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Purchasing a tennis net can become quite the ordeal. We may not recognize the significance of this type of equipment while on the court and purchasing one may seem a simple task. But buying the right net can reveal just how much of a difference there is between products.

The headband on a tennis net is the small cover that runs along the top edge. Overtime, headbands need to be replaced, and the most common materials used are vinyl or polyester.

At minimum, a headband should have at least two layers of material secured together by four layers of double stitching. Yet, beyond those requirements, how do you decide between headband materials? Let’s dive in to explore how the material of a tennis net headband impacts play.

Operating across three campuses in eastern Ontario, St. Lawrence College (SLC) is one of the province’s leading institutions when it comes to applied arts and technology. Home to roughly 7,000 full-time students, SLC specializes in programs such as applied science and computing, baccalaureate nursing, business, community services, justice studies, applied arts, health sciences as well as skilled trades and tourism.

As the institution continues to experience exponential growth, 2018 was the year that saw exciting projects come to fruition at the school’s flagship campus in Kingston. As part of the Hello Future Capital Project, renovations and a new build to the Student Life and Innovation Centre got underway after over 80 percent voted in favour of supporting the project in a student referendum.

Athletic programming is a crowded space. With more participants perhaps than ever before, facility owners and operators are always scrambling to not only offer cutting-edge equipment but to also ensure every inch of space is properly utilized.

When it comes to gymnasium equipment, the list is long and highly customized. With expansions in program offerings in educational and community-based facilities, the need for additional equipment is seemingly never ending.

For operators of busy facilities, the need for speed and automation is growing with each day that passes. When it comes to educational facilities such as schools, colleges and universities, the gymnasium is typically a heavily scheduled location, catering to a variety of programming and athletic competition.

Dating back to the late 1800s, the modern game of tennis as we know it has seen the countless volleying of hollow rubber balls by rackets strung with cord as it has developed over the years. Officially governed by the International Tennis Federation for over 80 years now, the game has grown from play on the lawns of great British estates to the international stage where it resides today.

In addition to its popularity, accentuated in the past two decades by players such as Roger Federer, the Williams twins and many others, it offers participants and fun and cardiovascular exercise, with more tennis courts across North America than ever before.

As a game traditionally played in the great outdoors, having the right equipment has been of paramount concern. With Mother Nature’s ability to cloak courts with rain, sunshine, heat, cold and snow at any given time, the netting used for the sport has been developed to both withstand the elements and the test of continued play.

Outdoor and/or beach volleyball has grown in popularity with recreational and professional volleyball players since it was introduced as an Olympic sport in the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Much the same as its indoor counterpart, beach volleyball shares the fundamental goal of sending the volleyball over a net in hopes of grounding the ball on the opposing team’s side of the court, with a few differences in game play.  The main difference is this version of the game is most widely played on a sand court rather than a rigid surface such as a gymnasium floor.

With this change of venue comes a change in equipment.  As one can imagine, a playing surface in the outdoors comes with a number of considerations and the equipment used to play the game requires it to be able to withstand the elements. 

As winter rears its head on us here in the northern hemisphere, we begin to take to both outdoor winter activities such as hockey or skiing and indoor sports such as volleyball, basketball and badminton. Net sports become a larger part of our business during the fall and winter months as activity ramps up in gymnasiums across North America.

Badminton has been an Olympic sport for almost 25 years and has continued to grow in popularity exponentially. In addition to excellent motor skills and coordination, the sport of badminton also requires players have strong aerobic stamina, agility, strength and speed and is a staple in many educational athletic programs. As we get into the indoor season, we will highlight a few of our most popular options with regards to the industry’s best badminton systems.

What might come as a surprise to some is that the sport of volleyball ranks second behind the sport of soccer among participation sports around the world. Invented in 1895 in Massachusetts, volleyball initially grew exponentially within the United States, but now boasts over 800 million active players across the globe.

While we do specialize in a variety of both indoor and outdoor volleyball systems, we also carry an extensive line of accompanying accessories that can both enhance the playing experience and provide a professional feel to game play. One such accessory that has become much more of a staple for many facilities and organizations is the volleyball referee stand. These stands allow referees or officials a perch above floor level to make accurate calls such as scoring and faults or errors during game play. Referee stands also provide participants with a consistent location for officials so they can quickly comprehend the in-game signals from the referees.

With so many options available today, it can be difficult to select the indoor volleyball system that is best suited for your facility. In today’s market, facility operators are focused on providing their users with a high-quality product, but that can also fit in strict budget restraints when applicable.

We have spent the past 35 years supplying and manufacturing the very best in athletic equipment and infrastructure with two main goals in mind: to provide our growing customer base with the very best quality products available and following up with the very best in customer experience.

For most educational facilities, indoor volleyball is a staple sport played in gymnasiums, particularly as we shift into the winter season. For most facilities, setting up for volleyball practice and games can be relatively time-consuming and can often require a number of teachers or support staff to physically set up the nets.

While ceiling-suspended volleyball systems are available, for most facilities they may not be necessary or within their budget constraints. To alleviate some of the set-up time, we proudly carry and install a number of volleyball accessories that can be permanently placed within the gymnasium flooring and provide added stability during play.

Floor Sockets & Sleeves

These accessories make a world of difference when planning and setting up a volleyball system, especially in busy facilities where multiple sports are played. These sockets are installed right into the gymnasium floor and are compatible with both floating and non-floating synthetic gym flooring. Each socket is constructed of heavy-gauge steel for optimum stability and support and allow volleyball uprights to be removed efficiently and stored out of the way during other court activities. Sizing varies based on each facility’s unique needs, so inside diameters are available in 4’, 3.5” or 3” sizes and you can choose from 12”, 10” and 9” depths. Obviously, the deeper these sockets are placed within your flooring, the greater the stability and strength provided for your volleyball nets.