Safety and Service Top the List for Purchasing Considerations
By: Bill Wild

With tight budgets in schools today, it is common to select athletic equipment for initial “value,” not necessarily safety. Clearly, there is a need to balance safety concerns and costs. It is of the utmost importance that you assume responsibility for the new athletic equipment right from the start.

There are a number of steps you can take to ensure you get the best value for your project while prioritizing safety. 

First, you should research and visit reputable manufacturers that specialize in custom athletic equipment. Keep in mind that this industry has been flooded with inexpensive, inferior equipment made overseas whose durability and maintenance make them more expensive over time.

If your research does lead you to an overseas manufacturer, be sure to confirm that they are in fact using the materials specified for the equipment by its designer and check references locally. Only consider manufacturers that have a competent engineer on-staff to ensure compliance with load calculations and proper attachments to structural steel.

Also, pay careful attention to customer service during your research. This is not always obvious because sales and marketing is typically responsible for inquiries before the sale, and attention, courtesy and efficiency go hand-in-hand with selling.

When customer service is an integral part of the sales and marketing process, it is more likely that a company will stand behind the safety, durability and service of its products. Be sure to speak directly with a customer service associate and ask questions such as:
• What are your return policies?
• How long do manufacturer warranties last?
• Do warranties cover material, labor and freight?
• Can you deliver product in a timely fashion and service us in the future with parts?
• Can you provide parts and service in the future?
• What are your hours of operation?
• How do I escalate a problem if we have one?

Once purchased, only factory-certified installers should complete equipment installation.  Any reputable manufacturer will have very specific requirements for the installation of their products, and they will be happy to assist with installation. Service following the installation of equipment is very important, so be sure to verify and check the references of any vendor or manufacturer you consider.

The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries has reported that there are more than 25 million children participating in competitive youth sports. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that there are four million children treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to youth sports and estimate as many as an additional eight million children are treated by their own doctors.

While the majority are related to personal safety equipment, it follows that the balance of these injuries are due to the state of disrepair or general inadequacy of institutional athletic equipment.

A soccer goal is an excellent example of athletic equipment that can cause serious, even fatal, injury. Manufacturers should use ASTM standards in design and manufacturing for soccer goals to prevent the accidental tip over of soccer goals, the most common cause of injury, sometimes even death.

Remember, the “value” in athletic equipment translates to safety, durability and the service that accompanies its purchase and installation.

Put safety first, so the true investment is realized in the growth of your athletic program and your students’ enjoyment, not in the upkeep and liability of your equipment.

Bill Wild is vice president of sales and marketing for Jaypro Sports, www.jaypro.com.

Product Roundup

Easton Sports
Easton Sports, a leading manufacturer of sporting goods equipment, has teamed up with Zyvex to introduce CNT (carbon nanotube technology) to improve the performance of its baseball bats. The addition of CNT strengthens composite structures to provide improved handle designs with optimized flex and responsiveness and add more “kick” through the hitting zone for maximum performance within the legal limits of the game. The weakest areas in a traditional carbon fiber bat are the tiny spaces between the fibers that contain only resin. To improve the strength of these areas, CNT—16 times stronger than steel—is dispersed throughout the resin, making it tougher and stronger. 
www.eastonsports.com

Adjust-A-Goal from Gared Sports
Gared Sports introduces the Adjust-A-Goal Height Adjustment System for manual or electric operation, which allows the basketball backboard and goal to be lowered to any height between 8 feet and 10 feet for youth play without compromising the stability of the equipment. Now a basketball set-up can accommodate players of all ages in one complete system. Gared Sports also offers many styles of competition glass backboards and institutional-quality breakaway goals for all levels of play. Gared Sports offers a complete line of indoor and outdoor basketball equipment for institutional use, as well as equipment for volleyball, soccer, tennis, football and recreation.
www.garedsports.com

Jaypro’s Little Champ
Jaypro’s Little Champ adjustable backboard adapter adjusts to five different heights, all within one unit. The height is based on the players’ age group. Quick and easy installation can be completed by one person. The system converts regulation height courts to accommodate youth league requirements. Unique “ladder like” five-point positioning bar is designed specifically for easy height change. Installation is simple with no modification to the existing goal structure necessary. The system fits on any existing goal and includes new, full-sized graphite backboards with aluminum backframes and official-size goals with nylon nets.
www.jaypro.com

Little Sam by Schelde
Schelde portable basketball goals are widely used in professional, collegiate and high school competition and by athletic clubs and churches throughout the world. The Little SAM has a rugged, easy-to-set-up design that offers many of the great features found in Schelde’s world-class portables used by top NBA and NCAA teams and in the Olympic Games. These features include Schelde’s Spring Assisted Mechanism (SAM) and patented “Dunk Proof” glass backboard. Little SAM is strong enough for spirited competition, including a reasonable amount of dunking. When price and/or space are prime considerations, Little SAM provides the look and quality of a standard full-court system in a compact unit that is easy to move and set up by one person. The adjustable rim heights allow for teaching and play situations over a wide range of age and abilities.
www.scheldesports.com

Sports Imports
Sports Imports is the only source of Senoh indoor and outdoor volleyball, tennis and badminton net systems in North America and a recognized authority in national, international and Olympic competitions. Now in its 29th year, Sports Imports is one of the largest providers of volleyball equipment in the world.  Since 1976, Sports Imports has installed more than 17,000 Senoh systems in gyms and arenas across the United States.  Senoh net systems are used by 90 percent of Division I volleyball programs and is endorsed by the FIVB and the AVCA. 
www.sportsimports.com

C1000 Portable Unit by Schutt
The C1000 Portable Unit by Schutt has a strong, stable ballast providing unsurpassed stability on the ground. Users have the reassurance that it is not going to fall over as easily as some other models can. A large acrylic backboard adjusts to enable a large variety of ages to enjoy this system. Its breakaway rim and oversized pole padding provide safety.
www.schuttsports.com

Kytec’s Coach's Choice Speed Foot Ladder
Kytec Athletic Speed Equipment presents the Coach's Choice Speed Foot Ladder.
It is essential for increased quickness. You will improve sprint posture by learning to sprint tall and accelerate with a straight body line. The Speed Foot Ladder is a great warm-up, high-speed endurance or intensive plyometric training session. Use the Ladder to work on forward, backward and side-to-side movements. It is a great tool for clinic rehab and athletic development. It is 30 feet long and disconnects at 15 feet for two short ladders.
www.kytec.us

Future Pro Gym Upgrade Packages
When it's time to upgrade the basketball court, Future Pro's gym ugprade packages will save money and guarantee compatibility of all the components. Choose from 42-inch short boards or 48-inch tall boards, standard mount or fan conversion in premium or standard grades. There is a budget-friendly package to fit most existing wall or ceiling-mount structures, regardless of manufacturer.  Packages include an unbreakable glass backboard, breakaway goal and DuraSkin backboard padding.
www.futureproinc.com

Bison's ShootOut Soccer Goals
Bison introduces a unique new feature on 4-inch square and 4-inch round aluminum soccer goals - the first competition goals able to maintain a 24-foot-wide goal opening when used with or without corner post safety padding. Unique design allows goal to be assembled with official 24 feet inside opening slightly wider to compensate for the use of corner post safety padding. These ShootOut goals feature QwikTrack net attachment tracks, a rear stabilizer bar and include wheel kits. The torque-tested backstay attachment virtually eliminates corner weld failure too common on other portable soccer goals. All sizes have an eight-year limited warranty.
www.bisoninc.com