Prevent Harm to Student-Athletes by Installing School Gym Padding
It’s no secret that a school gym can be a dangerous place. Out of any other area in a high school, the gymnasium poses the most risk for injury, due in part to the high level of activity happening between its walls. Especially when playing contact sports like basketball, athletes often fall or slam into hard surfaces, which can cause serious harm. To help keep their athletes from getting hurt, many educators have decided to install cushioned padding in their school gyms, particularly pads for the gym walls.
Protective Wall Padding For School Gyms
A lot of movement happens within school gyms, and with that comes a greater chance for collisions, both with other players and objects on and off the court. When collisions happen, school gym padding gives students a softer place to land.
Attached along the perimeter of the gym, wall pads are protective coverings made of thick foam. The impact-resistant material absorbs the shock of a collision, keeping players who fly out of bounds—and the wall—safe from damage.
Different Kinds of School Gym Padding
Cushioned padding lines any object within a gymnasium that could harm an athlete who loses control of their movements off the court. Corner pads provide maximum coverage along gym walls, and column pads on structures like basketball goals and posts keep athletes safe from harsh impact.
Many school gyms also have stages close to the court, and installing padding along the raised platform offers another layer of protection for when athletes fall outside of the court lines.
Customize Wall Pads with Team Logo
Installing gym wall pads helps solve a lot of safety issues, but many schools take it one step further by ordering custom wall padding to show off their school spirit.
Schools can have colored athletic wall padding digitally printed with their logo, making their gymnasiums not only a safer environment, but a place where rooting for the home team is fun and exciting. Wall pads that sport the school mascot add an extra touch to the gym as well.
Constructing Pads for Gym Walls
To achieve maximum levels of safety, school gym wall pads must be able to weather high levels of impact. The padding is constructed of foam that is at least two inches thick and encased in durable vinyl, which makes the pads easy to clean and sanitize.
The combination of foam and vinyl helps ensure the wall padding is resistant to tearing, and wooden backer boards give the padding a sturdy base.
Installing School Gym Padding
If schools decide to permanently attach the padding to their gym walls, installation requires nailing the padding to the wall panels. A semi-permanent solution requires the use of Zclips, which are hooked to the wall and the back of the padding, allowing them to clip together.
Using clips is the more expensive option, but schools may decide it’s worth it for the ability to transform the gymnasium for other events besides sports games. Alternatively, schools can opt to use heavy-duty velcro to attach the padding to the walls, which is a DIY-friendly option and allows the same flexibility of using clips.
Contact Us For School Gym Padding
Are you looking to have protective wall padding installed in your school’s gym? Our manufacturing partners offer reliable service and create high-quality, flame-retardant wall pads, with fixed and removable options. We can also assist with custom designs so your school spirit remains on full display when a visiting team enters your gym.
Check out what we have to offer to satisfy your wall padding needs, or give us a call today to get a quote on our services. Stay safe out there!
