player perception of pace.

Beginning in January 2008, surfaces will be classified in five categories, rather than the current three:

Category	Surface Pace Rating
Slow	# 29
Medium-slow	30-34
Medium	35-39
Medium-fast	40-44
Fast	45

A rule for both Davis Cup and Fed Cup was passed at the recent ITF AGM, which places limits on the allowable range of CPR for courts used in World Group and Group 1 at 24 to 50 (inclusive).

For additional information regarding changes to the Court Pace Classification Programme, contact Stuart Miller or Janet Page at the ITF in London, +44 (0)20 8878 6464, info@itftennis.com.

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Editor's Note: Articles in the "Opinion Line" column represent the opinions of their authors and not necessarily those of the ASBA. Readers are invited to respond. Please send comments to ASBA, Attn.: "Opinion Line," 8480 Baltimore National Pike, #307, Ellicott City, MD 21043 or via e-mail to chogan@sportsbuilders.org.

Resurfacing Cracked Asphalt Tennis Courts
Jonnie Deremo, CTCB, Phoenix, AZ

How many times have we all talked about repairing and resurfacing cracked courts? We all agree that unless the customer will spend the money to rebuild, overlay, install a synthetic overlay system or a more expensive crack repair system, that the existing cracks will return “guaranteed.” No matter how we explain it, it seems like we all experience the same results after resurfacing cracked asphalt courts.

The following is a short information sheet that I wrote several years ago, that we now send to customers that choose to resurface cracked courts. We have had better results since using this document. I have edited some of the verbiage so that other members may use the same information to construct a similar document for their own use.

“THE FACTS ABOUT CRACKS”
All asphalt tennis courts will develop structural cracks, several years after initial construction. As time goes by the size, length, and amount of cracks will increase. Asphalt is an organic material made from asphaltic cement, sand and small aggregate (gravel), that is mixed hot, placed and compacted. The sun, rain, and moisture in general have a direct effect on the asphalt causing it to oxidize, become dry, and therefore brittle. Any movement in the sub-base (earth) below the asphalt can cause the court to crack. The older the court the more susceptible it will be to these forces. Once the court cracks it is like having a lot of puzzle pieces floating within a confined area. The cracks will open and close due to thermal expansion and contraction. As the asphalt warms from the sun it will expand or enlarge, and as it cools it contracts or shrinks. During various times of the year in Arizona, we can experience vast temperature swings from the highs in the 80s to the lows in the 40s within a 24-hour period. Some days the high temperatures in winter may only reach into the 40s. In short the cracks are going to open when it gets cold and close some when it warms. SINCE THE CRACKS CONTINUE TO MOVE AND GROW IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PERMANENTLY REPAIR CRACKS IN TENNIS COURTS WITHOUT AN OVERLAY OR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE COURT (S).

When repairing cracks in asphalt courts several things will have a direct effect on how long it takes to re-crack. The first is the condition of the existing asphalt; the older and drier the asphalt the less flexible and strong it will be. This will effect how well the filler placed into the crack will adhere to the sides of the crack. In some cases the asphalt is so dry and deteriorated that when movement within the crack takes place the filler will simply pull the asphalt aggregate apart within the crack. The second and most common factor in how long it takes for re-cracking to appear is cold temperatures. Re-cracking may be compounded when moisture remains within the sub-base for a long period of time. The more moisture contained within the sub-base the more movement you will have in the asphalt above. This is especially true if we have freezing temperatures. When water freezes it expands, and this expansion pressure can be enormous. This is why water pipes burst when frozen.

_______________ uses crack resistant quality materials and the latest techniques when repairing cracks. Our customer’s satisfaction is very important to us, and we hope that this information is helpful in describing what takes place within your court(s) as well as what can be expected when repairs are made to your court(s) by us or anyone else. UNLESS THE COURT (S) IS (ARE) OVERLAID OR RECONSTRUCTED THE CRACKS WILL REAPPEAR. IT IS UNKNOWN AS TO HOW SOON RECRACKING MAY OCCUR OR HOW WIDE THE CRACKS MAY BECOME. RE-CRACKING MAY OCCUR IMMEDIATELY.

PLEASE SIGN BELOW INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE INFORMATION.

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ASBA NEWS

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BOARD HAPPENINGS
Summer Board Meeting
July 20-21, 2007

During our most recent Board Meeting, the members of the Board undertook the following actions:

1. Directed our Legal Counsel to negotiate a cooperative venture with ASTM in the production of future editions of our Fields book.
2. A committee was formed to further develop a proposal regarding a tennis court certification program.
3. The Management Continuity Committee, chaired by Randy Futty, brought the Board up to date on the progress of the search for a new management firm and authorized the committee to proceed with the process and timeline.
4. Our Legal Counsel is finalizing a draft agreement between ASBA and the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) to make available some new member benefits resulting from this cooperative relationship.
5. Directed Division Presidents to ensure that their respective Technical Committees undergo a construction guideline review by the next Winter Meeting in order to incorporate changes and updates from the construction and maintenance manuals.
6. Discussed developing a separate builder member category for individuals or small firms. This issue has been raised in the past, without being able to develop a successful strategy, and was tabled.
7. Approved some incentive campaigns aimed towards membership development- stay tuned!
8. Approved the tentative Technical Meeting program.
9. Approved a Marketing strategy that will focus a significant amount of time and resources on updating and improving our Website. The goals will be to improve its usefulness for both members and outside users. John Graham will spearhead this effort.
10. The Operating Budget for 2007-2008 was approved, without the need to raise member dues.

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MEMBER NEWS

Editor’s Note: Information contained in Memberline is submitted by members and is published without verification. Its publication does not constitute an endorsement.

DecoTurf Chosen
Over this past summer, DecoTurf (Andover, MA) surfaces were chosen time and again. Some of the prestigious events played on DecoTurf include:

2007 Fed Cup Semifinal US vs. Russia held July 14-15 in Stowe, VT
Indianapolis Tennis Championships July 21-29 in Indianapolis, IN
Legg Mason Tennis Classic July 30-August 5 in Washington, DC
Rogers Cup ATP Tournament August 4-12 Montréal, PQ
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters August 13-19 in Cincinnati, OH
Pilot Pen Tournament August 17-25 in New Haven, CT

In addition, DecoTurf has recently announced that its full cushioned DecoTurf II has been selected by the Beijing Organizing Committee as the tennis surface for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

Among its most interesting ventures, DecoTurf has designed a multicolored court design for the 11 home courts of World Team Tennis (WTT) for the 2007 Professional League season. The courts include blue, green, brown and maroon.

Welch Tennis Offers Clay Court Seminar Series
Welch Tennis Courts, Inc. (Sun City, FL) has announced its 2007 Clay Court Maintenance Seminar Series for club managers, tennis professionals and maintenance personnel. The program is designed to give each participant a working knowledge of Har-Tru (Charlottesville, VA) tennis courts, including the latest procedures in maintenance. Emphasis will be given to solving court maintenance problems and recent innovations can be used to protect and enhance a tennis court investment. USPTA Members can earn 3 credits for attending.

Three seminars are planned:

October 5, 2007
Admirals Cove Country Club
Jupiter, FL

October 12, 2007-09-17 West Bay Club
Estero, FL

October 19, 2007-09-17 Jacksonville Golf & Country Club
Jacksonville, FL

For information or to register, contact Deb Carlson at Welch Tennis Courts, at 1-800-282-4415.

A New Surface for the Australian Open
Tennis Australia has announced the selection of Plexicushion Prestige (Plexipave System, Div. of California Products Corp., Andover, MA) as the surface of the 2008 Australian Open. The new surface will be installed by Wm. Loud (Aust) Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne. It will replace the Rebound Ace surface (Rebound Ace Sports Pty. Ltd, Queensland, Australia), which has been used at the Australian Open for 20 years. Removal of the old surface began in June.

Tennis Planning Consultants Back at Work
According to Jack Kamrath, “The world’s oldest and largest independent tennis design and consulting firm, Tennis Planning Consultants, Inc. (TPC) (Houston, TX), has reignited its idling engines recently from its original Houston base.”

TPC was founded in 1970 by Alfred S. Alschuler, JR. FAIA, Karl Kamrath, FAIA and Karl’s son Jack. Al’s son Art later joined the firm. From 1970 through the elder Kamrath’s death in 1988 and Alschuler’s death in 2002, TPC consulted on more than 400 indoor and outdoor projects. TPC provides independent objective tennis design/consulting services and expert witness services. They can be objective because they do not compete for construction or management work. Current projects include The Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana and the Huber Tennis Ranch in Texas.

For more information on TPC, refer to www.tennisplanningconsultants.com or call 713.572.2541.

Brad Fandel Joins Douglas
Brad Fandel has joined Douglas Industries, Inc. (Eldridge, IA) as its National Sales Manager. He brings over 20 years of sales, marketing and advertising experience in the media, pharmaceutical and construction industries. Fandel is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in communication and attended the University of Iowa for post-graduate work. He most recently served as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Suburban Construction, Inc., a national top 200 remodeling and construction company. Fandel resides in Moline, IL with his wife Joy and their three daughters, Katie, Hannah and Emma.

A New Address for Midwest Track
Midwest Track Builders (Wauconda, IL) has a new address – 368 West Liberty Street, Suite L, Wauconda, IL 60084. Phone 847.438.9926, Fax 847.526.7320.

Beynon Sports Surfaces to Build Track for 2008 Olympic Trials
Beynon Sports Surfaces (Baltimore, MD), has been selected to build the track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where the 2008 Olympic track-and-field trials will be held. Beynon will supply approximately 9,000 square yards of its BSS 2000 surface. The surface at Hayward Field will be designed to be the fastest track in the world, with a maximum return of energy and superior shock absorption, owing to a bio-engineered force-reduction layer of butyl rubber and full-depth color polyurethane. The track will be finished with a custom surface of embedded EPDM granules for traction. Not only face, this system will allow for daily training without stress injuries.

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The following companies have joined the ASBA or renewed their membership since the last newsletter. Please add their names to the appropriate section of your membership directory.

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Congratulations to the following member of ASBA who has become newly certified since the last issue of Newsline:

Mark Litrico, CTCB
Carolina Courtworks
Charlotte, NC

New Position Paper Online
The Indoor Division’s latest position paper, “Bleachers,” is now available online in the Members Only section of ASBA’s website. The new position paper was drafted at ASBA’s Winter Meeting in St. Pete Beach, FL, February 2007.

Liberalized Section 179 Deduction Rules
Under the Section 179 rules, many small businesses can immediately write off the entire cost of equipment and software additions in the year of acquisition. The Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 extends the current favorable Section 179 deduction rules through tax years beginning in 2010. In addition, the Act makes the rules even more generous starting with tax years beginning in 2007 by increasing the maximum deduction to $125,000 (up from $112,000). For 2008-2010, the $125,000 amount will be indexed for inflation.

Unless Congress takes further action, however, the maximum Section 179 deduction will revert back to $25,000 after 2010.

Turf War
There’s no question that synthetic turf gets a lot of press. It’s just as clear that some of that press is good and some is bad. It seems that at this point, there’s a “turf war” being fought in the press. Here is just a sample of recent news:

In a press release, FieldTurf Tarkett (Montreal, PQ) announced the results of a long-term study conducted by ALIAPUR, the French government body responsible for used tires, along with ADEME, the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management. The study was aimed at determining the environmental impact from the rubber granules derived from recycled car tires which are used in sports fields. As part of this testing, three synthetic turf samples were infilled with three different materials: SBR (rubber granules from used tires), TPE (new material thermoplastic rubber granules) and EPDM (virgin material rubber granules). A sample with no infill served as a control. According to the release, the results indicated:

1. Comparable behavior regardless of which type of infill was used.
2. The absence of impact of these materials on water resources.
3. No effect on health associated with the inhalation of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) or aldehydes emitted by artificial surfaces.

On the other hand, a small study conducted by chemists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and funded by the non-profit group Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), New Haven, CT claims a different result. When the researchers heated the crumb rubber to 60°C (140°F), they discovered four VOCs outgassing from the crumb rubber. Of these, three are skin irritants and the fourth is suspected of being carcinogenic. The study was reported in the Danbury News Times and in the online newsletter Athletic Turf at www.athleticturf.net.

On the plus side, Athletic Turf reports that the world of synthetic turf is expanding:

Synthetic turf is moving onto putting greens and driving ranges. Ron Hall, the editor of Athletic Turf News, predicts that synthetic turf will begin to replace turfgrass greens on golf courses in some regions of the country.

A synthetic turf company in Albuquerque, NM is marketing K9Grass, a knitted product containing an anti-microbial agent. One city already has installed 14,000 sq. ft. of K9Grass at a public dog park.

Another company in Sarasota, FL recently installed a synthetic grass product in a downtown Sarasota median strip. The company’s president predicts that more and more municipalities will replace grass medians with synthetic turf.

The Associated Press reports that artificial surfaces are gaining momentum with horse trainers. Polytrack, a surface previously discussed in Newsline and consisting of synthetic fibers, wax coated sand and recycled rubber, has been installed at Keeneland, home of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. Barbaro’s trainer Michael Matz claims that while injuries such as the one suffered by Barbaro in the Preakness Stakes might still happen on the track, when it comes to reducing injuries “(artificial) is the only way you can go.”

Horse trainers may believe that artificial surfaces will reduce injuries, but some soccer players aren’t so certain. In an article on ESPN’s Soccernet (http://soccernet.espn.go.com), Frank Dell’Apa, soccer columnist for The Boston Globe, reported that “David Beckham let everyone know that he would not be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy against the New England Revolution.” The article went on to say that although the Revolution’s synthetic turf surface is a much better surface than the ripped-up grass field it replaced, “Grass is still the best surface.” Beckham noted that he had never played on synthetic turf. Dell’Apa suggested that “The younger the player the better they can adapt to artificial turf. But if aging – even slightly aging – stars are to be imported by the MLS, the question of playing surfaces will have to be addressed.” Dell’Apa believes that veteran players and those returning from injuries will continue to shy away from synthetic turf.

While the synthetic turf market continues to grow, it’s clear that for every article promoting the advantages, there’s another pointing out the disadvantages. The war of words, at least, goes on.

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CALENDAR  

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FYI

Prince Sports Promoting Outdoor Racquetball; Seeking Industry Partners
Prince Sports, Inc. is looking to promote outdoor racquetball. Picture bikini clad spectators, a day at the beach and some hot action on the court! Can’t get that picture in your mind. . . then take a look at www.worldoutdoorracquetball.com for the recent “Battle at the Beach,” held September 3 in Venice, California.

Among Prince’s goals, developing portable court exhibitions in high traffic areas, increasing youth participation and awareness, increasing public and private court construction, and increasing tournament participation. The company is seeking partners interested in developing surfacing and portable walls for play. Meantime, temporary courts are being installed on tennis courts.

Currently, there are no set dimensions for outdoor racquetball courts. One, three and four-wall courts exist but the most popular courts are three walls; it’s easier to keep the ball in play and the side walls help to support the front wall. Typically, the floor dimensions are 22’ wide by 41’ long. In terms of surface, since racquetball players dive for the ball, a “non-textured, rubberized and/or soft plastic” surface is ideal, according to Scott Winters, General Manager of Indoor Court Sports at Prince.

For more information on this effort, check out the website or contact Winters at Prince Sports, 609-291-5979.

Multitasking? Good or Bad
Many busy people speak with pride about their ability to multitask. But, is multitasking a good thing? Mounting evidence indicates that instead of increasing productivity, people who attempt to do more than one thing at a time make too many mistakes. The quality of work declines and the worker experiences stress.

In a study at Carnegie Mellon’s Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging, participants were asked to compare two rotating objects (visual processing) while listening to sentences (auditory processing). Results showed that their ability to process visual images dropped by 29 percent while their ability to listen dropped by 53 percent when the participants tried to do both at once.

According to Jeff Davidson, a management consultant, professional speaker and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Things Done is to just quit, like a smoker giving up smoking. Your attention will improve and your stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline – will decrease.

From an article in Associations Now, May 2006.

Why New Hires Fail
According to one of our favorite websites, www.leadershipiq.com, we’re hiring all wrong. Forty-six percent of newly hired employees will fail within 18 months – 26% because they can’t accept feedback, 23% because they are unable to understand and manage their emotions, 17% because they lack motivation, 15% because they have the wrong temperament for the job and 11% because they lack the necessary skills for the job.

Why such a dismal record?

The typical interview process fixates on ensuring that new hires are technically competent,” explains Mark Murphy, CEO of Leadership IQ.

Murphy suggests that instead of competence, interviewers should focus on:

Coachability – The ability to accept and implement feedback.
Emotional Intelligence – The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and accurately assess those of others.
Motivation – Sufficient drive to achieve one’s full potential and excel in the job.
Temperament – Attitude and personality suited to the job and work environment.

And only after those four aspects have been considered, to consider technical competence, the technical skills required to do the job.

The Leadership IQ site is full of excellent business information, books and e-learning opportunities. Leadership IQ also offers public seminars, onsite training and keynote addresses.

Do You Blog?
If you’re over 40, you might be saying “What’s a blog?”

According to Wikipedia (If you’re saying “What’s a Wikipedia?,” you need to have a nice long talk with your children or grandchildren.) Meantime, back to the blog. . .

According to Wikipedia, a blog is a form of citizen journalism – a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly are displayed in reverse chronological order. Most often they take the form of commentary on events and issues, often written in real time or nearly so. Readers can make comments in an interactive format. The word “blog” is a shortened form of “weblog.”

Blogging is relatively new. The first widely popular American blogs emerged in 2001. But, by 2005, Fortune magazine listed eight bloggers that business people “could not ignore.” In May 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 71 million blogs.

If you haven’t tried reading blogs, here are a few you might enjoy:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

www.freakonomics.com/blog

http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/brandautopsy

Over the winter, while you’re experiencing some down time, check out blogging. . .before the next big thing comes along. Remember the fax machine?

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