While on the surface, flooring may look similar, the individual parts all come together to make the best choice for a specific space and athlete 鈥� and can have a lasting impact on safety, wellness, the environment and pocketbook. | Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of Action Floor Systems LLC
叠测听碍arl Borree听
Elementary and high school floors can look听indistinguishable,听even when compared to university facilities.听Each is chosen and designed based on the specific听use case for the flooring and can vary听greatly based听on the spectrum of performance needs vs. utility. Schools are no longer choosing athletic flooring based on performance metrics alone. While performance still plays听an important role, facilities are also taking student-athlete health, sustainability and longevity into consideration when听planning听their build.听听
Over the past 15 years or so, school construction has become more holistic in its approach to building material decisions.听New builds are focusing on听how building-wide materials affect the health of students,听teachers听and听visitors.听For example, many new schools or remodels are focusing on听. It only makes sense that this same mindset would extend into school sports facilities.听However, it is important to take into consideration who the space is being built听to serve.听听
K-12听vs. Higher Education听Flooring Needs听
Elementary school gymnasiums are often multi-purpose, serving as lunchrooms, community gathering spaces and even hosting school plays. Flooring systems need to be durable to withstand moving听furniture multiple times a day, while also protecting younger children who are more susceptible to falls and injuries. Flooring systems in elementary schools are often designed听with softer subflooring听to absorb energy and reduce the force of impact, which keeps the focus on safety and durability over athletic performance.听听
Middle and听high听school sports听are more competitive and physically demanding on student-athletes. These gymnasiums are more likely to be used for sporting events only, but they are not usually sports-specific, which means they need to focus on durability and performance. Floor systems need to offer protection to athletes, while also balancing the impact and energy return that supports jumping,听sprinting听and multi-sport functionality.听听
Collegiate athletic facilities are more specialized, usually focusing on one or two sports. While athlete health and protection听are听important,听it鈥檚听athlete performance听that鈥檚听key. Flooring systems that are durable and provide a firmer subfloor provide athletes with an energy return that can improve their plays and jumps as well as protect their joints and muscles as they play at this more intense level. Regardless of education level, one factor听remains听consistent听鈥斕齱hat lies beneath the surface of the flooring is just as important as the flooring itself. Both have a significant impact on student-athlete health and long-term sustainability.听听
The Value of Subflooring听
Subflooring has more of an impact on energy absorption,听force听reduction听and student-athlete health听than people may realize.听For example, one听standard听that student health and safety is based on is the Head Injury Criterion (HIC), which measures the likelihood of an impact-related head injury. This is incredibly important, but it can vary based on the athlete鈥檚 age range.听Younger students听require听a softer subfloor that听allows them听to听prevent injury.听Firmer subflooring for older athletes allows for a more controlled energy听return but still protects them. Some flooring systems opt for subflooring that听doesn鈥檛听allow for much padding between the floor and the concrete, which means increased injuries due to the lack of 鈥渂ounce back.鈥澨齌his is a great danger to athletes and should be taken seriously when choosing a new flooring system.听听
An听aspect to consider when choosing the right flooring system is sustainability and environmental impact. Many听subfloors are made of PVC plastics,听and听floors are finished with harsh adhesives and stains, which leads to harmful听off gassing听in enclosed athletic environments. These all听greatly听impact听the听, which is incredibly harmful to children, the听elderly听and people with health conditions听such as听asthma.听For a healthier and more environmentally conscious choice, facilities can opt for a subfloor that is made of all-natural rubber or choose adhesives and stains that are water-based,听eliminating听harmful off-gassing.听听
Sustainability Considerations听
Another sustainable choice that facilities can make is to听select听natural听wood听over synthetic flooring.听Beyond the听obvious that wood occurs naturally,听it tends听to last longer than synthetic flooring. Some flooring might require full replacements during a standard 25-year building life.听Maple floors with the proper subflooring could last for听many decades, and听don鈥檛听require an entire replacement when they have aged. The flooring can be sanded down and refinished without creating any听additional听waste,听cementing the longevity of the up-front investment.听听
In a听听at Manitowoc Lutheran High School in Wisconsin,听the priority of听sustainability and athlete health听are made听evident听through thoughtful flooring design. The school was experiencing performance issues with its existing athletic floor and needed to re-evaluate what was听under听the surface.听Officials听updated the flooring system to a mixture of firm and soft subflooring that improved uniformity, vibration dampening, ball rebound and overall athlete comfort. Choosing the right subfloor paired with maple floorboards means that the school should have听this floor for decades before听any听substantial听improvements听are necessary. This project highlights听a听valuable lesson:听flooring performance, durability, and sustainable choices can improve athlete health and support long-term goals.听听
Understanding听the components of听a听floor allows schools听officials听to build better spaces for their student-athletes and听improve听the lifecycle of the building. While on the surface, flooring may look听similar,听the individual parts all come together to make the best choice for听a听specific space and athlete听鈥斕齛nd can have听a听lasting impact on safety, wellness, the听environment听and your pocketbook.听听
Karl Borree听is听Vice President听at听Action Floor Systems听LLC.听