Found most often within the premises of schools or as an extension of a public playing field, athletics grounds are used often by students or by the wider public as a paid service. As a result of their widespread use, and the possible dangers associated with athletics and sports training, measures should always be put in place to ensure such settings are completely safe. At Sportsmark, we ensure that all of our clients have access to the latest in sports maintenance, road marking products and safety equipment. Catering for almost every sport that you can imagine, we are committed to providing the safest and most comprehensive range of professional sporting apparatus and athletic training equipment to suit your needs.
Continue reading to discover just some of the useful ways in which you can make your sports or athletics ground safe, with specialist equipment and practical tips.
Why Prioritise Safety?
The importance of safety within athletics grounds is paramount, and with a long list of injuries to potentially be acquired from running, jumping, throwing and competing, the benefits of prioritising safety are obvious. If an athletics ground is not deemed safe, and an injury is sustained by an individual on your premises, you may be liable for any damage they suffer. Unfortunate situations like this are preventable by maintaining a duty of care, and carefully selecting the appropriate safety equipment available for use, as well as enforcing certain rules and regulations. Safety measures need not be expensive either, with public welfare possible through a number of manageable steps.
Some of the athletics events which could see the participants come to harm include short and long-distance running, long-jump, high-jump, discuss, javelin and shot put. The intensity of these events can see participants sustain all manner of injuries to various parts of their body such as:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Fractures
- Concussion
- Muscle Tears
- Nerve Pain
Crash Mats
Also widely referred to as ‘safety mats’ crash mats remain useful for many sports and athletics events, offering a safe landing area for competitors who are falling or jumping from height, and require a reliable shock-absorbed surface to land on. Whether a crash mat is being used for gymnastics, the high-jump or the increasingly popular urban sport of parkour, the cushioned surface ensures that any competitor has a safe landing spot to prevent injury. An added advantage of investing in crash mats for your facility is that it can prevent damage to flooring that repeated impacts may cause. Designating this specific matted area for activities and providing clear instructions will encourage users to safely practice.
Designated Jumping And Landing Areas
Designated jumping and landing areas for those competing in events such as the long-jump can encourage responsible use of facilities, and protect not only the competing athlete, but those around them too. Marking out a specific area with grass marking paint or line marking equipment near a long jump pit cove will maintain a clear visual signal of where an athlete should jump and land, with this practical utility equipment also useful to mark out competition areas for football, rugby and tennis. Markings for jumping and landing areas will maintain the additional benefit of giving spectators and other attendees to the athletics ground an idea of the safe standing spaces nearby.
Signs
Signage can be installed around a sports or athletics ground to give competitors a reminder of the rules and regulations, as well as the conduct expected of them when using facilities. Many injuries occur when equipment is used irresponsibly or wrongfully, and signs with clear instruction can prompt users to practice safely. Safety signs are a legal requirement within some contexts, so make sure you are familiar with the legislation before deciding against installing them. Drawing attention to potential hazards and directing a user to use apparatus in a certain way can be the difference between a serious injury, or harm being prevented.
Professionally Qualified Staff
In the same way that signage can prove to be important in preventing injury, qualified staff with a detailed knowledge of safety practices can guide users of your athletics ground through the securest ways to use equipment and facilities. A knowledge of first aid should also be a prerequisite for staff, ensuring that they can offer direct and helpful medical assistance in the instance of injury. Training staff on how to responsibly use athletics and sporting equipment will go a long way towards creating a safety-conscious environment for users of the facilities.
Cage Netting
A crucial addition to any throwing cages within your athletics ground, cage netting when installed properly will prevent any thrown objects from landing away from the assigned training area, eliminating the possibility of other athletes being harmed by stray discuss or shot puts. Ideally installed by a team of experts, cage netting will be composed of thick and durable material for long-term use. Securely attached to posts and sockets, installed cage netting can give you peace of mind that athletes within the area of a throwing cage are safe from the dangers of heavy thrown objects.
Keeping A Clean Area
The possibility of rubbish and stray items obstructing an area used for sports can make for a precarious situation. Safe storage of equipment and objects should be prioritised, with utility cupboards, lockers and storage cases all a worthwhile investment. Items are less likely to be scattered around if there is a secure place to locate them, and rubbish is liable to be binned if there are disposal areas located around the site. One of the risks of not maintaining a clean area around an athletics ground is the risk of tripping or an athlete being obstructed.
Maintained Turf
Turf maintenance is important within an athletics ground due to the dangers that an unkempt turf poses for competitors. The harder the ground is, the more likely an injury can occur from a fall. Ensuring you maintain an athletics ground, means you’re also looking after the users of your site. Trip hazards and holes are also commonplace within a badly maintained turf, and these should be rectified quickly if an athletics ground is to remain safe for users. A competent groundsman should be able to successfully maintain a section of turf, or you may even want to replace the old turf completely in certain situations where it is beyond repair.
Our Product Range
With an array of products for professional sports competitions, participant safety, ground maintenance and road marking, we have confidence that our extensive range will cater for your sporting needs. Below are just a selection of the industry-leading appliances that we supply:
Club High Jumping Landing Area
The perfect addition to a school athletics area or public athletics ground, this safe and practical all-in-one high-jump unit comes complete with crash mat and adjustable height pole. This equipment can even be utilised for the pole vault event, with the spacious landing area large enough to cushion a fall from height.
Athletics Scoreboard
A useful addition to all manner of sports grounds and athletics practice areas, a scoreboard can be used to track competition progress and reliably keep count of times, scores and distances. Mobile enough to transport from location to location thanks to the wheeled design, this appliance can be used for a school sports day or during practice.
Freestanding Steel Foldaway Goals
Transportable thanks to their foldaway design, steel freestanding goals are a worthy investment for those interested in playing the nation’s favourite sport. Made to last, we are proud to supply appliances for football grounds and sports centres nationwide.
Heavy Duty Flex Ring
Hoops can be installed almost anywhere at height. Just as suitable in a small garden as they are on a sprawling court, this heavy duty flex ring offers a handy solution for the basketball enthusiasts amongst us. The reliable heavy duty design ensures that once installed correctly, this ring should be able to sustain plenty of wear and tear.
Aluminium Rugby Posts
A crucial addition to the playing field for anyone hoping to lace up their boots and play a game of rugby, these large aluminium posts are used by professional league clubs such as Worcester Warriors. Available in junior and senior sizes, installation services are also available.
Sportsmark Group Ltd: Tactile Studs And Hazard Warning Strips
At Sportsmark, we’re proud to offer a diverse range of quality affordable products from the nation’s leading suppliers. From athletic training equipment to components for a long jump pit cove, we love all sports, and provide the equipment for the things you’re passionate about. Site safety is top of our agenda, with road studs, bins and grit all available to purchase via our extensive online store.
Make the most of our specialist sports ground construction and maintenance service today. With projects as varied as bowling greens, cricket cages and all-weather pitches, our team are experienced at delivering when it matters. Based on our extensive industry knowledge, we are pleased to offer consultation and glad to serve an assortment of customers, from schools and sports clubs, local authorities and universities right through to Premier League football clubs. Contact our team today with any queries you may have.