The Future of Athletic Court Technology: 4 Trends Shaping Athletic Surfaces
Sports technology continues to adapt and grow as safety becomes an increasingly important factor.
Technology like sensors in mouth guards and helmets to check for concussions and padding that protects the body are all ways that sports are becoming safer. But wearable sports equipment is not the only area advancing – athletic flooring for custom courts is adapting and changing to become safer and help elevate performance.
As a custom game court builder in Wisconsin, C&C Courts follows these trends closely. We believe that using the right athletic flooring for both residential and commercial game courts is essential in keeping people safer while playing. Let’s take a look at some of the emerging trends in athletic surfaces that are taking over courts around the country.
Smart Technology and Connectivity
By using innovative technology and IoT connections, athletic surfaces can be safer and help prevent injuries. They can also help analyze athletic performance, giving players benchmarks to work towards when improving their skills.
Some of the ways athletic surfaces are benefiting from new technology include:
- Using embedded sensors and IoT technology to track an athlete’s movement, speed, and pressure distribution, which provides data and insights for performance analysis.
- Bright surfaces that track metrics like ground contact time and force distribution help identify high-impact areas, abnormal movements, and fatigue levels, which help prevent injury.
- Using AI to create surfaces that adjust their hardness, traction, and grip based on the sport being played.
- Embedded sensors that can monitor surface wear and tear, promoting regular maintenance, which can improve safety.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Materials
The sports industry is increasingly adopting sustainable practices to help reduce environmental impact. Some of the ways sports facilities can support sustainable efforts include:
- Athletic flooring that is made from recyclable and renewable materials.
- Biodegradable infill for artificial turf fields.
- Low-VOC and natural coatings on surfaces to reduce the emission of harmful VOCs
- A circular economy solution where old flooring is recycled and used to create new material, thereby reducing waste.
Enhanced Safety and High-Performance Design
Athletic flooring surfaces are being engineered with advanced composite materials to reduce injury risk and improve athletic performance. With expertly crafted flooring, the results of the game will rely on skill rather than fighting against the flooring.
Some of the newer trends in athletic flooring for safety and performance include:
- Superior shock absorption through multi-layered systems and specialized materials to absorb and redistribute impact forces.
- Enhanced anti-slip surfaces that provide better grip to prevent falls.
- More consistent playing surface, which is critical for fair play and peak performance.
Versatility and Interactive Features
Athletic surfaces are becoming more flexible to accommodate multiple sports and provide immersive user experiences.
- Modular and reconfigurable flooring systems that can quickly change to accommodate different sports, like converting between a tennis court and a pickleball court.
- Interactive LED integration that can illuminate court lines, create custom designs, or enable Interactive training games.
Choose Superior Athletic Flooring for Your Backyard Court
Whether you’re considering a home athletic court or looking to build a commercial game court at a community center or gym, C&C Courts has the athletic court flooring solutions you need. With our specific indoor and outdoor choices, you can pick from exceptional flooring that promotes safety and performance.
Contact our local offices today for more information or request a quote online!
