Following sport seasons of injuries and complaints, the Yellowknife Ultimate Club (YUC) is preparing to launch a review of the Fieldhouse to identify alternative options to the indoor playing field.
The Fieldhouse multi-sport fields are made of nylon and polypropylene materials atop a layer of foam and a concrete slab. Overall, YUC board of directors member Sarah Beattie suggests the facility be renovated to install a material that is more flexible.
Beattie said the City of Yellowknife seeks to update their facilities every decade or so. As the current fields were installed in 2010, she said the club is looking to collaborate with other sport groups and recommend new turf materials ahead of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 updates.
While the YUC is still in early stages of the review, Beattie said the club is dedicated to ensuring safe playing surfaces for Yellowknife athletes. Recovering from a recent knee surgery herself, Beattie said SA国际影视传媒渄efinitely one of the factors contributing to the injury was the Fieldhouse.SA国际影视传媒�
Beattie, like other Yellowknife athletes, told SA国际影视传媒 she never experienced injuries playing outside or in other facilities.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have players who are unwilling to play in the winter league because of the facilities,SA国际影视传媒� she said. She describes seeing other board members attending meetings in braces and blaming joint pain on playing on the hard surface.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not anyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 fault, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just the turf itself,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Asked if the City of Yellowknife would engage with sports groups on a proposal for Fieldhouse updates, spokesperson Alison Harrower replied, SA国际影视传媒淭he city encourages all users and user groups of city facilities, programs and services, to reach out to the city directly with any concerns.SA国际影视传媒�
On whether or not the city does, in fact, look to restore facilities every decade, Harrower said, SA国际影视传媒淐apital projects are brought forward to council for consideration when facility components require updating.SA国际影视传媒�
Beattie said YUC has already been reviewing material options and costs through . However, the club is looking to engage other sports groups in town before taking a proposal to the city.
The Yellowknife Exiles Rugby Football Club, for one, is onboard with SA国际影视传媒渦pgrading the currently inadequate Fieldhouse turf,SA国际影视传媒� co-president Ben Linaker said.
SA国际影视传媒淗aving access to appropriate indoor fields is essential to growing our sport, especially given our long winters," he said. "As a club, we have had consistent issues with player retention stemming from minor and major injuries associated with the turf, including joint pains, sprains, rug burn, and more serious injuries.SA国际影视传媒�
Beattie said the next step is just to get everybody in the same room talking, SA国际影视传媒渁nd hopefully we can come up with a solution.SA国际影视传媒�
