Deadlift platform help

[Ryan Hale]

Need some help on a deadlift platform.We now have two platforms in the high school gym,but need another one.
The design we have now is a couple sheets of plywood for the bottom.On top we have 2 segments(pad type material)on the sides,and plywood down the middle.I have seen this same design in lots of other gyms I have been in.

My question to you guys.Could we run padding all the way across the top on the platform,or do we ned to stick to wood in the middle where your feet are placed?
These platforms are also used for power cleans.
Any ideas and thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

Ryan Hale

[KarstenDD]

Using all mats would be fine.

[Big o Boy]

hmm... I think the wood floor in the middle helps out the olympic type lifters so they can shift their feet around slightly. I could be wrong, but I thought all olypic lifters did their lifts on wood floors. If your not training for olympic style competitions, then I'd go with mats all the way across. I hate the one we have in our rec center for deadlifting (mats on outside, gym floorish-wood between).