Expert Q&A: Slip testing for netball courts

Materials testing specialist Kate Tonkin answers what you need to know about slip resistance testing for netball courts – from tips on reducing the slipperiness of a court, to guidance on testing frequency and when to consider resurfacing.

What slip resistance standards or guidelines relate to netball courts in Australia?

New surfaces (or relayed/resurfaced courts) should be slip tested to AS4586 (which is the Australian Standard for new pedestrian surface materials), and existing surfaces should be tested to AS 4663 (which is the Australian Standard for existing pedestrian surface materials).

However, it’s not as straightforward as it might sound. There are a few issues with the slip classifications specified in the Netball Australia National Facilities Policy that make it more challenging for an existing outdoor surface to meet the requirements than a new or relayed outdoor surface.

Could you please explain this further? Why is this an issue?

Sure – it can sound a little complicated!

The main issue for court owners and managers is that there is an inconsistency in terms of the slip testing results that need to be achieved by a new outdoor netball surface for it to pass, and the slip testing results that need to be achieved by an existing outdoor netball surface for it to pass.

The Netball Australia Facilities Policy states that for a new court surface to pass, it must achieve a P5 rating – which is equivalent to a slip resistance value (SRV) of 45+ when using a slider 55, and an SRV of 55+ when using a slider 96. As a side note, there are two different types of sliders – the slider 96 is similar in hardness to a dress shoe, and the slider 55 is similar in hardness to a gym shoe – and the Netball Australia Facilities Policy states that new surfaces must achieve a P5 rating preferably using both 55 and 96 sliders.

But for an existing surface to pass, it must achieve an SRV of 75+. No P rating is indicated as AS4663 doesn’t allow a P rating to be applied to existing surfaces.

This means that a new court could pass by achieving a P5 rating (SRV of 45+ or 55+), but then if the same court was to be tested as an existing surface just months later, it may not meet the policy’s requirement for existing surfaces to achieve an SRV of 75+.

This is concerning because it could deter clubs and facilities managers from completing frequent and timely testing of court surfaces, which could lead to slip incidents. There is also no specific slip resistance requirement outlined in the policy for indoor courts. I would suggest the policy needs to be reviewed.

What happens if a netball court is not slip resistant enough? Is this a common issue?

Slippery courts can pose a higher risk of injury to players and interfere with their performance. In my experience, many sports clubs aren’t aware of the requirements for slip resistance testing until players are slipping over or there are obvious signs of wear.

Court managers don’t need to wait until players are continually slipping. Our recommendation is that testing is carried out annually, ideally at the end of every season.

What factors contribute to the slipperiness of a court surface?

Slipperiness after resurfacing is a big one. Wear over time is also a big factor, which is why we suggest annual testing. Another issue can be contaminants, like oil from gum trees or dirt, which can make the surface slippery.  

How can slip incidents be avoided?

Regular professional cleaning can help to maintain the courts and prevent them from becoming slippery due to dirt or contaminants. Timely slip resistance testing can ensure clubs stay on top of how much the surface is wearing over time, meaning they can take action when required and plan ahead for the best time to resurface or relay if required. We’d also recommend that netballers ensure their shoes aren’t overly worn, as this can impact incidents of slipping.

What can be done about a slippery court surface?

A first port of call might be a professional clean of the surface – often the build-up of dirt and oils can make a court surface slippery and a deep clean could remedy this. Recoating could also be an option for improving slip resistance, which can be done over the top of an existing acrylic surface. Alternatively, the whole court can be pulled up and relayed if required.

When is the best time in the season for a court to be relayed or resurfaced?

We suggest planning for relaying or resurfacing at the end of a season. You don’t want to relay or resurface too close to the start of a season because the detergents or oils that are in the surface paint are drawn out during rain events, which makes the surface really slippery.

I attended a job recently where the client had resurfaced two days before the start of a season. It had rained in the morning and there were children falling over left, right and centre. They ended up stopping the games and waiting until it dried out. A few good months of rain can avoid this, otherwise a deep wash-down is needed – I know some clubs who have brought in their local fire brigade to complete training drills on the courts and give them a thorough washdown with their high-powered hoses.

What is your experience with slip testing for netball courts and why is this an area of interest to you?

My own children have played netball for the past 15 years or so. We’ve been around netball a long time and I’ve seen the issues that can come up with slipperiness.

Quite a few years ago Stone Initiatives was engaged by a local council to carry out slip testing for several netball clubs, and that’s when we started to realise a lot of clubs were not compliant with their facilities policies in regards to slip resistance. Since then, I’ve taken a particular interest in researching in this area, and we’ve carried slip resistance testing on indoor and outdoor courts around South Australia.

How can Stone Initiatives help with slip testing for netball courts?

Stone Initiatives has in-depth experience in slip testing for netball courts and other sports surfaces. We know what we’re looking for and can advise on next steps for the club to consider, such as cleaning or resurfacing, depending on the unique situation. Get in touch for more information.