The Drawing Board

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Top 5 Coaching Boards

Pointing fingers and yelling across the field is not the easiest way to get players in line. So how can you illustrate to players where they should move on the court or field?  The dry erase coaching board.  I don’t know who invented them but coaching boards have saved thousands, if not millions, of coaches the frustration of trying to get athletes to share their vision.

Coaching boards started out as simple chalk boards with court diagrams drawn on them.  A basic idea that has been improved over the years.  Now coaches can use dry erase boards that boast color basketball courts and green fields, accurate field diagrams and even magnetic player pieces.

Whether your buying a coaching board for yourself or as a gift for your favorite coach with so many options out there it’s hard to keep track of what’s new on the scene and which models are the tried and true.

Come with me as we take a quick look at the Top 5 Coaching Boards for 2008 according to sales at Morley Athletic.   We’ll start with the 5th most popular model and work our way to the #1 most popular coaching board. 

#5 – Playmaker Wall Units

While not your average sized coaching boards Playmaker Wall Units offer an oversized dry erase surface.  Measuring in at a whopping 24″ wide x 36″ high this model is usually reserved for the team bus or locker room but has grown to be very popular.  This specially designed dry erase board easily wipes clean so drawing plays is quick and easy.  Dry erase pen and eraser attaches to the board with Velcro fasteners for safe keeping.  The Playmaker Wall Unit features a heavy duty aluminum frame.

Available in the following sports: Basketball, Football Field, Soccer, Volleyball, Ice Hockey, Football Single Play, Football Three Stage, Plain White.

#4 – Aluminum Portfolio Coaching Boards

Aluminum Portfolio Coaching Boards are made of a durable aluminum that provides a rigid and smooth writing surface.  Use a dry erase marker (included) to draw plays.  Aluminum portfolio coaching boards also feature a spring hinged cover so you can keep papers inside of them safely.  Lightweight and extremely durable it’s no wonder this lightweight portable desk is #4 in our countdown.  Each clipboard measures 9″ x 12-13/16″. 

Available in the following sports: Basketball, Football Field, Soccer, Volleyball, Ice Hockey, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Lacrosse or Field Hockey

#3 – Magnetic Playmaker

Sliding in at number three is the Magnetic Playmaker.  The fact that this coaching board is in the countdown is truly astounding when you consider that the majority sold are for one sport, basketball.  While all of the other models in the countdown are popular with all sports this little wonder of coaching splendor is so popular with one sport it rocks the charts.

Magnetic Playmakers offer a dry erase surface that wipes clean with ease.  As the name implies they also offer the advantage of magnets to illustrate player movement.  Magnetic Playmakers feature a pen/eraser combo for versatility.  The player magnets store under the partial lid when closed.  This model boasts a impact resistant styrene plastic frame for long lasting use.  The plastic case actually offers a wider gripping area and is easier on your hands.  When the hinged cover is closed it doubles as a carry handle.  Add to all of those features a full 10″ x 15″ size and you can’t go wrong.

Available in the following sports: Basketball, Volleyball or Soccer.

 
#2 – Sport Write Coaching Boards

Sick of plain old white dry erase boards.  Need some color to spice of the sidelines and get your players attention.  Your in luck!  Relatively new on the scene are the Sport Write Coaching Boards.  New, maybe, innovative, definitely.   These oversized boards offer the best detail of any coaching board on the market.

Sport Write boards are actually a double whammy because not only do you get the most graphic field and court diagrams available but on the reverse side you get a huge white dry erase surface for additional plays or notes.  You could even use this side to post messages in the locker room or on the field.

Sport Write coaching boards are lightweight and durable.  The measure up against the competition at a full 23-1/4″ x 18-5/8″.  You can get an idea of exactly how big that is by looking at the pictures and video by clicking this link… Sport Write Coaching Boards.

This board is currently sweeping the market and it’s easy to see why.

Available in the following sports: Baseball Diamond, Basketball, Football Field, Soccer, Ice Hockey, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Lacrosse or Field Hockey

 

#1 – Dry Erase Clip Boards

No real shock here is it.  The standard 9.5″ x 15.5″ dry erase clip board with field diagram is still the #1 most popular coaching board.  It’s easy to understand why.  They offer the least expensive price,  they have clear court and field diagrams and the clip at the top can hold papers.  It’s hard to beat the original right?

There are many manufacturers of this style board and prices range for under $10 to over $20 based on manufacturer.

Most manufacturers include a dry erase marker and the boards can be wiped clean with a cloth or paper towel with ease.

You’ll find a quality model at www. MorleyAthletic .com that’s available in the following sports: Baseball Field, Baseball Line Up, Tennis, Basketball, Football Field, Soccer, Volleyball, Ice Hockey, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Lacrosse, Field Hockey or Plain.

You’ll also find the same model in a large 12.5″ x 18.5″ size in all of the above listed sports at www. MorleyAthletic .com.

Whatever your sport, whichever style you prefer you’ll find your coaching board a very valuable tool in coaching.  Verbal explanation of plays can lead to players running in different directions.  Everyone deciphers things differently and players listening to a coaches instruction may all hear things a little differently.  Keep all your players on the same page and pick up your coaching board next time you want to illustrate a play.

To view all of the above boards and more shop the largest selection of coaching boards online at the  “Coaching Board Store”.

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If you’re planning on building a custom home in a new development or remodeling a home in an older neighborhood, you’ll likely to find your plans subject to design review.  Design review boards go by different names; ARB (Architectural Review Board), DRC (Design Review Committee), ARC (Architectural Review Committee) and others.

They’ve been called less flattering names, too, by homeowners whose proposals don’t get favorable treatment from the board.

But design review serves an important function in maintaining character, consistency, and property values in neighborhoods where it is used and should be seen as something that works in every homeowner’s favor.

Why Architectural Review Boards Exist

When you live in an architecturally restricted area, you are not the only “owner” of your house.  The look of your house, and the role that it occupies in the fabric of your neighborhood are “owned”, in part, by the community.  For some homeowners it’s a hard concept to swallow.  But if you keep in mind that it is probably the character of the neighborhood that attracted you to it in the first place, you’ll begin to understand why the whole community has a stake in the appearance of your home.  You have to share that character and protect it for your neighbors, as they protect theirs for you.  Organized design review exists to help protect your investment, and to help you to develop your property in a way that protects the investments of your neighbors.

What ARBs do

Review boards come in two varieties, public and private, and they vary in what aspects of design and building they control.  Some are informal and relaxed in what they review while others are very restrictive.  In historic neighborhoods for example, design review may be organized around guidelines published by the National Park Service that detail how to preserve and restore properties with historic significance.

In older but less historic areas, preserving history isn’t a much a concern as maintaining the unique character of the area.  Often these areas are near the center of cities and have been through several cycles of redevelopment, each time losing valuable buildings forever.  “Losing” a building doesn’t necessary mean demolishing it; poorly conceived additions and remodeling projects can also obscure important parts of the neighborhood’s architectural fabric.

In new residential developments, the developers may start with a concept for the homes that includes a certain level of architectural design and detail, a palette of exterior materials, even a restriction on the architectural style of the homes in the development.

Types of ARBs

Public boards are almost always made up of appointed citizens who preside over scheduled public meetings.  These are usually municipal boards that oversee older, established neighborhoods.  Proposed projects are submitted for inclusion on an agenda and the public is invited to comment.  The meetings are forums for give and take between the board and the homeowner and allow for projects to be reworked before a final vote is taken.

Newer developments engage in private design review.  It is often done by a subcontracted architectural firm and is almost never in public view.  Drawings are submitted whenever they’re ready, and they’re returned with or without comment at a later date.  This type of review can be more difficult to navigate and shouldn’t be done without a clear idea of what is likely to be approved.

What to expect from a Design Review

As a veteran of countless design review meetings for my own projects I’ve learned a lot about how to and how not to present a project for review.  And as a member of an ARB, I’ve seen it from the other side of the table.  Here’s some of what I’ve learned.

Read and understand the design guidelines.  Board members love projects that are easy to approve.  If the project you want to build doesn’t address the guidelines or the character of the community it’ll be difficult to get it through.  Remember that it’s the community that wants the guidelines enforced.

Ask for a concept review.  Many projects benefit from a preliminary concept review.  It’s an informal and non-binding once-over by the review board, and can highlight issues of concern.  This is the time to find out what the board likes and what they object to, and to negotiate solutions before the project is committed to final drawings.  It isn’t unusual in concept review for new solutions to arise, and they’re often more efficient than the original idea.

Be flexible.  There are almost always other possible solutions, and the board may want to explore them with you.  You might find that a small change to your design gets you the votes you need.

Be patient.  You’ve been working on this project for a long time but it’s the first time the board has seen it.  Give them time to study it, ask questions, and consider its impact on the community.  And since your project probably isn’t the only one on the agenda, bring along a cup of coffee and a magazine.  You may be there a while!

Present complete documents.  Public review boards, in particular, require voluminous applications.  Prepare detailed drawings that don’t leave unanswered questions.  Bring material samples and paint colors.  The clearer your submittal, the fewer things the board will find to question.

Prepare to Negotiate.  Go into the meeting knowing what you’re willing to give up, and what you must keep.  Design review boards will often happily trade something you want in return for the elimination of an undesirable feature.

And finally, keep in mind that the ARB that reviews your project is the same one that keeps your next-door neighbor from painting his house purple.