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While many sports remain popular year after year, like baseball and basketball, plenty of others are gaining players. Here are a few to put on your watch list.

Beach Volleyball

Beach volleyball is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing sports nationwide, and courts are now being built in landlocked areas across the country. Consider this advice when determining whether to add beach volleyball courts to a park: Do-it-yourself projects often result in a facility that players won’t use because it does not drain well or feel comfortable underfoot. A skilled builder will ascertain that the facility adheres to all necessary specifications, including having the correct type of sand, and that it drains efficiently and holds up well. Allow for adequate parking, particularly if you plan to host league play, and consider adding lighting for night play.

Flag Football

The announcement that flag football would be a showcase sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles was no surprise to its supporters since it is popular not only at youth levels, but also college levels. It is already offered as a women’s sport by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Junior College Athletic Association.

If you are considering flag football, make sure your facilities can withstand the additional use. Women’s flag football season begins in the spring. Although there is less of a chance that it will be competing with tackle football for field time, the inevitable growth of the sport will mean a call for more field space for practices, particularly if this is a multi-line field that hosts other spring sports. While a regulation football field is often used, small-sided games, such as the 5-on-5 format, require a smaller playing area.

Grass Court Volleyball

Although grass court volleyball is often associated with backyard games, it is actually a popular professional tour sport. The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) offers its AVP Grass Tour, considered the premier showcase for grass volleyball competition.

There are two configurations: short court, with dimensions similar to those of a standard beach volleyball court, and big court, with dimensions similar to those of an indoor volleyball court. Grass court volleyball requires very little set-up. Should the playing surface become too worn, the nets can be moved to allow the grass to recover.

Disc Golf

During the pandemic, many people spent more time outdoors, which buoyed sports like disc golf. One of the benefits of adding disc golf to a park is that it can be placed on land not suitable for other facilities; disc golf players are challenged by rocks, hills, trees and other natural landscapes. The Professional Disc Golf Association supplies documents on its website (pdga.com) to help with course design, as well as other materials to assist with the implementation of the sport.

Ultimate

Once called Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate is a noncontact sport that uses many of the same skills as football, such as passing and maintaining possession. It may be played in a mixed-gender format and relies on self-refereeing, known as “The Spirit of the Game,” for fair play. The sport’s playing area will depend upon the age of the players involved; more information can be obtained from its governing body, USA Ultimate.

For more information, the American Sports Builders Association offers its publication, Courts & Recreational Surfaces: Construction and Maintenance Manual, at sportsbuilders.org.

Mary Helen Sprecher is Technical Writer for American Sports Builders Association.