News from the Court

One of the things that makes Sport Court a leader in outdoor courts is the company's dedication to testing. Sport Court tests its courts for safety in-house and then uses independent testing labs to verify the results.

Kids and adults who play outdoors will fall and scrape a knee. Sometimes the injury is more severe. Head injuries, damage to joints like knees, ankles and elbows, and broken bones can often be avoided with a springier surface like Sport Court.

Sport Court has been investing in research and development for more than 40 years. In that period of time, they have made major improvements in both indoor and outdoor court surfaces.

Download this pdf about the Safest Court in the World to learn more about the safety benefits of Sport Court.

A backyard court is a great way to encourage family recreation and fitness. But, does it add property value to the home?

Many say yes. For buyers with children, it can be very attractive, especially if the yard's landscaping is designed appropriately to enhance it.

For those with expansive backyards, a Sport Court offers another benefit--less grass. Reduce water usage and lawn maintenance by replacing some of that grass with a court surface. It is eco-friendly and fun friendly.

Having a backyard court for basketball, tennis or multi-sport purposes can make your home THE gathering place for your children and their friends. For many parents, this is a benefit that is invaluable. Knowing that kids are safe and engaged in healthy activities offers a peace of mind that is priceless.

But it isn't just families that appreciate the value of a backyard court. There are many adult sports and fitness enthusiasts who consider a private backyard court a real bonus. You may know someone would prefer to live with a ball in their hands at all times. For those people, a home with a private court is worth a premium price.

Of course, not everyone wants a backyard court. Not everyone wants a swimming pool, a man cave, or even lots of bathrooms. A backyard Sport Court can make a property stand out, though. And, experts say that a well-maintained Sport Court in a well-groomed backyard can increase a home's property value from $10,000 - $20,000.

If you are longing for a backyard court, don't wait to find a home that has one already installed. Give us a call at Grand Slam Courts at 210-496-3399 for a quote and some design options. You could be playing in your own backyard soon!

1. 

      1. SOCIAL BENEFITS

Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine reports that out of 14,000 high school athletes, the ones who regularly played sports were less likely to use drugs.

The National Household Survey of Drug Abuse found that students who played sports were less likely to have smoked cigarettes or used drugs and were more likely to disapprove of others using them.

The Women’s Sports Foundation has stated that female high school athletes are 80% less likely to become pregnant than non-athletes.

       2. ACADEMIC BENEFITS

Studies of children in Colorado, Wyoming and Iowa found that playing sports can increase success in the classroom. These studies showed that athletes have higher grade point averages, higher standardized test scores, better attendance records, lower dropout rates, and are more likely to go to college.

       3. CAREER BENEFITS

A survey of individuals who are Executive Vice Presidents of 75 Fortune 500 companies showed that 95% of them played sports in high school.

Playing sports may not guarantee higher incomes, and executive level jobs. But sports can prepare children for the leadership and team work skills, work ethic and determination that are needed to be leaders in the business world and in our communities.

THAT’S WHY YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO PLAY SPORTS!

Would Mom like a new Sport Court from Grand Slam Courts for Mother's Day? Probably. But, since Mom's Day is in less than a week, it will be easier to purchase and wrap up these ideas.

Having a beautiful backyard does not mean that the only thing you can do there is sit. We have had plenty of clients that longed for a backyard sport court or tennis court that would enhance their fitness and ability to have fun in their backyard. But, they worried that they would end up with a backyard that looked full of concrete.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

With some creative landscaping, including trees, plants, flagstone walkways, and retaining walls, it is possible to create a backyard court that seems to be part of a virtual oasis.

Below are some ideas. But, for a landscaping plan that works in your backyard, give us a call. We can provide a quote on installation of a court and recommend local landscapers to complete the lovely—and lively-- backyard you desire.

The whole country will be looking to San Antonio on March 31 and April 2, when the Men's 2018 NCAA Final Four will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

In advance of the event, Gerflor, the parent company of the Sport Court® brand, will be installing new maple hardwood floors for the competitors at the Alamodome and Sport Court synthetic modular flooring for a fan area designed to engage visitors in a variety of basketball-themed skills activities.

The video shown here shows part of the process that Connor Sports uses to construct the portable floors that will be used for both the Final Four competition at the Alamodome and the Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.

Which team do you expect to win the Men's tournament? Which team would you like to see win?

Youth sports is reported to be a $15 Billion industry annually in the US. That is what parents across the country shell out for registration fees, uniforms and equipment, camps and coaching, travel expenses and facilities fees.

And the dollars are just the beginning of the sacrifices that some parents are willing to make to encourage their children’s athletic prowess. Participating in club teams demands lots of time. Some parents even give up time with their kids to send them to boarding schools that offer specialized athletic opportunities.

Clearly, this is lunacy for most sons and daughters. But, sports does have its benefits. And, when parents and kids can participate in sports together in their own backyard, that is the best possible athletic opportunity for the vast majority of kids. (That’s why we love to be able to install backyard Sport Courts for our clients.)

Time Magazine published an article last year on this phenomenon of youth sports and how it has become a lifestyle for many families. The article features 10-year-old Luke Martinez of San Antonio, who plays for the Alamo Drillers baseball team, which was ranked #1 nationally at the time in the 10-and-under group. In the article, Luke’s dad is quoted: “We have friends and family tell us that it’s too much, too soon. But this is his passion. I’m not going to stomp on it.”

Read the full article here and let us know what you think using the emojis below.

What is the most important thing that outdoor play taught you when you were young? We’d love to hear from you here. Share what you learned with us, and we will share that wisdom with our readers in future posts.

Outdoor play is one of the most important ways to encourage the healthy development in children. In days gone by, enticement may not have been necessary to get kids to play outdoors. But with so many children tethered to their electronic devices now, an investment in a Sport Court will draw your children and their friends into your backyard for hours of healthy playtime. What benefits do outdoor games provide that video games, television and social media don’t?         

• They encourage healthy development of the mind—and the body!          
• Children learn to work together, to collaborate, negotiate, share, and resolve conflict.         
• Outdoor play enhances the development of leadership and decision-making skills.         
• Creativity is encouraged.         
• Outdoor games provide an opportunity for children to learn to compete.         
• They allow children the opportunity to find a sport they can be passionate about participating in.       
• They encourage parents and children to play together for great bonding experiences.

Share other ideas with us below.

You have a sport-loving family. But, they love different sports. Daughter plays volleyball. One son lives for roller hockey. Another dreams of a career in the NBA. A backyard sport court can make all of them happy.

Grand Slam Courts can design a court that provides space for all their games on a surface designed to curb injuries.Listen to these Sport Court customers across the country talk about what their backyard Sport Courts have provided to their kids.[

The short answer? Safety!

In the "olden days," a backyard concrete or asphalt slab was the norm. Many of us have the scars to prove it!

Our goal is the safety of your children--and the adults that play with them. There is no outdoor sports surface that delivers a better combination of shock absorption (protection from injury), ball response, traction, and playability than our PowerGame™ outdoor modular court surface.

You could choose concrete. But why would you trust the safety of your children to a surface as unyielding as concrete?

Did you know that Sport Court surfaces are perfect for roller hockey?

The materials used in Sport Courts reduce the wear and tear on the body and on equipment caused by skating on asphalt and concrete. Our roller sports surface delivers ideal traction and shock absorption for hockey enthusiasts--whether playing indoors or out.

Our modular flooring handles the most aggressive turns, hockey stops, and slides, and offers a smooth, fast surface for hockey action and lots of fun. The surface’s tight seams handle high-torque slides and cuts, and the surface itself helps keep the ball or puck moving well.

George Strait recently put his mansion in the Dominion up for sale. The adobe-style home has almost 8,000 sq. ft. of living space and sits on 12 acres. The outdoor living areas feature an infinity pool, outdoor kitchen—and a Sport Court! If you have a few extra million, you can buy it. Or, give us a call and for a lot less Grand Slam Courts can put a new Sport Court in your backyard. You don’t have to be the King of Country to have the best outdoor play area money can buy. Call us at (210) 496-3399 to get a quote. There are lots of options available and you don’t need a 12-acre yard to have a Sport Court.

Check out this 3-minute video with testimonials from happy families who enjoy the fun and fitness benefits of having a Sport Court in their backyard.

The Spurs 2017-18 season is underway with a perfect season so far. We know that fans of Grand Slam Court, San Antonio’s official Sport Court® dealer, are also huge NBA fans. Which of the Spurs new rookies do you think has the qualities needed to become an NBA star?

1. Derrick White, Guard, from the University of Colorado
2. Matt Costello, Power Forward/Center, from Michigan State
3. Brandon Paul, Guard, a Mr. Basketball award winner in Illinois

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy this scouting video of Derrick White:

JC Baker, entrepreneur and former professional football running back, tells why he chose Sport Court. And how his Sport Court now benefits his family and his community.

 

There is a general agreement that sports offer a great opportunity to teach kids important lessons. Having a backyard court means that the classroom to teach your children is much closer. Here are 5 things we think every child should learn that are enhanced by having a home court.

1. The Benefits of Physical Exercise--After just a few weeks of outdoor play, even your kids are likely to realize that they are getting stronger, quicker, and healthier. If all they do is sit indoors in front of a screen, they can't experience that.

2. The Fun of Competition--The world is a competitive place. Letting young people learn how to deal with competitive situations, and with both winning and losing, while in their own backyard is a great way to help them develop a healthy attitude about competition.

3. The Importance of Teamwork--Playing basketball, volleyball or doubles tennis helps kids learn how to work with others toward a goal.

4. The Value of Hard Work--Kids often idolize sports celebrities, but do not have a good sense of the amount of hard work it takes to develop professional-level skills and physical strength. Giving them an arena to work on developing their skills and talents for a sport is a great way to help them experience what real dedication looks like.

5. The Impact of Parental Guidance--There is no better place for parents and kids to experience bonding time than on the court. Kids learn to trust their parents' judgement and guidance in an atmosphere that is enjoyable and fund for all. It is a great way to teach concepts like honesty, sportsmanship, and responsibility.

Make sure your children have an opportunity to learn these important lessons. Let Grand Slam Courts install a court in your backyard. Call for a quote and to set a time to visit one of our demo courts here.