Your Basketball Court Does Not Get an Off-season

For a lot of schools and athletic facilities, basketball season may come and go, but the gym never stops being busy.

There are still practices, camps, tournaments, PE classes, graduation, assemblies, volleyball, community events, and everything else that finds its way into a busy gym.

Your basketball court may not be hosting games every night, but the floor is still being used.

So what should you be doing between basketball seasons?

Take a Look at the Floor

The time between basketball seasons is a good opportunity to take a step back and actually look at your court.

What changed during the season?

Are there areas that look more worn than others?

Are the court lines still looking good?

Did you notice players having traction problems?

Are there scratches, damaged boards, or areas where the finish looks different?

Maybe nothing looks wrong at all.

That’s good too.

The point is to take a look while you have time to do something about it.

Think About Everything Your Gym Has Been Through

A basketball court sees a lot during a season.

Practices.

Games.

Shootarounds.

Tournaments.

PE classes.

Equipment.

Thousands of pairs of shoes.

And depending on your facility, the gym may be used for other events throughout the year as well.

All of that use adds up.

You may not notice a problem from one game to the next, but small changes can become much easier to see when you take a step back and look at the entire floor.

Don’t Wait Until the Next Season

One of the easiest mistakes to make is putting off something you noticed during the season.

Maybe there was an area of the court that looked worn.

Maybe the finish was starting to look different.

Maybe you kept thinking, “We’ll deal with that later.”

And then later comes.

Then graduation happens.

Then camps start.

Then volleyball needs the gym.

Then suddenly you’re staring at a calendar wondering when you actually have time to address it.

If your basketball court needs attention, the time between seasons can be a good opportunity to figure out what it needs before the next busy stretch arrives.

Look at Your Entire Facility Calendar

The best time to work on your basketball court isn’t necessarily the day after your final game.

It’s when you actually have a window in your facility schedule.

Before planning any maintenance or flooring work, look at everything happening in your gym.

When does volleyball start?

When do camps or clinics begin?

When is graduation?

Are tournaments or community events already scheduled?

When does basketball start again?

A little planning can make a big difference when your gym is being used almost year round.

Maintenance Does Not Always Mean a Major Project

Not every basketball court needs to be refinished.

Not every worn area means you need a new floor.

Sometimes your court simply needs routine maintenance.

Other times, there may be a repair that needs to be addressed.

And sometimes a floor does need more extensive work.

The important thing is knowing what condition your floor is actually in before deciding what to do next.

You don’t want to wait until the problem is obvious to everyone in the gym.

Give Your Court a Fresh Start Before the Next Season

Before the athletes return, take another look.

Walk the entire court.

Look at the areas that saw the most traffic.

Pay attention to the finish, court lines, traction, and condition of the hardwood.

If you noticed something during the season, now is the time to revisit it.

Your future self will probably appreciate not having to deal with it the week before the first game.

Your Court Does Not Need an Offseason. It Needs a Plan.

Your basketball court may not get much of a break, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait for a problem to force you into action.

Taking some time between seasons to inspect the floor, address concerns, and look at the year ahead can help you stay ahead of problems and make better decisions about your facility.

Because the goal isn’t to have a beautiful basketball court sitting in an empty gym.

The goal is to have a basketball court that is ready when your athletes are.

Need Help Figuring Out What Your Court Needs?

Professional Floor Systems works with school districts, colleges, professional organizations, and athletic facilities on basketball court maintenance, repairs, refinishing, and flooring projects.

If you’re looking at your court and wondering what it needs before the next season, let’s take a look.