Selecting Gym Equipment
By: Greg Farris and Dale Connally

Today a growing number of churches are realizing the benefits of offering recreational experiences for their youth. Administrators are often immediately worried about the costs of recreation equipment and programs. However, there are several other important issues concerning the purchase and use of recreation equipment. These issues include who will use the equipment, how it will be used and when it will be used. These are critical aspects to address to ensure that the equipment that is purchased has the best possible potential to reach the desired effect.

Who Will Use the Equipment?
The issue of who will use the equipment is important to address for several reasons. There may be safety and liability issues associated with some equipment that requires skilled, if not certified, individuals utilizing the equipment. The church leader needs to identify the inherent risks of the use of the equipment, the precautions that need to be in place to safely use the equipment, and if this type of equipment fits the scope of the church’s recreation program. This information can contribute to determining who needs to be present in the use of the equipment and who is allowed to use the equipment. Once the issue of who can use the equipment has been answered, it is also important to have these people involved in the recreation program certified in First Aid and CPR.

How Will the Equipment Be Used? 
The issue of how to use the equipment includes issues of how often will it be used, therefore bringing a quality component into the purchase and potentially increasing the purchase price.

One of the most common mistakes made by churches is to try to use discount-priced low quality recreational equipment. This rarely proves to be a wise choice in the long run for heavy use by groups. Depending on the specific equipment, the church needs to identify how much time and money will need to be invested in cleaning and performing routine maintenance on the equipment.  Maintenance issues concerning time required, knowledge of equipment and access to specific tools are different for different pieces of equipment.  If the equipment is to be used with different age groups, specifically adolescents, a variety of sizes need to be purchased to ensure having equipment for as many participants as possible. Storage of the equipment also needs to be considered. Heat, sunlight, moisture and chemicals can have detrimental effects on recreation equipment.  

What Type of Recreational Experience?
Administrators might also consider the appropriate equipment needed for the type of experience offered. The leader needs to identify if the equipment is meant to be purely entertainment and fun, or if there a learning, skill-development aspect to the equipment.   If the purpose is fun and entertainment, the leader needs to identify where and when participants will use the equipment and ensure that appropriate quantities of the equipment is purchased to have the desired effects. Mainly, this translates to having enough equipment so that all can participate in a timely manner.

If the purpose is learning and skill development, several issues should be addressed. Initially, are the people who are going to be the focus of the learning experience the proper age to learn this skill? Also, do the learners have a skill level close to that of the desired skill?   If not, is the equipment able to be used in a different manner as to provide a progression to lead up to the desired skill? If not, is there other equipment that can be used to provide the required skill base to then use the primary equipment? Asking these questions (and others) can contribute to acquiring the proper equipment for your group and can provide the best opportunity for success for your program.

Administrators should also consider the multi-purpose capabilities of equipment.  Some recreation equipment can be utilized in a variety of experiences. On the other hand, some equipment is rather limited in its scope of use.

When Will the Equipment Be Used?
The issue of when the equipment will be used is also important to address. The quality of the equipment you acquire can be very important based on yearly usage. The leader needs to determine if the equipment is to be used in a seasonal manner. If you will be using the equipment is a seasonal manner, the leader needs to identify in which season(s) you will use the equipment and the length of those seasons in your specific geographical area.  You should look at equipment quality and, therefore, price differently if you are acquiring equipment for use 10 months out of the year as opposed to two to three months.

If you do purchase for a shorter time of use, do you have other equipment to use for the remainder of the year?

In summary, the purchasing of recreation equipment is a more detailed process than just searching for the best available price. The balance of quality and quantity versus price is an imperative issue to address. Rarely will you regret purchasing high-quality recreational equipment. Yet you must shop prudently to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to your church.

Greg Farris, M.Ed. is an graduate teaching assistant at Baylor University in the department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation. He teaches in the areas of outdoor adventure, human performance, and leisure services.  Dale Connally, Ph.D. is the Director of the Recreation and Leisure Services Division at Baylor. His teaching areas are Recreation Administration and Recreation Ministry.

Product Roundup

Slam Series C2000 from Schutt Sports 
The Schutt Sports Slam Series C2000 is the perfect hoop for churches and multi-purpose facilities. Featuring a fully collapsible frame, the C2000 can be stored under the bleachers or in virtually any storage room when not in use. Its 48” x 32” or 54” x 36” acrylic backboard is reinforced with braces to give true ball rebound characteristics. The C2000 uses a competition-style breakaway goal and includes mast safety padding available in four colors. Easily adjustable at heights of 6’6” to 10’, the Schutt Sports C2000 is perfect for camps, practices and play for all ages.
www.schutt-sports.com

Future Pro's Easy-Up Youth Goal
Change your multipurpose room or gym from adult to youth basketball in minutes with the Easy-Up Youth Mini Goal already used at more than 20,000 schools, churches and recreation facilities. For quick conversion without a height adjuster, an Easy-Up goal can be installed by one person from a step stool, on any style or make of goal and backboard. No tools required, and it will not damage the existing goal. There are three fixed height Easy-Up goals that mount rims at 8', 8 1/2' or 9', and the new 5-In-1 Adjustable Easy-Up with rim heights between 6 1/2' - 8 1/2'. All have a 48" x 32" backboard of high-impact ABS plastic with a lifetime limited warranty. 
www.futureproinc.com

Volleyball Net Systems from Jaypro Sports 
Jaypro volleyball net systems are remarkably simple to set up, saving you valuable time for practice. Their aluminum volleyball net systems are lightweight and extremely easy to move, while at the same time rugged enough to withstand the superb net tension obtained with our direct drive winch system. The volleyball net systems fit perfectly into most existing floor sleeves. Jaypro has volleyball systems that infinitely and easily adjust from heights of 6 feet to 8 feet, 2 inches.
www.jaypro.com

Schelde Volleyball Net Systems   
Quick set-up, easy adjustment, rugged construction and innovative engineering are the hallmarks of Schelde volleyball net systems. Schelde volleyball net systems feature high-tensile-strength Tecton duraluminum posts, knotless pre-tensioned nets, and four-point net attachment for consistent net tension and easy set-up by one person in only five minutes. Its Collegiate 3000 System allows you to accommodate a variety of net heights and net sports (volleyball, tennis, badminton) with a few easy adjustments.  This system is designed to be used with Schelde’s Universal Floor Sleeve System with heavy-duty brass floor plates. This unique floor plate sits flush to the placing surface, with no exposed screws, for added safety.
www.scheldesports.com

Draper Portable Backstops
Competition styling and an official-sized glass backboard and breakaway goal make Draper Portable Backstops an affordable choice for facilities looking for premium competition court and side-court systems. Low-maintenance extension spring technology design makes one-person setup and height adjustment easy and fast. Model 503018 has 66 inches and model 503019 has 96 inches of safe play area. Each has a full size 42-inch x 72-inch, ½-inch tempered glass backboard and breakaway goal. Model 503019 also features rear anchor kit and added structural members, ballast and horizontal beam padding. The backboard has a lifetime limited warranty. The goal height is adjustable from 5 feet to 10 feet in 6-inch increments for players of all ages. The base and front are fully padded on all sides with 2-inch-thick padding stocked in black, red, dark blue and maroon; allow 6 weeks for other colors.  The system rolls easily on 8-inch diameter, 2-inch-wide running gear. Front stabilizers lock in place for maximum play stability. Front floor positioning pins included.
www.draperinc.com

Why Have A Sports Ministry?
Why should your church have a sports ministry? Because sports and recreation offer the church unique tools to accomplish the following tasks: 

• Provides a means of forming friendships and building relationships 
• Provides a means of promoting "body life" (internal church fellowship) 
• Facilitates lifestyle and proclamational evangelism 
• Creates a bridge to the lost in the community . . . even to the resistant 
• Offers a means of helping someone grow in his or her faith . . . a tool for
  discipleship within the sporting environment 
  
• Provides a door of service for those who are not involved in ministry to the body 
• Offers a means of "closing the back door" through small group discipleship and accountability
• Provides a ministry servant to the other ministries of the church (Children, Youth, Adult, Singles, Seniors, etc.)
• Offers a ministry that contributes to leadership training 
• Provides a means of building "stepping stones" from the field/gym to the worship center

Source: Church Sports International

Gym Flooring Directory Abacus Sports Installations
www.abacussports.com

Action Floor Systems
www.actionfloors.com

Carpetile
www.carpetile.com

Centaur Floor Systems
www.centaurfloors.com

Connor Sports Flooring
www.connorfloor.com

Covermaster
www.covermaster.com

Coversports
www.coversports.com

Dynamic Sports Construction
www.dynamicsportsconstruction.com

Fitness Flooring
www.fitnessfloors.com

No Fault Fitness
www.4nofault.com

Rhino Courts
www.rhinocourts.com

Stalker Flooring
www.stalkerflooring

Taraflex Sports Flooring
www.gerflotaraflex.com

WD Flooring
www.wdflooring.com