Mary Helen Sprecher

Mary Helen Sprecher is ASBA’s technical writer and also the editor of ASBA’s Sports Fields: Construction and Maintenance Manual and Courts & Recreational Surfaces: Construction and Maintenance Manual.

23 Articles

Catching The Cricket Bug

There’s no end to the number of sports that have been brought to the USA through immigration, such as soccer, field hockey, and rugby. And that’s not even taking into consideration other popular fixtures on the competition calendar like wrestling and track and field.

This article is for Members only

Sports Fields 5 min read

Smaller Field, Faster Game

Lacrosse is ready for its close-up.

This article is for Paid-members only

Sports Fields 5 min read

Accessible Facilities

More than three decades ago the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. At the time, it was groundbreaking, ushering in an era in which accessible restrooms, wheelchair ramps for public facilities, curb cuts, and other means of accommodation were mandated.

This article is for Members only

Sports Fields 4 min read

Problems Unseen

Sometimes, not everything is black and white. There are plenty of shades of gray between.

This article is for Paid-members only

Sports Fields 4 min read

Take Advantage Of The Terrain

Adding sports facilities to parks might be a tough sell to administrators; after all, even post-pandemic, it’s difficult to justify construction expenses.

This article is for Paid-members only

Sports Fields 5 min read

What To Consider in Selecting Athletic Surfacing for Indoor Facilities

Take It Inside! When the weather cools down, indoor recreation centers begin to see more action. And, maybe right about now, some employees are looking

This article is for Members only

Rec Facilities 5 min read

Combining Pickleball and Tennis Courts

The only thing more prevalent than pickleball these days is this question: “Should we line our tennis courts for pickleball, too, or just have separate pickleball courts?”

This article is for Members only

Sports Fields 5 min read

Everybody Into The Pool

Swimming pools are as much a part of summer as the end of school, Popsicles, and bright, sunny days. And with the worst of the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for those facilities to welcome back the crowds.

This article is for Paid-members only

Aquatics 5 min read

A Bump In Activity

One of the up-and-coming forms of volleyball is played on snow. In fact, the sport is expected to experience a veritable blizzard of growth in years to come.

This article is for Paid-members only

Sports Fields 5 min read

The 411 On 3x3

3x3 basketball might have been new to the Olympics (where the American women’s team won the gold medal), but it wasn’t new to anyone in the park and rec world, or those familiar with basketball in urban areas.

This article is for Paid-members only

Programming 5 min read

Designing Dog Parks

Dog parks--while nowhere near as ubiquitous as ball fields, picnic tables or tennis courts--are starting to become part of the American park landscape.

Dog Parks 7 min read