Court Markings
Court marking lines are painted on most sports floors Paint should be selected and tested to suit the type of floor. Manufacturers will supply or recommend a proven paint and give guidance on its use. Our other divisions include dance flooring, gym flooring and court line markings for all sports.
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What preparation is needed beforehand?
A wooden sports floor should be professionally machine sanded and re-lacquered ( 3 coats of water-based polyurethane sports lacquer). It must then be buffed with a fine screen pad to form a key for the sports paint to adhere to. Once the lines have been marked out with masking tape, painted and let to set the entire floor then has a final coat of sports lacquer applied to seal in and protect the lines.
What are the national sports bodies’ colours and sizes?
See below a list of popular indoor sports line and specifications.
Badminton court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 13.4m (44′) long x 6.1m (20′) wide
line colour white, width 38mm (1 1/2″)
playing area – Club – 16.5m length x 8.5m width x 7.6m height
playing area – International – 18m length x 10.5m width x 9.1m height
Basketball court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 28m long x 15m wide
line colour black, width 50mm (2″)
playing area – 1m beyond all lines minimum, 2m recommended, 7m height
court dimensions 30.5-36.5m (100-120′) long x 18.3-27.4m (60-90′) wide
line colour Red, width 50mm (2″)
playing area – 1m beyond side lines, 1.2m beyond base line minimum
Handball court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 30-40m long x 17-20m wide
playing area – 1m beyond all lines minimum, 1.5m recommended, 7.6m height recommended, 9m height required for International
Hockey court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 33.5-44m long x 16.75-22m wide
line colour Blue or White, width 50mm (2″)
playing area – 1m beyond side lines, 1.5m beyond back line minimum, 3m for International
Netball court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 30.48m (100′) long x 15.24m (50′) wide
line colour Red, width 50mm (2″)
playing area – 1.5m beyond side lines, 2m beyond back line minimum, plus 1.5m on one side for team benches for County standard, 7m height, 7.6m height for County
Squash court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 9.75m (32′) long x 6.4m (21′) wide
service box 1.6m (5’3″) square (internal dimensions)
service line 1.83m (6′) from floor to top of line
short line 4.26m (14′) from backwall to back of line
side wall line 4.57m (15′) front to 2.13m (7′) back (floor to underside)
line colour Red, width 50mm (2″)
Tennis court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 23.77m (78′)long x 10.97m (36′) wide
line colour Yellow or White, width 50mm (2″)
the playing area should extend 3.66m (12′) beyond width and 6.4m (21′) beyond the length of court, 10’/18′ minimum
Volleyball court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
court dimensions 18m long x 9m wide
line colour Green, width 50mm (2″)
the playing area should extend 3m beyond courtside and back lines (5m and 8m for International)
Is it always paint that is used? Are there alternatives?
Paint is recommended as the most hard-wearing sport line method. A tape / stick down method is also available but not as durable or as easy to repair/maintain as painting the lines.
What is the process & how are the court markings made accurate?
The Sports lines marking operatives work from the Sports England / Sports Scotland manual that provides the sizes, specification and colours that must be used for each individual court. If a specialist court is not included in the manual then the national body of that sport is contacted and the correct specification is obtained.
The operative finds and marks the centre point in the sports hall and works all courts from that. Measuring can be done using a metal measuring tape or a laser. Masking tape is laid down on either side of the line area required and once the court is fully marked and masked up the two-part sports paint is mixed and applied by brush.
The sports paint will cure and harden in 8- 24 hrs (depending on the hall ambience). Once dry the masking tape can be removed and the final coat of sports lacquer applied.
Five a side court dimensions [click for detailed court plan]
Does this need to be done often? Is there a way to maintain the Court markings?
It is strongly advised that a busy sports/gym hall adhere to a maintenance programme and carry out buff and overcoat of lacquer applied each year to protect both the wooden floor and the sports lines. It is essential that floors are maintained using the correct cleaning products and manufacturers instructions to ensure both floor and court markings are protected.
Can they be easily removed/changed?
To change or remove painted sports courts the entire floor must be sanded back to the bare wood and lacquered and marked out as required.
How long after the floors are “marked” can they be used?
Sports court marking paint takes between 8 to 24hrs to cure and dry, the additional overcoat of lacquer will also take between 8 to 24hrs to fully cure. Drying times are determined by the heat and humidity of the sports hall area.
How long does court marking normally take?
It is impossible to guess. Various courts take different times to mark and paint based on size, shape, curves etc. The amount of courts and amount of operatives allotted to the particular job is obviously the biggest factor in determining time scales. Drying times will also impact time scales.
Are there any particular common difficulties marking courts?
To successfully carry out court markings it is imperative that the work is carried out in a controlled environment – the room is clean and dust-free, the heating can be controlled (too cold and it won’t dry, too hot and the lines may crack) and also that the humidity is within allowed tolerances.
Are there any unusual cases within this area?
Many additional floor markings can be added to a sports/gym hall floor – Sports logos, stencils, specialist courts, Mini Basketball cross courts. Many halls are smaller than allow regulation court sizes – in this instance the court markings are adapted to suit the floor space available. Some sports department may also request certain teaching aid lines to be installed at various locations on the floor.
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