Field guide

Planning a multi-use court line hierarchy

Move from a list of sports to one controlled drawing and junction rule set.

Planning note: current governing-body rules and the floor/coating manufacturer’s written requirements take priority. Follow the current safety data sheet, ventilation, PPE, access-control and disposal requirements.

Define the priority sport

The primary layout should be visually strongest and operationally easiest to set out. Confirm whether the priority comes from competition use, booking volume, teaching needs or equipment positions. Different priorities can produce a different colour hierarchy.

Overlay footprints before details

Start with nominal court rectangles and orientation. Check walls, doors, storage, columns, equipment sockets, curtains and run-off requirements before adding every arc and internal line. This catches impossible combinations earlier.

Resolve shared geometry

Centre lines, side lines and end lines can appear to align while serving different sports. Decide whether geometry is genuinely shared or merely close. Uncontrolled near-parallel lines are harder to read than a deliberate separation.

Issue installation notes

The drawing should identify baseline references, line centres or outer edges, colour order, junction priority and any masked break. Official dimensions and clearances must be verified against the current governing-body source for the intended level of play.