The Cost of Doing Nothing: When One Small Tear Becomes a Big Problem

It’s game day. The schedule’s tight, the energy is high, and everything is running smoothly—until a ball slips through a worn-out patch in your netting.

The play stops.
The players pause.
Someone in the crowd ducks—or worse, gets hit.
Now, instead of focusing on the game, you’re dealing with damage control.

It doesn’t take a catastrophe to disrupt your operations. Sometimes, it’s the small things—the frayed edges, the loose ties, the “we’ll fix it next week” stuff—that come back to bite when you least expect it.

This Isn’t Just About the Net

Often, netting is considered the last thing to worry about—until something goes wrong. But the role of netting goes far beyond catching balls. It creates a boundary. A layer of protection. A buffer of trust between the players, the crowd, and the facility.

When netting fails, it’s more than an inconvenience. Here’s what can follow:

• Injury Risks – A rogue baseball, golf ball, or soccer ball can hit a spectator or vehicle, opening the door to liability claims.

• Game Delays – Momentum gets interrupted, players lose focus, and tensions rise.

• Frustrated Guests or Parents – Especially in youth sports, one small mishap can lead to unhappy families and bad reviews.

• Facility Reputation – Word travels fast, especially in tight-knit sports communities.

• Higher Costs – Emergency fixes and legal issues often cost more than proactive repairs.

Real Talk: A Cautionary Tale from the Field

A long-time client of AllSport Netting, a regional high school in the Midwest, had aging netting around their baseball field. It had held up well for several seasons, but there were signs of wear—especially near the bleachers.

They meant to replace it. “After this season,” they said.

But midway through the championship game, a foul ball slipped through a thinning section and hit a spectator’s windshield in the adjacent parking lot. The game paused. Police were called. Insurance had to get involved. The school ended up paying more for repairs and settlements than they would’ve spent on new netting in the first place.

They’ve since upgraded their entire netting system—and now schedule seasonal checks to avoid any repeat.

“You don’t realize how valuable your netting is until it doesn’t work. We learned the hard way—and AllSport helped us make it right.”
— Facilities Director, Midwest High School

Prevention Is Quiet—But Problems Are Loud

It’s easy to delay fixing “just a small tear.” After all, it’s not urgent—until it is. But here’s what sets well-run sports venues and programs apart:

• They regularly walk the field or court.

• They respond quickly to small damage.

• They understand that safety is part of the experience.

Think of netting like tires on a car: if it’s doing its job, you don’t even think about it. But when it fails—it’s all you think about.

What Can You Do Today?

Whether you’re managing a school gym, a multi-field sports complex, or a local rec center, here are simple steps to avoid preventable disruptions:

• Inspect your netting before every season (or at least quarterly).

• Document wear and tear with photos.

• Create a checklist for your maintenance team.

• Address minor damage before it becomes a major problem.

• Get input from coaches and staff—they notice things before you do.

Final Thought

You don’t have to overthink it. You just have to stay ahead of it.
Because the cost of doing nothing? It’s almost always more than the cost of fixing the problem early.

Safe, seamless, and stress-free sporting events start with the basics. And netting is one of them.

Pro Tip:
Next time you walk your facility, don’t just check the scoreboard and benches—look up, look around, and check your nets.
You’ll be glad you did.