Outdoor sports: A flexible solution to a growing issue

Outdoor sports courts as an innovative solution

Outdoor sports courts offer a smart and flexible answer to this challenge. They make sports and exercise more accessible without the spatial limitations and high costs of traditional indoor facilities. In addition, the courts contribute to a healthier and more active society.

Advantages of outdoor sports courts

One of the greatest advantages of outdoor sports courts is their accessibility. They are almost always available, with the exception of extreme weather conditions, and offer space for a wide range of sporting activities. Not only school pupils and students benefit from this, but also, for example, local residents.

Think of activities such as:

• Ball sports (basketball, football, handball, hockey);
• Climbing sports;
• Strength training and calisthenics;
• Yoga and group classes in the open air.

Outdoor sports locations make use of natural resources, encourage an active lifestyle and serve as accessible meeting places for the community.

Outdoor sports courts offer important advantages in terms of installation, construction costs and maintenance:

• Lower construction costs: Due to the absence of a building.
• Faster realisation: Construction proceeds more quickly, making them available sooner.
• Flexible design: They can easily be adapted to the available space.

Possible facilities on an outdoor sports court

The facilities of an outdoor sports court are versatile and can be tailored as needed, depending on the needs of the school or community. Some examples:

• Multifunctional sports fields for basketball (3×3), football, hockey and handball;
• Running and sprint tracks made of modular synthetic sports tiles;
• SkillCourts;
• Outdoor fitness equipment;
• Impact-absorbing modular floors for various sports and play activities.

By conducting research in advance into the wishes and needs of users, an optimally equipped sports location can be created that goes beyond the conventional sports hall.

Sustainability and circularity

"The integration of outdoor sports in the educational sector offers a unique opportunity to make sports more accessible while at the same time contributing to a circular world", according to William van Diemen, director of W&H Sports and GreenMatter.

With years of experience in sports, we continuously look ahead to the needs of athletes and the development of sports facilities. Outdoor sports courts can be built from circular materials, such as products made from recycled artificial grass and recycled rubber tiles for impact absorption, which contributes to a sustainable infrastructure".

Challenges and creative solutions

Although outdoor sports courts offer many advantages, there are also challenges. Not all sports hall activities can be adopted one-to-one. Gymnastics apparatus and jumping mats, for example, are less practical outdoors. Nevertheless, alternatives such as outdoor fitness and calisthenics can support a large part of physical education.

In addition, there are solutions for storage and maintenance:

• Floors made of recycled rubber make floor exercises possible;
• Extensions such as running tracks and play zones (for example chess, Ludo or hopscotch courses);
• Reused shipping containers as storage for jumping mats, nets and play equipment;
• SportBoxes for smaller sports equipment.

With the right creativity, every challenge can be overcome.

Successful implementations

Various schools and municipalities have successfully implemented outdoor sports courts. Users and clients are enthusiastic about the advantages and flexibility of this solution. Case studies show that these sports facilities not only address capacity problems and cost challenges, but also contribute to a healthier, more active society and stimulate community building. Would you like to know more about outdoor sports courts and the possibilities? Get in touch with us for more information!