Understanding the Role of Color Design in Court Performance & Safety

At C&C Courts, we provide athletic court surfaces in many colors — but choosing the right colors is about more than creating a cool design. 

Selecting the right colors can actually increase your sports performance and safety. Some psychology also goes along with this idea, so let’s take a look at how athletic court surface colors can enhance visibility, improve safety, and help improve your performance. 

The Role of Psychology in Athletic Court Colors

It’s well known that colors can affect how you feel. For example, red can evoke anger or an energetic feeling, while blue is typically associated with calm and focus. 

Colors can be used to create a unique atmosphere, so choosing the right colors for your court can help put you in the right mood to play sports. Additionally, the color of the court can affect spectators and how they feel about the game. 

Let’s take a look at an example. In a game like tennis, choosing a thoughtful color scheme can influence how the players think. Blue can make the players stay mentally sharp, while red can help with dynamic play. 

Court Color and Player Performance

Different-colored courts can affect a player’s ability to track the ball, maintain a rhythm, and stay focused. Maintaining a clear contrast between the ball's color and the playing surface can help players monitor the ball’s movement. 

For example, you wouldn’t use orange for a basketball court when the ball is orange. Some other ways color can affect a player’s performance include: 

• Ball visibility and reaction time 

• Focus and mental clarity

• Confidence and competitive energy (using orange and red)

• Fatigue and comfort based on heat absorption for outdoor courts

• Reduce eye strain

Court Color and Safety

The right color contrast on an athletic court can improve safety. For example, high contrast colors for designated lines against the main surface can help the players track boundaries and avoid collisions. Additionally, in low-light conditions, bright court colors can improve visibility and help ensure players can see each other, the ball, and the boundary lines. 

Darker color courts reduce glare because they absorb more light. This is crucial for sports like pickleball or tennis. Lighter-colored courts reflect sunlight, keeping the court cooler in hot climates and helping players avoid overheating. 

Different Colors of Athletic Courts

Additional benefits of color on athletic courts include: 

• Enhancing the visibility of lines, balls, and players

• Improve focus and reduce fatigue

• Influence mood and energy levels

• Reinforce branding and identity

Let’s take a look at some colors and the moods they promote: 

• Red: energized play

• Blue: cool head and control

• Green: natural balance

• Yellow & Orange: high visibility

• Black & Gray: sophisticated and sleek

• Purple: unconventional but confident

Choose the Best Game Court Colors with C&C Court

C&C Courts has over 30 years of experience building game courts, and along the way, we’ve discovered some durable yet colorful outdoor athletic court surfaces. PrimePlay and SportGame PB both come in a range of colors, allowing you to create dynamic courts that promote safety and performance. 

Looking for more information about our courts and playing surfaces? Request a quote online or give our SE Wisconsin office a call at 414-856-5690.