Why Soft Outdoor Basketball Courts Are A Better Option.
As you dribble the basketball across the court when playing with your friends or opponents, you are at risk of falling down a number of times and depending on the type of floor and impact of the fall, one may have serious injuries. Basketball is a common sport so you are likely to get basketball courts everywhere be it at homes, parks, leisure center and in schools. This has increased the demand of having high-quality outdoor basketball courts where the players are safe. Although basketball can be played on various types of surfaces, it is now important to consider the safety and that is why people are now advocating for soft outdoor basketball courts.
What Is Offered Today
The soft outdoor basketball courts are courts that have been made from surfaces which are anti-slip and sports color coating line markings. The surface is multi-layered to provide players with exceptional performance, true ball bounce, a consistent speed of play and safety. The courts have been improved with both flexion and traction which means that they have incredible shock absorbers that will help reduce wear and tear on the player’s joints and body. This is much different from the traditional driveway basketball courts.
The traditional driveway basketball court which is made from concrete was common because of its strength and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, but is prone to surface imperfections, chips, and cracks. It has also contributed to cuts, bruises, scrapes on the player’s ankles and legs when one falls when playing and also have an increased risk of concussion. The surface easily tears up the skin, with shoes and the basketball prone to wear and tear.
Types Of Soft Outdoor Basketball Courts
There are various types of soft outdoor basketball courts and these include:
- Shock absorbing tiles which help reduce fatigue hence players can play for longer and better.
- Multipurpose plastic flooring which is made to enhance the steps of the players. The plastic modular flooring is placed on a flat concrete surface which gives it a sturdy foundation and it easily snaps together to give the court its design and shape. The plastic courts provide a consistent bounce with excellent traction, and if you want, you can add a polyurethane finish on top of the plastic floorings so as to give it a more professional approach.
The soft outdoor basketball courts are quickly installed and can be done by a professional or DIY, unlike the concrete where you would need a professional only with a lot of equipment.
Benefits Of Soft Outdoor Basketball Courts
The benefits of having the soft outdoor basketball court include:
- The greatest benefit is that the smooth surface enhances safety and there are minimal skin abrasions and other injuries during falls. They have additional gripping which allows all types of pivot maneuvers, jumping, and side to side movements which reduce the pressure on joints.
- They have an all-weather surface for easy cleaning and maintained, unlike the concrete court which requires regular maintenance. The surface doesn’t heat up in hot temperatures, unlike the concrete courts, which have a high heat radiation. It is also designed to be porous so, in wet conditions, they fast drain and dry up quickly, hence no standing water puddles or flooding use which can cause damage to the surface. This gives the players the confidence to play without fearing that they will slip and hurt themselves.
- They are excellent shock absorbers hence they reduce the head to leg shock and landing shock at a tibia by a great percentage. The court also will not wear and tear the ball and shoes, hence you will not replace them every few months.
- The court surface can have a variety of vibrant deep colors that you can choose from so as to improve the aesthetic value of the court. The colors last for a long period before they can fade.
- You can choose the design that you want the court to be depending on your court size and also budget.
Risks Associated With Playing On Concrete And Asphalt
Playing on concrete and asphalt over time has long-term effects because of the continuous intense running on the concrete surface which increases the risk of injuries. You can get conditions such as “jumper’s knee” which is also known as patellar tendonitis. This occurs when there is repetitive stress on the patella or quadriceps when one is playing, hence there is too much pain at the front of the knee and degeneration or inflammation of the patella tendon. Playing on hard surfaces also force one to have extreme traction and can increase the chances of knee sprains, ankle sprains and turf toe, which in the long run makes it impossible to play basketball or have a difficulty in walking.
