Gym Floor Causes Problems
The floor of Sherwood’s main gym has not been renovated since 1990. As a result, traction issues have emerged. By the time volleyball season nears an end and basketball starts to gear up, the wax job is worn out and the floor is dusty and lacks grip.
After years of wear and tear from games and P.E. classes, many players have indicated that a new floor is needed.
“I didn’t know MCPS had the budget for an ice rink,” half-joked senior basketball captain Ty Reeves.
Although some athletes have voiced their dislike of the floor, the complaints haven’t been voiced loudly enough in recent years.
“I haven’t received a complaint about the gym floor since 2011-2012,” said Athletic Director Kathy Green. “Coaches are expected to follow MCPS protocol for gym floor maintenance. The key is maintenance of the gym floor. Thousands of dollars could be spent on a new floor, but if the floor isn’t maintained according to MCPS protocols, the concerns with the floor will still exist.”
“The difference between a slick floor and one that’s nice to play on is how often it gets dry and wet mopped. It should be done on a daily basis; unfortunately, that’s not a reality,” said JV boys’ basketball Coach Randy Thompson. “Maintaining the floor quality will be one of Coach Gilchrist’s priorities … so there will be some improvement of the floor seen mid-winter.”
Instead of a new gym floor, wax is applied over winter and summer breaks to improve the traction. The wax makes the floor sticky, but for sports like volleyball, the wax can actually make playing worse.
“If [the floor] is too slippery then it’s hard to move and when it’s too waxed it makes it harder to slide after you dive,” said senior volleyball captain Makayla Roy. “The gym is probably best mid-season. At the beginning it’s too waxy and at the end it becomes way too slippery.”
Whatever the condition of the floor, Sherwood will not get a new floor for another 15 years. MCPS gym floors run on a 40-year cycle before they are replaced, unless it is proven to be a hazard, said Business Administrator Brenda Hoyle.