Toadvine Blog

Pom-poms and ponytails make up only a portion of what cheerleaders do today. Standing on the sidelines and chanting a catchy phrase used to get the job done in a crazy fanatical crowd, but today flipping and throwing girls in the air is just part of the routine.

Because of the increase in skill and potentially dangerous stunts cheerleaders are performing today, there is a movement by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other concerned groups to designate cheerleading as a sport to improve the safety rules and create better supervision over the sport.

In a statement released this month, the AAP says that there needs to be better awareness about the rigors and risks of high school and college cheerleading so that cheerleaders can be subject to on-line athletic trainers, limits on practice times, and better qualified coaches. 

Although the overall injury rate is lower than in girls participating in soccer, gymnastics, or field hockey, the rate of catastrophic injury which includes skull fractures and paralyzing spine injuries, is much higher.

Some schools have safety recommendations for high school and college cheerleading which includes limiting the height of a pyramid in high school to two and restricting routines including pyramids, tossing, or tumbling to be performed away from hard surfaces. Although these guidelines are helpful, many physicians and team leaders would like to see this mandated to keep cheerleaders safer. 

This movement just recently ran into a major obstacle in August of 2012 when the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that cheerleading can not be considered a sport. For cheerleading to be considered a sport, it must have coaches, practices, competitions during a defined season and a governing organization. The key to this ruling was that cheerleaders don’t usually have competition as their primary goal, so they cannot be considered a sport. 

Health professionals and sports advocates will continue to push for this safety regulation because they see the long-term benefits of it for those involved. For now, cheerleaders will have to develop careful individual standards.

Loge boxes are areas of private seating that typically have an open space for mobile seating like folding chairs, but are bordered by railing. They give the spectator a more flexible viewing experience along with a little more privacy during the event. They also have the conveniences of drink rails, defined private spaces, and can be customized to your objectives. If you are a high school or collegiate sports program, you may wonder why you need something like this. Here are just a few examples of why loge boxes can really help your program.

A Way To Honor Special Guests
If you have faculty that you want to honor during events or during athletic matches, a loge box makes great sense for you. A loge box can be used at every event as a way to honor teachers, donors, sponsors, faculty, visiting governing officials, returning alumni, and others.

Create Option Between Luxury Suites and Club Seating
If you have luxury suites you can use loge boxes as the middle option and as a way to increase your revenue. If there are people reserving the luxury suites there will be a portion of spectators who would find loge boxes to be the price point that they are comfortable with and would be excited to reserve their own box for the season. If a business reserves the box you can suggest ad placement there in addition to or included in the price.

If Luxury Suites Are Too Nice
If your program is not at the point of having spectators open to the amenities of a luxury suite, loge boxes can become your high end offering to sponsors and spectators willing to spend a little more on their sports experience. Loge boxes do not have to be much different than the standard club seating. They can be different enough to fill them, but not too different that they don't fit into the environment of your overall facility.

Contact Toadvine Enterprises today with your questions and let us walk you through the benefits of loge boxes for your program. We look forward to your call.

Do you have a multi-use athletic field? If you are planning on combining your soccer and football programs on one field, we have the perfect solution. You should consider the "Revolutionary Goal Post" which can rotate a full 180 degrees. One person can turn the goal in less than a minute. It will lock in the forward or reverse position. It is fully secure and tamper proof, and uses two padlocks per goal. The day after the football game you can turn the goal away from the field and have your soccer match without the interference of the goal. 

We have a wide variety of H-Style football goal posts, standard goal posts, steel and aluminum, and even the combination Football Goal Post/Soccer Goal in a wide variety of sizes and options. Don't let your budget stop you from getting the goals your programs need. Call us today and we can walk you through some great options.

Every program should have their school name prominently displayed throughout their facilities. We can customize football goal post pads for your program. There are 14 colors available and you can add the special flare to the field that has been missing. 

Don't forget the small but important end-zone pylons. These bottom-weighted markers require no additional hardware to install, and will move when an athlete comes in contact. They come in sets of four and help the officials make the crucial close calls. We also carry spring loaded pylons. They work best for natural grass and will stand true for all to see. All our pylons meet NCAA and NFHS rules. 

Call us today with your football accessories needs. 

If you have seen the epic film, Chariots of Fire, you may recall the scenes where the runners are preparing for the start of the race. The runners kneel on the ground with little trowels or spades and prepare the ground. They would dig small holes for their feet to gain traction and would not slip. So much has changed from the early 20th century for track and field equipment, including starting blocks.

The first starting blocks emerged in the late 1920s and became a standard and accepted practice in the 1930s. By 1937, the use of starting blocks became mandatory so runners could not have any unfair advantages and all the runners would have "a fair start." The earlier starting blocks would be large enough that the entire length of the runners' feet could rest on the block, but in the early 1970s, starting blocks were modified so the heel would overlap the top edge of the block. The thought behind this was an increased burst because of the calf muscle was more fully engaged.

The former blocks were referred to as high blocks and the shorter versions are commonly called short blocks. There has been a switch back and forth to which are used in recent years, including in the Olympic games. The science behind the start is getting more sophisticated all the time, and although technology is always improving, the most important thing you hear runners saying is they need to feel comfortable in the starting blocks.

Toadvine Enterprises offers the full line of Gill track and field products. We have many great options for starting blocks in every price range, including Fusion, National, Scholastic, Moye, All Surface, and the all-important transporter starting block carts to protect your investment and make moving and storing them easy and safe.

We are at the front of the science of speed and are helping schools get "faster starts through advanced technology." Call us today with your track and field equipment needs. Toadvine Enterprises (502) 241-6010.

Has that score flip chart seen its better days on the court? Does the crowd have to twist their neck backwards or squint under a net to see the score on each possession? If so, it’s probably time to check into a new scoreboard. If your school has been contemplating a purchase of a new scoreboard, there are varieties you should examine before making a choice.

Tabletop scoreboards 

This style of scoreboard is perfect for elementary school games in which minimal information is needed for display. This type of scoreboard can be displayed for scoring and timing of an athletic event, then put away and stored. It can be transported from game to game or stored away safely after each game. This is the most economical option for schools with basic sporting events for smaller children.

Wall-mounted scoreboards

This type of scoreboard will become a permanent focal point in your gym and will completely revolutionize crowd involvement as they fully engage in seeing the score change and knowing game statistics. The start up cost of wiring this scoreboard is a bit more, but will pull a crowd together at sporting events. 

Multi-sport scoreboards

These types of boards are helpful in upper grades or high school when playing various sports such as soccer, basketball, hockey, and volleyball. The time, score, game period, player, and team fouls can all be displayed in one place. Great advancements have been made in these scoreboards, which generally use LED (light emitting diode) technology and sometimes even wireless capabilities. More recently, scoreboards have been designed to be more user-friendly so that students can operate them with ease. If your school is hoping to create an all around virtual experience, scoreboards can also be used with computer software to create a “big league” effect through video display and a movie type atmosphere.

Another important factor to consider when looking for a new scoreboard is choosing the right size scoreboard based on your gym or field's size. Not only can Toadvine Enterprises help you find the perfect scoreboard your facility based on your school's budget, we can also help you choose the correct size. Contact us to learn more.

Did you know that Toadvine Enterprises can help you customize your scoreboard? We can help you piece together a scoreboard that is right for you based on your budget. And now is a great time to start thinking about a new scoreboard for your facility. We are running a special on scoreboards: buy two indoor scoreboards and receive a free indoor school name sign. This offer is valid through November 16.

Here are some trends we're seeing in the scoreboard arena: 

• Many facilities are adding protective nets and screens. It may not happen often, but an object can strike the scoreboard causing damage to the lighting or the overall functionality. Putting up a net or screen in front of your scoreboard is a simple measure many are taking to protect their investment.
• Electronic team names are becoming very popular, especially for facilities that host tournaments where it may be confusing who the home and guest teams are. 
• Custom caption plates are another way to differentiate which team is which. You can have caption plates made that are easily removed from the scoreboard and can be rearranged for every game. It is a simple change out.
• Nevco has created cable switcher systems that allow score keepers to score multiple games at the same time. Suppose you have two or three basketball games or volleyball matches happening simultaneously. Now you have a system that will let you access many score boards at the same time. This system is for wired systems only and are ideal for larger facilities with multiple courts.

For more information about Toadvine's scoreboard special, contact us today.

Are your bleachers and stadium seating up to code? There are new requirements for bleacher safety, and any facility with bleachers and public seating (indoor or outdoor), must be inspected annually. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the following bleacher safety guidelines: 

• Provide routine inspection and maintenance, at least twice a year, in accordance with the bleacher's owner's manual.
• Use only trained personnel to open and close bleachers following instructions provided in the owner's manual. DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS OR UNTRAINED PERSONNEL TO OPERATE BLEACHERS.
• Install bleacher guard rails as a safety precaution and as an indication that the bleachers are fully extended.
• A licensed professional engineer, registered architect, or company that is qualified to provide bleacher products and services should inspect the bleachers and provide a written certification that the bleachers are fit for use.
• The option of replacing bleachers as opposed to retrofitting should be considered.

Toadvine Enterprises and Vine & Branch introduce a maintenance and safety inspection program for all of your indoor and outdoor seating and equipment. Vine & Branch is fully staffed with manufacturer-certified service technicians to ensure the safety of your seating. If you have not complied with your states regulations, you run the risk of having your facility closed. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also requires that all outdoor grandstands and folding or telescoping seating be inspected annually by an engineer, registered architect, or manufacturer-certified inspector. It just makes sense to have your equipment inspected by someone who is an expert of that equipment. Call us today to schedule an inspection of your bleachers. (502) 241-6010

Testing your scoreboard before the start of the season is critical. No one wants to show up on game day to realize that there are issues with their scoreboard. Test it now so you can get a jump on any possible repairs or maintenance issues. Here are a few tips that can help you extend the life of your scoreboard and scoreboard accessories:

ALWAYS:

• Turn off the power to the scoreboard and controller after use. 
• Disconnect power adapters and cables if you leave the controller in a secured scorer’s position. (prevents lightning strike from damaging other devices)
• Store controllers and radio equipment in a dry place, especially in off-season.
• Protect controllers and radio equipment from becoming wet while in use. 
• Take care to protect cables and power adapters from becoming tangled and out of the way of traffic at the scorer’s stand.
• Always turn off the power or disconnect power cords to any electrical device before servicing. 

Aside from these scoreboard maintenance and safety tips, a lot of schools are also starting to take advantage of the advertising space provided on most scoreboards, maximizing the available real estate. There are a whole host of new and traditional scoreboards from Nevco that create prized advertising space. These advertising spaces can pay for the new equipment and create an increased professional feel to your facility. Check out the gallery of scoreboards from Nevco.  

Contact Toadvine Enterprises for more information about maintenance or safety issues, as well as questions about your scoreboard's ad space. 

Porter has announced its new line of winches that can accommodate your curtain and gymnasium dividers. Tired of the struggle of closing and opening curtains in your facility? These improved winches are the perfect solution. They are easy to use and designed to work with all of Porter's existing control systems. 

The 00709000 is a listed winch that comes with a full 5 year warranty. This winch will be able to span the current range of Porter backstops up to 40' attachment height. This winch has the ability to be raised or lowered manually with a battery-operated drill or socket for install or emergency situations. Porter's goal is to be able to continue to increase its winch line so it can grow the custom engineered product offerings and capabilities. Keep your eyes out for winches that will allow them to design bigger, more unique systems.

Gill Athletics has an entire web page of new products, and one specific product we wanted to highlight is the Ultrak 830 Heat Index. Coaches who are tracking the actual heat index on the field can measure, in real time, if the conditions are safe for the players. This is a great tool and should be a part of every coach's on-field toolbox. With record-setting temperatures this summer, coaches are taking their role seriously to keep players safe. This new tool from Gill Athletics should be a must for every athletic director. 

Additional features of the Ultrak 830 Heat Index:

• Accurately calculates temperature, humidity, heat index, and dew point

• 30 dual split recallable memory

• Measures to 10 hours with 1/100 second resolution

• Presettable countdown timer with auto repeat function

• Time, calendar, and alarm

• LED backlight

• Solar powered with back-up lithium battery

• Water resistant 

• Five-year warranty 

Let us at Toadvine Enterprises know if you'd like more information on either of these new products.