Toadvine Blog

When we think of Little Leauge, often we think of kids picking dandelions in the outfield, running to third base from home, or just an overall endearing lack of understanding for the game. Little League is cute, not competitive... at least the way we remember it. But nowadays, Little League is the real deal, and with the Little League World Series just around the corner, we wanted to take a minute and talk about how the program has evolved over the years.

The game has become increasingly more competitive. Even as early as 6 years old, kids start to take the All-American sport seriously. We're now seeing harder throws, consistent batting, and an overall exciting game to watch (especially for parents!). Don't get us wrong, there are still kids who like to twirl in the outfield and play in the dirt, but when All-Star time rolls around and tournaments begin, it's all business.

Team sports are known to encourage healthy social and problem-solving capabilities at an early age. The advantage of Little League encouraging kids to be so passionate about the game, is that they work hard to play. There is winning and losing, and although loss can be difficult for kids, it teaches good sportsmanship. Teams still line up after every game to greet one another with a "good game," and you can see kids bonding with each other and developing comradery.

We know that team sports can be expensive for parents, but there are tricks to save money on the rising costs and ways to get your kid involved. Right now, the games are leading up to the National and International Little League World Series, and the teams have their chance to show off all the hard work they have put in this year. If you are thinking about signing your kid up for Little League, go to Littleleague.org for more information.

Here at Toadvine, it is our goal to make sure your athletic needs are met. From the bleachers to the locker room, we've got you covered. We like to focus on things like maintaining your equipment, getting the most sports fun for your buck, and keeping your team in tiptop shape. Today, though, we want to talk about how we can help you wrap up your spring season and get ready for the fall.

With sports like baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis wrapping up, now is a great time to do maintenance on your seating and bleachers. Our maintenance and safety arm of the business, Vine and Branch LLC, can do a full-service inspection of your seating and bleachers to make sure they are up-to-date and safe for use next season. Your fan's safety is one of our biggest concerns, schedule your yearly inspection today.

As fall approaches, we can help you prepare for the football, soccer, basketball, and volleyball seasons. We offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor scoreboards, including the industry's newest and most technologically advanced scoreboards manufactured by Nevco. Our other fall products include basketball systems, accessories, padding, and volleyball equipment. For any of these products, or additional equipment you may need, contact our insides sales team to get a quote.

Our outside sales team can help you with custom projects. No project is too small or too big. We've done everything from The University of Louisville's baseball stadium to Eastern High School's football bleachers. Your project is just as important to us as it is to you and we want to make sure it is done correctly from start to finish. To get your project started schedule a facility visit.

We service and sell products in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Ohio. We also sell some products outside of that region. Visit our website to find out more.

A while back, Toadvine had the pleasure of contributing seating to UofL's Baseball field, the Jim Patterson Stadium. Last week, those seats were filled by 6,010 fans cheering on the Cards in their determining game for the Super Regionals. While the Cards fell to Cal State Fullerton for a loss, they put up a good fight including a home run by Will Smith that tied the game in the fourth inning. The game went into 11 innings and ended with controversy and emotion. The Cards lost 4-3. The controversy arose when a tough call was made in the last inning. The call took over four brutal minutes to dispute and was a game changer for the Cards. The team fell short of their dreams and their goals last week, and it was heartbreaking to watch after such a strong season. 

Still, no matter the outcome, the Cards are determined to come back next year. If they keep playing the way they did last week, Super Regionals 2016 is definitely an attainable goal!

Josh Rogers with the SNAG!!! #RoadToOmaha #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/QaQ7vPVtYx

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 9, 2015

Do you want to dunk in style like UofL's Montrezl Harrell or do you need something more moveable so that you can nail that dunk with less risk of injury? Whatever your preference, Toadvine has a basketball goal to fit your needs. You can select from a vast array of goals and backboards ranging from adjustable height to fold up systems. We also carry classic goals and more advanced goals like the Torq-Flex series with shock absorber mechanisms. 

TORQ-FLEX(R) 180 Goal is the ultimate moveable goal. From the front of the rim it allows for 180 degree movement. As opposed to your standard break away rims, this goal allows for lateral flexing which can be a huge plus for injury reduction during dunks. High-tensile steel torsion rods allow for the goal to pivot in all directions.

You can also get the TORQ-FLEX without the 180 feature (00256-500) for both indoor or outdoor use (00255-H00). Every goal includes the orange powder-coat, anti-whip net, and mounting hardware. Select from the following TORQ-FLEX goals or create your own combination:

TORQ-FLEX 180 GOAL 
TORQ-FLEX GOAL 
ULTRA-FLEX GOAL (5" x 4"-4 1/2" Centers)
ULTRA-FLEX GOAL (5" x 5" Centers)
POWR-FLEX GOAL 
TORQ-FLEX OUTDOOR GOAL 
HEAVY-DUTY PLAYGROUND GOAL 
REAR-MOUNT REPLACEMENT GOAL 
SUPER GOAL
DOUBLE RIM PLAYGROUND GOAL 

If you have questions about any of the products we carry, just let us know. We will be happy to help you decide which products will serve you best.

Toadvine is looking forward to the 37th Annual TSPMA conference on June 8-11. It has been a couple years since we have been able to attend this conference, and we are very much looking forward to going back and seeing some familiar faces. Unlike a lot of the other conferences, this one is family friendly so we're looking forward to bringing our families along.

With all the attractions surrounding Pigeon Forge, TN it almost feels like a mini vacation. The conference will be held at Music Road Motel and convention center and will include training in a wide range of topics including HVAC, custodial, faculty planning, legal issues, and life/safety training. Networking opportunities are unique because of the lively atmosphere of Pigeon Forge. Nestled at the base of the Smokey Mountains, and close to Gatlinburg, there are endless places to take the kids, mingle with new people, and create lasting relationships. 

This is a conference you probably don't want to miss out on. Register online, and meet us there!

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Toadvine Enterprises is proud to be a part of the $110-million renovation of Commonwealth Stadium, home to University of Kentucky's Wildcat Football. While the tradition of the venue will be preserved, the Commonwealth Stadium will now be state-of-the-art.

Part of Toadvine's role in this project is one we think fans may appreciate the most in the upcoming season—backrests! We sigh with comfort just thinking of it! All of the lower bowl seats on each side will now be complemented with backrests so you can sit back, relax, and watch your Cats. In addition, we will be closing in the deck around the recruiting platform as box seats for hosting large parties or for impressing business clients. We started this project early April, and will complete it by June. Fans will enjoy the benefits of the new stadium amenities on September 5, 2015 for the official opening. This complete renovation will also include a full face-lift to the outside of the stadium giving it a more modern look. Even the concourse and concessions will be revamped and widened to give the stadium a more clean and open feel.

A lot of thought and time has gone into the overall project. Toadvine is honored to have its hand in the makeover of this historical facility, and can't wait to unveil all the hard work this September.

For more information about the project and the vision, click here.

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A while back, Toadvine had the pleasure of contributing to the renovation of the historical Iroquois Amphitheater and helped to modernize the venue while still holding on to its historical significance. Originally constructed in 1938, the Iroquois Amphitheater and park is a favorite spot for families and friends. With the days getting longer and warmer, the desire to be outside is growing. Kids are getting out of school soon, and with Derby season here, Louisville will be jumping back to its summer buzz. The amphitheater has many fun events planned for this summer, including movie nights on Mondays and Saturdays, Louisville Youth Orchestra to kick off Derby season, and popular bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Wilco. The venue holds 2,366 and though it seats quite a few people, the layout and design still provide an intimate setting for shows.

The free events are a great option for families looking to fill in summer evenings with movies like Frozen, The Lego Movie, and Muppets Most Wanted all on the big screen. To see the full summer calendar, click here.

We at Toadvine take pride in our work, and love seeing it being used and enjoyed. We hope you enjoy your time this summer and take advantage of South Louisville's favorite gem, Iroquois Park.

A while back, Toadvine had the pleasure of contributing to the renovation of the historical Iroquois Amphitheater and helped to modernize the venue while still holding on to its historical significance. Originally constructed in 1938, the Iroquois Amphitheater and park is a favorite spot for families and friends. With the days getting longer and warmer, the desire to be outside is growing. Kids are getting out of school soon, and with Derby season here, Louisville will be jumping back to its summer buzz. The amphitheater has many fun events planned for this summer, including movie nights on Mondays and Saturdays, Louisville Youth Orchestra to kick off Derby season, and popular bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Wilco. The venue holds 2,366 and though it seats quite a few people, the layout and design still provide an intimate setting for shows.

The free events are a great option for families looking to fill in summer evenings with movies like Frozen, The Lego Movie, and Muppets Most Wanted all on the big screen. To see the full summer calendar, click here.

We at Toadvine take pride in our work, and love seeing it being used and enjoyed. We hope you enjoy your time this summer and take advantage of South Louisville's favorite gem, Iroquois Park.

With about 190 members in KHSADA, Toadvine is looking forward to connecting with Athletic Directors statewide the Kentucky High School Athletic Directors Association (KHSADA) Conference on April 21-24.

We have been attending this conference for five years, and this year, Mike and Chris will be representing us at our booth. We always look forward to the opportunity to touch base with local Athletic Directors and let them know about updated projects we offer, and projects we currently have. Be sure to check in with us next week to see how the event goes and to maybe even see some pictures!

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Sometimes the off-season is a great time to connect with your team and try out some new and different exercises and conditioning techniques. Most of our blog content focuses on bleacher maintenance and stadium seating, but today we're taking a break from the norm and sharing some tumbling mat exercises that your team—whether softball, volleyball, lacrosse or cheerleading—might enjoy.

Build core strength, upper body strength, and flexibility with these popular mat workouts:

1. Bicycle crunches- This challenging Ab workout can be done at any time. The comfort of a tumbling mat helps keep the spine and tailbone comfortable so the focus can be on the burn instead of the pain.

2. Hollow Hold- This intense core work is sometimes difficult for those who feel it too much in their back our tailbone. A mat can provide the opportunity to benefit from this challenging pose. Raising the arms over head will be a sure way to get your team sweating!

3.Forearm plank- This is a great option for those with sensitive wrists as opposed to the standard plank. It works well on a mat because there is cushion between the arm bones and the hard flooring. Forearm plank isolates shoulders and upper back.

4. Dolphin Pose- Similar to forearm plank, but with your hips in the air (Think of an upside down "V"). This may be a yoga inspired workout, but don't assume it's easy! This will isolate your shoulders for strength, builds flexibility in the hamstrings, and develop core muscles--A triple threat! Bonus: Alternate between forearm plank and dolphin for an upper body fire-up!

5.Hamstring Stretch- Lay on your back and use a towel to draw one leg in at a time. This pose helps keep the spine long and straight while still getting a deep stretch.

Versatile, and easy to store, a tumbling mat is a great asset for your team. We hope you enjoyed us switching things up this week, and good luck to your team next season!