One of the many tasks required by an athletic director is maintaining and remodeling the athletic facilities. One of the biggest facilities is the school’s track and field competition area.

The 2012 National Athletic Directors Conference featured a presentation by Don Smith, the track division president of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), about the reconstruction of a high school track surrounding a football or soccer field.

“A typical project would take about six months,” Smith said. “About half that time would be the design phase and half the construction phase. The construction phase is usually fast-tracked since most schools want to start when school lets out for the summer and complete before it starts in the fall.”

When reconstructing an outdoor facility, Smith said there are several things to take into consideration regarding the layout of a track: the oval geometry, the wind and sun, the chutes, edges, pedestrian fence and storage as well as how the semi-circle area between the field and track, also known as the d-area, is used. Smith suggested four types of track surfaces that could be chosen – latex, polyurethane, sheet good or a hybrid. The type of track surface depends on the site, weather and geographic conditions.

While the typical project takes six months, Smith noted that an extra four to 12 months could be added to the timeframe depending on the issues that arise during the design or construction phases. A couple of the possible issues are removing the old track surface or placing new surface on old asphalt.

Smith said, “The most difficult challenge is determining how to best match the elevation and geometry of the areas surrounding the facility that will remain as is.” These surroundings include bleachers, walks, landscaping, fences and buildings.

In order to deal with this challenge, Smith suggested that a typical survey on a grid or on contours is not as effective as what he calls an “intelligent survey.” This type of survey provides elevations and distances for all the key points where the new will have to match the old.

In the presentation, Smith also touched on a few of the hot topics with track construction. The ASBA stays current on these issues, such as safety zones, and has a process to respond to any inquiries it receives. Regarding safety zones, Smith said that while one meter (approximately 39 inches) is recommended, it is not a rule. All new facilities are designed for with this one-meter safety zone; however, reconstructions should be done to whatever is practical, with 24 inches the preferred distance. The size of a soccer field, which sometimes varies in length and width, needs to be finalized to help design the track geometry around the field.

The ASBA Web site features materials to assist with a track reconstruction including links to relevant articles in the field. One of those materials, published in “Athletic Business Magazine,” addresses issues to consider when planning a track remodeling. They are:

1) Talk with others who have renovated their facility. They will be a helpful resource when questions arise.

2) Search for the right builder. Visit the ASBA website, www.sportsbuilders.org, for a list of their suggested builders.

3) Ask for the most recent references from the builder, both good and bad. References can also be a resource when looking at designers and any subcontractors.

4) Make sure that the facility is being built to the proper standard. Check that the builder is using the most recent version of the construction guidelines set by the ASBA and they are adhering to the rules set by the NFHS.

5) Get proposals in writing so that they can be reviewed in a thorough and timely manner.

Indoor track facilities are not common among high schools, Smith said, because the cost is prohibitive of the building needed. An indoor track is different from an outdoor track in size (200-meter vs. 400-meter), type of surface, slopes and the layout of events in a competition.

“Indoor tracks have to coincide with other sports and the smaller districts don’t have enough athletes to go around,” said Smith.

On its Web site, the ASBA features several resources that can be used in a reconstruction, including certifications for a level system created by the ASBA. The Class 4 Certification meets the high school standard. According to Smith, these certifications verify that the distances run for each event are within the rules. Also included is information on certain aspects of construction such as asphalt acceptance and the different types of curbs that a track can have.

The major publication used for track reconstruction can be purchased through the ASBA for $44.95 and is titled Running Tracks: A Construction and Maintenance Manual.