The American Sports Builders Association announced that the following individuals recently completed all requirements to become Certified Field Builders: Steve Bush, CFB, Bush Sports Turf, Milan, IL, and Nolan Thomas, CFB, Nolan Thomas & Company, Inc., Stovall, NC.
ASBA, the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, offers its voluntary certification program which allows builders of specific athletic facilities (currently tennis courts, running tracks and sports fields) to demonstrate proof of their experience, as well as their knowledge of sports-facility-specific construction.
The certification program was developed by ASBA in order to help raise professional standards and improve the practice of sports facility construction. Certification is offered in three different disciplines; in addition to its CFB designation (which stands for Certified Field Builder) an individual may choose to pursue the designation of Certified Tennis Court Builder (CTCB), or Certified Track Builder (CTB).
The CFB designation encompasses both natural grass and synthetic turf fields; however, an individual may choose to specialize and become either a CFB-N (the designation for those specializing in natural grass fields) or CFB-S (for those specializing in synthetic turf).
In order to become a certified builder, an individual must meet specific criteria set forth by ASBA; he or she must complete an application that shows proof of a set amount of experience in the chosen type of sports facility, and then pass a comprehensive exam on construction and maintenance. In order to maintain the designation, an individual must recertify every three years by documenting a sufficient level of continuing education activities in the relevant field or by passing the examination again.
The exam is given at meetings offered by the ASBA or by making other arrangements with Association staff.