Discussion
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Comments
This looks like a great idea to me. I have heard of a few plans for this area, but I think your idea could be the best. The EOU sports facilities are often very crowded and any extra space would be great for all students and athletes.
It appears that you have done a good job on your research. The idea is sound and it is a great idea for those students not affiliated with one of the sport teams to have an area specified for them.
I like your idea, however, I have one thought. As a volleyball coach and avid player I don't know whether the Sport Court surfacing is ideal for volleyball. Because the surface is tacky and textured it could be dangerous for playing volleyball and the body needs to be able to slide as well as the feet not stick to the floor. I see the floor may present potential injuries in both basketball and volleyball. Did you do any research on whether this type of floor has been used for indoor sports typically played on a varnished wood floor? Otherwise the project seems like a great use of a space at EOU and I agree we need more gym space available for students and other community groups.
Lasa, I didn't specifically research the use of the court for volleyball compared to a varnished wood floor and I can see your worries about the slide and stick issue with the sport court. From my research, I was able to find out from the Sport Court website that they do do indoor courts and have specific courts geared for volleyball, yet it is the same material surface. I have played basketball on a Sport Court before and I have noticed an issue with the floor being too sticky as opposed to a wood floor and I could see how this would be an issue for volleyball in regards to sliding and diving for a dig. This is an excellent point that I briefly thought about but didn't research properly for volleyball playing. In regards to injury for the two sports that would primarily be played on the court, for basketball Sport Court has shown to be more forgiving on joints due to the cushioning in it, yet there is still potential for injuries such as rolled ankles and torn ligaments in the knees. My thoughts on this aspect is playing on a Sport Court wouldn't be much different then playing on the asphalt hoops outside of Zabel hall. Both provide issues on being too "sticky" for footing, yet kids seem to understand this hazard and play anyways. Theres always a risk for whatever surface you play on, just understanding that risk and continuing to use the surface is at the risk of the participant. Great point you brought up about the volleyball though!
I like this proposal a lot. You did a good job using cost of the pool in operation and comparing that to the cost of conversion. Also showing the benifits of converting this area and specifics was good too.
This is a very good idea Matt! Right now the space is just going to waste and I think the addition of a sport court to our gym facility would be used very regularly. Good job with your research and finding out how much all aspects would cost, as well as devising a plan to pay for it.
It helps make your proposal more credible that you have personal experience playing basketball on a sport court. It may help to sell the idea. Thank you for addressing my concern of potential injuries due to the type of floor surface.
From my brief experiance of playing basketball on a Sport Court, I found the footing and traction somewhere between an asphalt court and a wood basketball court. It is very cushioned, so unlike asphalt, the repeated jumping didn't seem to wear on my torn up ankles or bad knees, yet the grip of the surface I would relate to a wood court that was just thouroghly cleaned and swept, like that 10 minute period where the traction is excellent before all the dust and dirt makes the court slick. Yet with a Sport Court the traction is like that all the time and requires no sweeping before a game.
Great job Matt! You wrote up a good proposal! Haha, in reading about all the different presentations' fundraising ideas to slightly increase student tuition...before we know it, our tuition will end up sky rocketing! :)
You quoted Rob Cashell in your Powerpoint, was he behind the idea? I know he has ideas of his own with what to do with that area.
You say that the sports court would be only for students, but also available for intramurals. I know that there is sometimes a conflict within the sports teams for gym space as it is with two. My concern is that this new sports court would be an additional practice area. As it is now, classes then sports are the first two priorities for gym use, students last, as you've found. Do you think it's realistic for the athletic administration to say, "Students have priority in this gym?" Regardless, having extra space will make an open gym more likely.
Great job on this proposal!!!
Yeah Rob does have some ideas of his own for the pool area, but no I came up with this idea just due to the fact that I'm not a fan of getting kicked out of the little gym when I'm playing basketball! One of Rob's ideas that he shared with me I really liked, and that is to move the athletic training room to the pool, make the pool area into a double story and put athletic offices on the 2nd floor in there. A great idea for the pool area since the athletic training room is abnormally small especially when 20+ football players need to get taped and treated every day before their practices. I think it would be realistic to give students the priority in this new gym for the reason that due to the difference in Sport Court and a wood gym floor would deter teams from practicing on a different court surface than what they are used to and what their games are played on. Thanks for the great feedback