In any sport, spectators want to see goals, points, or touchdowns. Frankly, offense is more exciting to watch. But, a good defense is the real key to winning. Players and coaches know better than anyone in the stands how critical defensive strategies are to success. That’s why more time planning goes into defense than the casual fan realizes. Defense is important. It keeps you in the game, and it applies to more than just sports.
As an athletic facility designer, you are the defensive coordinator for your gym. Your specifications will determine if the space you design is a long-term success. For example, gym flooring must withstand certain uses. A mismatch between the floor and the activity can create the conditions for failure and replacement. Think about defending your gym or weight room with these three strategies: Zone Defense, Man-to-Man Coverage, and Double Team.
Zone Defense
Some gym surfaces work best by accommodating whatever comes their way…within reason of course. These are the multipurpose floors that safely host a wide range of activities. Just like a zone defense in football or basketball, multipurpose gym floors might cover an aerobics class one day, volleyball game the next day, and a yoga class the day after. The strength of these surfaces is versatility.
Examples of multipurpose floors include Tarkett’s Omnisports and Padenpor. Omnisports is a resilient floor that has a wood grain appearance and sports performance properties like force reduction, surface friction, and ball rebound (ASTM F2772). Another excellent zone player is Padenpor. Padenpor is a seamless polyurethane surface that can handle activities ranging from a basketball game to a graduation ceremony. Floors like Omnisports and Padenpor can handle most of what falls in their vicinity, but not everything. There are some activities that require specific flooring types.
Man-to-Man Coverage
Imagine coaching an NBA team. Would you assign a 180-pound rookie to cover a 260-pound all-star? Of course not! Man-to-man defense requires at least an equal match between players. The same concept applies when matching a gym floor to a specific activity. Some training exercises have precise requirements when it comes to flooring. For example, an area with exercise equipment (treadmills, rowing machines, resistance training, etc.) needs the slip-resistant, easy-to-clean properties of a recycled rubber surface, like Regupol Aktiv. If you have a deadlift area, you need an inlaid platform for steady and safe lifts. Agility training needs Fieldturf or Grasstex. A second floor weight room requires Regupol AkustiPro for sound absorption. Free weights? You need vulcanized OSST rubber.
If you’re not sure what floor matches what activity, consider Abacus Sports to be your scouting department. We can help you line up equal or better matchups to protect your floors from damage, wear, and early replacement.
Double Team
Sometimes, an opposing player is so good, a coach might decide to use a double team defense. That’s when two defenders block just one opponent. It’s a drastic measure, but it’s necessary in some situations. Keeping with our analogy, imagine high-use areas in your gym. Those places can get more abuse from foot traffic, more impact from dropped weights, more abrasions from outside debris, and even the punctures from spikes or stakes. If you want to defend your facility in those circumstances, don’t be afraid of overkill. Use surfaces like Regupol’s 1” thick AktivPro rubber tiles and rolls for extra impact absorption. Consider an OSST vulcanized rubber floor that withstands ices skates and spikes with ease. Don’t forget to use proper entrance mats for added protection. The point is this: maximum durability and resistance in places you know will get more wear.
If you need more defensive strategies to protect your gym from damage, Abacus Sports is always ready to help. Contact our expert staff for a consultation on your next gym or weight room project.