Managing Physical Education, Fitness, and Sports Facilities

Planning the Facility

n General Criteria for Planning Sport/Activity Facilities

– Serves the identified needs

– Quality Construction and Safety Considerations

– Multipurpose

– Secluded location to avoid a noise problem

– Easily accessible

– Cost Effective

– Easily supervised

– Custodial/maintenance efficient

– Expansible

– Aesthetic presentation and ambiance

Location

n Accessibility

– Campus

– Athletic club

– Recreational programs for youth

n Environmental Quality

– Noise and air pollution

n Sharing existing facilities

– Joint occupancy

n Unconventional sites

– Tennis courts on top of buildings

– Vacant grocery stores

Facility Design

n Multipurpose

n Sources of ideas

– Tour existing facilities

– Athletic Business journal

– Architectural drawings and renderings

– Textbooks

n Limiting factors

– Realistic about optimum plan and financing

– Safety and adherence to state and federal codes

• Sprinkler systems

• Handicap access

• Equality for male and female facilities

– Construction Materials

• Conforming with period style

• Initial cost vs. long-term cost

• Inflatable structures

• Tents

• Metal buildings

• Transparency

• Fire and earthquake resistance

Who Plans the Facility?

n Schools

– Board of trustees, school administrators, campus planning committee, maintenance personnel, architect, contractor, department personnel (PE teachers, Athletic department staff and coaches)

n Fitness and Sports Medicine Centers

– Investors, operators, physicians, PTs, exercise physiologists, fitness director

Outdoor Areas

n Fences: safety, privacy, organization

n Surfaces: drainage, maintenance, concrete/asphalt, natural turf, rubberized surface, polyurethane, artificial turf

n Orientation

n Lighting

Indoor Areas

n Teaching stations

n Surfaces

– Flooring

– Mats

– Walls

– Lighting

– Air-Quality Control

– Corridors

– Storage and office areas

n Locker Rooms

– Dressing areas

• Separate dressing areas for each team in athletics and another for officials

• Preferably separate shower rooms and rest rooms

• Fitness centers may provide hair dryers, etc.

– Lockers

• For business people, long lockers so clothes will not be wrinkled

• Lockable or provide basket services

• Ventilated and dry area to dress

– Wet areas

• Separated from dressing area

• Flooring should be non slip and treated to prevent athlete’s foot and other germs

Pools

n Beginning swimming lessons should have a shallow area

n Competition and diving

n Decks: nonslip, easy care, drainage

n Lighting

n Maintenance of pools for disinfection and pH levels

n Posted and written rules and regulations

Food Service

n Drinking fountains should be available and are better than water coolers with paper cups.

n Snack bar should be easily accessible

– should prevent food and drink from being taken into activity areas.

– Good for socializing

n Concessions

Facility Management

n Facilities must be maintained

n Policy guide

– General policies: need to be established for any recurring problems, and they must be developed for each facility

– Facility hours and scheduling procedures

– Availability of facilities and equipment: use fee?

– Leasing arrangements and contractual agreement

Facility Supervision and Security

n Supervisors and security personnel try to ensure that the needs of the users of the facilities are met

– Individual user

– Spectators

– Group reservation for VB

n Good communication to all constituents

– Written rules and regulations for employees

– Facility rules and regulations should be posted at all entrances and strategic places

n Supervisory and security personnel should be readily identifiable

n Friendly and helpful attitude should be displayed by the personnel

n Training program for improving service

Facility Maintenance

n A responsibility of all personnel, not just janitorial and maintenance crews

– Reporting maintenance needs

– Maintenance coordinator

– Supplies and equipment

Inventory Control

n Precise records of all equipment and repair history, uniforms, sport and activity equipment.

n Clothing marked, id numbers on equipment

n Check-out system for equipment: ids or drivers license

Facility Scheduling

n Establish a priority list

n Educational facilities Priority list

– PE classes

– Athletic practices and contests

– Intramural/recreational sports

– Other campus groups—academic

– Other campus groups—nonacademic

– Off-campus groups