Institutional Sports Equipment’s Tom Nicotera Partners With Boys & Girls Club of Elko on Youth Recreation Safety

Institutional Sports Equipment (ISE) is a national retailer of custom gymnasium equipment, athletic systems, and protective wall padding with more than 25 years of experience helping schools, churches, private sports facilities, and community organizations create safe, recreational environments. In a project rooted in youth safety, Institutional Sports Equipment (ISE) has teamed up with Rusty Bahr and the Boys & Girls Club of Elko to provide custom wall padding for the organization’s newest recreation center. Spearheaded by Tom Nicotera, a longtime industry expert, the project reflects ISE’s continued commitment to helping organizations protect the spaces where children grow, learn, and play.

Institutional Sports Equipment grew out of a hands-on need to make recreational spaces safer and more functional. Prior to founding the company, owner Tom Nicotera was tasked with upgrading the sports equipment in his Southern California church’s multi-purpose room, followed soon after by a similar project for his sister’s church. Those early projects revealed a gap many organizations faced: finding durable wall padding and commercial basketball equipment that fit both the space and the budget. What began as a local effort quickly expanded into a national mission to help churches, schools, recreation centers, municipalities, and even residential clients find practical, safety-focused solutions.

The Boys & Girls Club of Elko serves hundreds of youth in northeastern Nevada, offering after-school programs, sports leagues, leadership development, and mentorship in a safe, supportive environment. Their newest facility expansion includes a multi-use recreation center designed to provide year-round indoor activities. Safety was a top priority in the facility’s design. For Rusty Bahr, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Elko, that meant calling in Tom Nicotera, whose experience selecting high-quality athletic equipment made him the perfect fit for the job.

“Because I’ve been on the other side of the equation, I understand how critical it is for churches and nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club to stretch every dollar,” added Nicotera. “That’s why I focus on delivering durable, long-lasting products that don’t cut corners. For protective wall padding projects, like this one, I advise on the layout and guide my customer through the purchasing process to ensure they receive durable, long-lasting padding. It’s about supporting the mission behind the space.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Elko’s new recreation center is expected to serve over 400 youth per year, providing a hub for sports, enrichment programs, and community events. It provides a safe place for youth to grow and reach their full potential through mentorship, structured activities, and community support.

To learn more about how Institutional Sports Equipment helps nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club of Elko plan for and purchase top-quality sports equipment and wall padding for their recreational facilities, call 877-272-5430 or visit www.InstitutionalSportsEquipment.com.

About Institutional Sports Equipment

Institutional Sports Equipment helps schools, churches, community centers, and other organizations find the best sports equipment to meet their unique needs. They specialize in commercial-grade products such as wall padding, basketball and volleyball equipment, bleachers, goals, and more.