BCC Installing Wood Floor At Melbourne Gymnasium

By  //  July 25, 2012

Will Reduce Player Injuries

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA In a major step forward, the first-ever wood floor will be installed in Brevard Community College’s Melbourne campus gymnasium now known as The Coliseum.

D'Montre Edwards of BCC drives past an opponent during a men's basketball home game in Melbourne last season. (Image courtesy Brevard Community College)

The gym has had two composite floors since it opened in 1975. The new floor will not only be a boon for the college athletic programs, but also will allow BCC to bid to host Amateur Athletic Union and other sporting events that require wood floors.

The 14,400-square-foot Robbins Bio-Cushion Classic maple floor is costing the college $107,800 and is being installed by Impact Sport Surfaces, LLC of Deerfield Beach. As part of the project the gym’s baskets will be raised because of the wood floor being installed atop the existing surface.

Work is scheduled to begin in August with a completion date of Sept. 30. As part of the project the building’s interior — including the athletic and physical education offices — is being repainted.

The new floor is a source of much anticipation for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the volleyball team. All call the Melbourne gym home.

Anticipation

While the project will inconvenience the three teams — especially volleyball, a fall sport which has been forced to adjust its schedule — the coaches and athletes are rife with anticipation.

“This new floor will make a difference in the longevity of our players and because of the quality of the floor, I feel it will reduce the incidents of injury,” head volleyball coach Herb Tokumoto said. “Our athletes do a lot of jumping, turning at angles, take offs on one foot. With the floor’s superior suspension and quality of flooring this should also save joint wear and tear.

“The difference would be like jumping from 10 feet high and landing on cement and now the same 10 feet and landing on a mattress and box spring. The professional looking Coliseum will benefit our whole program in what it’ll say to potential student-athletes: that we care about our athletes.”

“I think this will make a huge difference in all aspects of the program. It will help recruiting, but also will immediately help performance.” BCC Men’s Basketball Coach Jeremy Shulman

Head men’s basketball coach Jeremy Shulman also sees benefits.

“I cannot contain the excitement I have in anticipation of us getting the brand new wood floor at Titan Coliseum,” Shulman said. “I think this will make a huge difference in all aspects of the program. It will help recruiting, but also will immediately help performance.

“Our team suffered through an unending number of injuries last year, many caused by the floor; the new wood floor will hopefully make a very positive impact for us in this area. The wood floor will also help morale, and give us as a team a lot more pride in our home court. We are all very excited about the new floor.”

The BCC Titans volleyball team competes in a game last fall at the school's Melbourne campus gymnasium. (Image courtesy Brevard Community College)

Shock absorbing

Wood flooring includes sub-flooring that provides shock absorption and more forgiving stops for athletes. There is less give in a composite floor leading to more sudden stops and putting athletes at a greater risk of knee and ankle injuries.

“The new floor will make a big difference for our student-athletes in preventing injuries foremost, and will also give us opportunities to host big tournaments and other events because we have a wood floor,” BCC Athletic Director Jeff Carr said.

“We also have lost student-athlete recruits to other schools because of our current floor. I am very excited and can’t wait to see our first athletic event on our new floor.”

Renee Bellamy is the head women's basketball coach for BCC. (Image courtesy Brevard Community College)

Welcome renovation

Head women’s basketball coach Renee Bellamy has similar sentiments.

“It will be a blessing to have a wooden floor in our gym,” she said. “I have had painful experiences as it pertains to injuries with our women’s basketball program since 2007. I pray that we will have a smooth transition once the renovations have been completed.

“I am grateful to our college administration for making vast improvements to our facilities for the betterment of our athletic department.”

Incoming sophomore women’s basketball player Kasie Berry looks forward to the new floor in hopes of saving wear and tear.

“It’s better for the athletes, it’s better for our knees and ankles,” Berry said. “I have a bad ankle so it was hard,” she said about the composite floor. “Then my knees started hurting. And then multiple players had shin splints.”