Who this guide is for
- Owners who want a clear view of project risks before starting
- Project leads building a risk register
- Club committees weighing how to manage uncertainty
- Anyone preparing risk questions for specialists
Site and ground risks
The ground is a frequent source of surprises. Slope, soft spots, drainage paths and access constraints can all reshape a project once work begins. Identifying these as risks early, and commissioning appropriate assessment, reduces the chance of being caught out.
Ground and drainage conditions vary by site and need specialist judgment; feasibility depends on site conditions and professional review.
- Flag slope, soft ground and drainage as site risks
- Note access constraints for construction
- Treat ground assessment as a specialist task
- Record site assumptions that remain unverified
Supply and coordination risks
Materials and specialist trades have to arrive in the right order. Availability, sequencing and coordination between trades are common risk areas, particularly on projects that bundle surface, enclosure, lighting and drainage. Mapping dependencies helps you see where delay in one area affects others.
We do not state timelines; the point is to identify dependencies, not to predict durations.
- Map dependencies between trades and materials
- Identify where one delay would cascade
- Clarify who coordinates sequencing
- Note supply assumptions worth confirming
Requirement and impact risks
Local requirements around noise, lighting, drainage and neighborhood impact can affect a project and vary by location. Treating these as risks to confirm, rather than assumptions, avoids late surprises. Engaging the right advisers early is the usual mitigation.
Official court dimensions and standards should be confirmed with the relevant federation, supplier or designer to avoid rework.
Turning risks into a plan
A risk picture is only useful if it drives action. For each significant risk, decide whether you will monitor it, mitigate it, or seek specialist input. Keeping a simple register and revisiting it as the project evolves keeps risk planning alive rather than a one-off exercise.
Specialist site, drainage, lighting and structural work should be reviewed and performed by qualified professionals.
Project risk planning checklist
- 1Have you identified site and ground risks for the location?
- 2Have you mapped dependencies between trades and materials?
- 3Have you noted where one delay would cascade?
- 4Have you treated local requirements as risks to confirm?
- 5Have you flagged official standards as items to verify?
- 6Have you decided how to handle each significant risk?
- 7Have you recorded unverified assumptions?
- 8Have you set up a register you will revisit?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Naming risks once and never revisiting them
- Assuming the ground holds no surprises
- Overlooking how trade sequencing creates delay risk
- Treating local requirements as settled rather than risks
- Identifying risks without deciding how to respond
When to involve a professional
- Route site, ground, drainage, lighting and structural assessment to qualified professionals, since conditions vary by site.
- Confirm local requirements for noise, lighting, drainage and impact with appropriate advisers, as they vary by location.
- Confirm official court dimensions and standards with the relevant federation, supplier or designer.
- Seek independent advice on contracts and scope to manage commercial risk; this page is educational only.
Frequently asked questions
Questions readers ask about this topic
Can you tell me how long a project will take?
No. We do not give timelines. Durations depend on scope, site, supply and coordination, all of which vary. The aim here is to identify dependencies and risks, not predict schedules.
What is the biggest risk in a court project?
It varies by project. Site and ground surprises, supply and coordination, and unconfirmed local requirements are common themes. Your own assessment and professional review reveal what matters most for your case.
How do I handle local-requirement risk?
Treat noise, lighting, drainage and impact requirements as items to confirm with appropriate advisers early, since they vary by location. Confirming them early is the usual mitigation.
Do I need a formal risk register?
A simple register is enough for many projects. The value is in naming risks, deciding how to respond, and revisiting them as the project evolves rather than treating risk as a one-off.
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