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Think
(Bead) Safety First!
Recommended
... read carefully before deciding to start/pursue Shuffleboard in your
area?? .... safety of beads, especially in multi-use facilities:
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These are comments and suggestions from shufflers across Canada. While
most play on courts that are built into the floor, the points concerning
sweeping, and warnings about not walking on the courts, are common themes.
These are ALL multi-use facilities:
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The situation is similar
to the Seniors Centre here in Tillsonburg and the clubhouse in the community
where I reside. At the seniors centre, there are four courts on a vinyl
floor. Shufflers play three times weekly, year round. Glass beads are
used and it is the responsibility of the shufflers to mop the floor of
all beads prior to leaving the premises. Many other activities take place
at this facility.
At our community clubhouse,
there are four courts painted on a hardwood parquet floor. Plastic beads
are used so as not to scratch the floor. Here again, the shufflers must
mop the floor clean each day before leaving. Play at this facility takes
place 5 days per week from May through September. Many others activities
are held in this room as well.
Hope this information helps.
Max Tate,
President, CNSA
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Having said that,
it seems to me that if the host organization posts signs to the effect
that "When Shuffleboard is Completed" (for the day or whatever);
It is Imperative That the Courts be Swept!!
Those responsible for organizing the shuffleboard portion of the "multi-use
facility" should ensure that failure to "police this aspect"
may result in the loss of the Shuffleboard Programme!!
Couple of
examples: At Blackstock, we swept the arena immediately following the
end of shuffling. The arena was used by others during the week. We had
no complaints. In Lindsay, at the Armories, a similar approach was taken.
This is truly a "multi-use facility" and the users are for the
most part Seniors!!
A suggestion:
It may be best to provide "official looking" safety signs to
forcefully bring to their attention that "Beads Make the Discs Slip!!"
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We are in a multi use facility and we use the beads we purchased from
your company. At the conclusion of our games we use a 36 inch dust mop
{in wire frame) to clean up to four courts. It requires some effort. Also
all our people are told not to walk on the courts. About 3 hours after
we play, the Legion Colour Party or the drum corps use it to practice.
We have three courts built into the tile floor. I would suggest all the
people involved be warned not to walk on courts when in play; or perhaps
a small sign at each court end. I have been involved at this facility
for 12 years and our tile floor is none the worse for wear. Also use beads
sparingly...
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I think education is the key to operating successfully. The courts we
play on have been in for at least 15 years . They hold meetings, dances,
dinners, etc. with no problems. The floor is none-the-worse for wear.
The beads should be applied sparingly & cleaned up carefully when
done.
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We use a multi-use facility where we wax the discs and sprinkle corn meal
on the court. At the end of play the corn meal is swept up, run through
a sieve to remove foreign particles and stored for reuse.
Ron Greaves
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Hi Marc...
We are also a multi-use facility. Our shuffleboard courts are on a cement
concourse which people use all the time to get around the building. The
shufflers only put the beads on the courts they are using and then sweep
them up when they are done. None of the players or people walking by are
allowed to walk on the courts while they are playing, that way no one
can slip on them and get hurt.
They only use the courts on Monday and Wednesday afternoons as we use
the concourse for carpet bowling on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. It
also gets used for fitness training by figure skaters and hockey players
at night and on the weekend. If they want to leave the courts ready to
go at all times, they would have to figure out a barrier system to go
around the courts preventing people from walking on them when the beads
are on the courts.
I hope this was of some help. I look forward to seeing the website as
it will be of interest to our seniors.
Leslie
Dondale
Program Coordinator
Nepean Seniors Recreation Centre
Nepean, Ontario
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Hi Marc: We use wax beads on our vinyl tile floors. We mop the beads each
time and put them through a fine sieve strainer and return them to the
container to use them over and over. The strainer removes dust and dirt
so the beads can be used again. We use a commercial 36" dry mop and
retrieve most of the beads.
Yours
truly, Don Henrich
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Thanks Marc. Doesn't look to me like they will need any beads at all.
They may have to shoot a bit harder but I have seen similar courts in
church halls and community centres. Hope this is the info you are looking
for. Alf (Note: this may work for some, but not the best for real play
- although it is the safest)
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Here, up in Sutton, we have six courts on a tile floor that is also used
for banquets, weddings, walking clubs, etc. After we play shuffleboard
on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the beaded (glass beads) are swept up either
by the maintenance crew at the arena or ourselves. Just make sure the
surface is swept or vacuumed up after each use. I don't think you should
have a problem with slipping.
Pat and
Terry McConomy - Georgina Shuffleboard
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Marc: We have our courts located in a Retirement Home on a vinyl tile
floor. What we do is: after we finish playing, using large dust mops we
thoroughly go over the courts , removing the beads and saving the residue
for future play. Being a Retirement Home, there is lots of traffic around
the courts (notes are posted advising people to use the walk areas rather
than cross over the courts). So far and after five years of playing in
this facility there hasn't been any accidents resulting from use of the
beads. Hoping this is of some help.
Earl Langill
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