Athletic facility management practices and strategies

¶ … Facilities Go Bad

"…Even the newest and most beautiful facility can turn into a dangerous environment if the principles of risk management are ignored"

If a good facility ignores the principles of risk management, that facility, even it represents an exquisite, contemporary construction, may transition into a dangerous environment. Dr. Richard P. Borkowski, EdD, CMAA, (2006), former Director of Physical Education and Athletics at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pennsylvania, recounts one example in the article, "When good facilities go bad." When Borkowski evaluated a seemingly "top notch" athletic program at a high school in New York, he initially agreed with the merits of the facility that the athletic director enthusiastically pointed out. Upon closer examination, however, Borkowski pointed out that "the way… [the facility] was being used" (¶ 1) could prove costly to the school.

This school seemed set up for an accident as it permitted four different sports activities on the field. These included a freshman baseball game being played, the lacrosse team practicing, the track team running on the track, and pole-vaulters jumping on to the field in between baseball innings. At another school, Borkowski (2006) noted, a soccer field and a hockey field were situated extremely close together. Although the school had installed nets to prevent soccer balls from being kicked on the hockey field and vice versa, a problem occurred when the poles that held the nets up were not covered with padding. When a student ran into an unpadded pole, he suffered injuries.

Some specific ways to help ensure that a good facility does not go bad, Borkowski (2006) explains, include, however are not limited to:

Thinking through all changes made to a facility and specifically searching for any new risks a change may introduce.

Keeping everything in its place, using storage for the specific needs the architect designed it to meet.

Ensuring the buffer zones are to used as buffers.