News

Forest Hill, MD – The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for design professionals, builders and suppliers of materials and equipment for athletic facilities, has announced the winners of its industry awards of recognition.

Presentation of awards took place at the close of ASBA’s 2023 Technical Meeting, which was held in Houston, Texas. The meeting enjoyed record-breaking attendance with over 1,100 individuals, an increase of 30 percent over previous meetings.

The Industry Merit Award, ASBA’s highest honor, given in recognition of exemplary service to the Association, was presented to David H. Pettit, ASBA’s longtime legal counsel. Pettit, who has been with the Association for 40 years, was the unanimous choice of the Board of Directors to receive the award.

“It would be hard to overestimate David Pettit’s contributions to the Association,” stated David Clapp, ASBA’s Chairman, “and much growth and success is attributable to his guidance and professionalism.”

In addition to advising the Association, Pettit has been a presenter at meetings, discussion business-related issues such as succession planning and contract drafting.

Pettit received a standing ovation from the Association as he accepted his honor.

Also during the Technical Meeting, Racquet Sports Industry Magazine announced the winner of its Court Builder/Contractor of the Year Award, recognizing outstanding contributions in tennis facility construction. This year, the award was presented to American Tennis Courts, Inc. of Mobile, Alabama and its owner, Jeff Nichols.

American Tennis Courts has been operating since 1969, and Nichols took the helm in 1995. He has a strong record of service to the Association, is a Certified Tennis Court Builder, holds the Pickleball Builder certificate, and is a member of the Joint Editorial Board that is working on the revisions of the publications, Tennis Courts: Construction and Maintenance Manual.

Nichols has often noted that it is commitment that makes a company successful, and that his is no exception to the rule.

“You have to make a commitment to quality and to your customers. You have to be delivering to them exactly what you promised you would. You also need to have a commitment to your employees to give them the tools they need to perform quality work, like knowledge and training.”

Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, which partners with the ASBA to present relevant awards, is the largest business-to-business racquet sports publication in the world. The January 2024 issue of Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, which lists all the Champions of Tennis, is also available online at www.tennisindustrymag.com.

The ASBA is a non-profit association comprised of designers, builders and suppliers in sports facility construction. The ASBA sponsors informative meetings, publishes a quarterly magazine, produces a mobile app of court and field diagrams, publishes books and technical construction guidelines for athletic facilities, and keeps its members aware of the latest developments in the industry. It also offers voluntary certification programs in tennis court, running track and sports field construction as well as a certificate in pickleball court construction.

For information on the ASBA, as well as on its publications, activities and upcoming meetings, please contact the Association at 2331 Rock Spring Road, Forest Hill, Maryland 21050. The phone number is 443-640-1042. The ASBA also may be reached electronically via its website: www.sportsbuilders.org, or via e-mail at [email protected].