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How to make a basketball court not slippery
How To Fix Slippery Gym Floors
At schools, colleges, churches, public fitness centers, basketball arenas and anywhere else where you have a hardwood gym floor or basketball court, properly caring for your gym floor while simultaneously avoiding the risks of a slippery gym floor is an ongoing challenge.
As a facilities manager or athletic director, you’re responsible to keep players and fans safe, avoid potential liabilities, and maintain an attractive, clean playing surface. Using the right products and methods are key to getting this done.
This blog post will show you how to fix your slippery gym floor (and, of course, your slippery basketball court).
We’ll share our answers to the following questions:
- How to make a gym floor less slippery?
- How to fix a slippery gym floor?
- Why is my gym floor so slippery?
- How to fix slippery hardwood gym floors?
How To Fix Slippery Gym Floors
1. Dry Dust Mop First – Regularly
Most facility managers realize that dust mopping on a regular basis is a must for avoiding slippery gym floors and slippery basketball courts. However, it’s not uncommon for even experts to make the mistake of wet dust mopping first with a dust mop treatment.
Dust, dirt and debris can get trapped in the coatings of even the highest quality products. That makes grime more difficult to remove later, causes the buildup of residue where the dirt particles are trapped and could even lead to scratching the floor surface.
2. Use A Microfiber Dust Mop
An ordinary wide frame dust mop certainly has its place, but a microfiber dust mop will more effectively gather and hold dust particles as it sweeps over the wood.
Traditional dust mops are great for removing the worst of the loose dirt and debris, but microfiber mops will pick up even more. Plus, you can do a wet (water only) microfiber mopping after an initial dry mop job for an extra-deep cleaning.
3. Use Stronger Cleaning Products
All too often, floor managers hesitate to use a strong cleaning product for fear of damaging the expensive hardwood flooring. Instead, they use mild, neutral products or even just vinegar and water.
But the fact is, these mild solutions just won’t do an adequate job of removing harmful floor contaminants like salt and oil left behind after sweat-water evaporates, food and beverage spills and pavement oils tracked in on footwear.
Even after preparing the flooring through thorough loose dirt and debris removal, you still need a strong cleaner that will not harm or dull your wood and won’t leave a slippery residue. Choose a powerful product that is specifically designed for use on gym floors and basketball courts.
4. Take Care With Automatic Scrubbers
For the first year or two after installation, you should avoid auto-scrubbing your gym floor. In later years, however, an automatic scrubber will help remove the most stubborn floor stains with ease and make the process of cleaning your floor much faster.
Be sure your scrubber and cleaning solution are fully compatible and that you are using the specific floor pad that matches your floor type and the task at hand. Only go 175 rpm or less and work sections of 1,000 square feet or less at a time till the job is complete. Allow at least 15 minutes for the floor to thoroughly dry before putting it to further use.
5. Avoid Using Numerous Cleaners
You are far better off using the right product than using multiple products to clean your gym floor. Using too many cleaners could lead to unexpected interactions between cleaners and might create a slippery residue.
Focus on doing a better job of eliminating floor debris prior to wet mopping or automatic scrubbing. Then choose a powerful, safe floor cleaner recommended for hardwoods. But don’t layer multiple cleaning products to try to make up for inadequate results with a mild cleaner you may be presently using.
6. Use A Floor Cover
Dust is constantly floating through the air, threatening to land on your freshly cleaned gym floor. And even just walking across a gym floor, when done by hundreds of feet multiple times, can begin to make the floor dirty and slippery again.
Use of a professional gym floor covering when the floor is not in use for a day or longer will greatly reduce wear and tear, maintenance frequency and slipperiness.
7. Get Your Gym Floor Refinished
Every three to ten years, you should get your gym floor sanded and refinished. This will not only improve the floor’s appearance and reduce regular maintenance needs, but it will also make it easier to prevent your floor from getting slippery.
Many people don’t realize the real reasons why a gym floor or basketball court gets slippery and dangerous to walk on. It is usually not due to the cleaner used but to the failure to prepare the floor for the cleaner through thorough removal of floor contaminants. Using a strong cleaning product, a microfiber dust mop, proper auto-scrubbing technique and a gym floor cover also help reduce the problem.
Slippery Basketball? Get The Grip Back In 5 Steps – Get Hyped Sports
When you play a game outside in the rain and dust, your basketball will eventually become almost impossible to dribble or catch. A slippery basketball can be a pain, especially as you start failing to make shots and lose control of the ball across the court.
You must clean the basketball with a wet cloth and soapy water, ensuring that you move in circular motions to get between the dots on the ball. If you have a leather ball, you must dry it and apply the leather cleaner, while rubber balls can be left to dry before using again.
As easy as it may sound, people learn a few things through only practice and making mistakes while cleaning their basketballs. Because of some basketballs’ relatively high cost, we need to ensure that you are not damaging the surface while cleaning the ball.
How To Get the Grip Back On A Leather Basketball
Leather basketballs are what you will find being used in official games, most school gymnasiums, and, if you are lucky, in your court. These balls are all handmade and cost a significant amount more than their composite rubber counterparts, which is why they require more care.
Many pro athletes have made it clear that these basketballs feel significantly different from the other and are generally better.
Understanding how to clean a leather basketball will be the difference between having it for a lifetime or having a cracked mess within a year. A basketball with a grip will give you more control and help you palm it.
Find A Flat Surface
To start the process, find a clean flat surface that can get wet and place the leather basketball on it, preferably something on the ground.
Ensure that you can hold the ball in place with one hand so that the ball won’t roll away and get dirty again later on.
Many people try to do this on a table or work surface that they have access to, only to find that the table needs to be cleaned once the process is done.
When using a clean surface on the ground, either a garage floor or just a patio, you can sweep away or hose away from any residue that stays behind.
Hold Ball
This is ironically the most challenging part of the process because the ball will get highly slippery before you can get a proper grip on it.
Many people recommend deflating the ball slightly to ensure it is easier to grip while initially washing it before applying the leather care.
You should ensure that you can grab onto the ball simultaneously, ensuring that the ball cannot randomly slip out of your hand while cleaning.
Getting a good grip on the ball means that you are not pushing it down too hard or that you may lose your grip on the ball.
Use Rag and Dish Soap
This will be the first stage of cleaning the ball; the leather will be damaged if you dunk the ball into the water or use too much.
We recommend that you get a rag and soak it in mildly hot water, spreading a few drops of dish soap onto the rag instead of the ball.
Using the rag, you should start cleaning the ball in a circular motion, turning it around, so you get every part of the ball. If the rag is too wet or you have too much soap, a residue will be left behind; after everything is cleaned, use a dry cloth to wipe away any excess water and soap.
See Our Complete List Of Helpful Basketball Articles Here.
Leather Cleaner
This step will not be required every time and should only be done once the ball is older than a year. After you have cleaned the entire surface of the ball and it has dried completely, you need to move it to a dry surface and start treating the leather.
You cannot simply use any leather cleaner; most sports equipment stores will have the right leather cleaner and treatment for leather basketballs.
If you use the wrong type, you can cause the ball to be more slippery than ever, ruining the ball almost permanently. If you’re looking for a leather cleaner, we like this one.
Use Circular Motion
The most crucial part about cleaning the basketball is moving in a circular motion, ensuring that you get into the grooves of the ball. The circular motion will clean between the dots of the ball, ensuring that it is spotless before applying anything else.
When drying the ball, you need to follow the same motion, ensuring no moisture is trapped between the dot and the grooves of the ball.
If you apply leather treatment or cleaner, you need to follow the motions to ensure it gets everywhere.
Get The Grip Back On A Plastic Or Rubber Basketball
Plastic, rubber, or composite balls are vastly different from the leather basketballs used in professional basketball games. These balls are significantly less expensive than their counterparts and are a lot easier to clean than leather basketballs have ever been.
The steps may seem similar to what they are for leather basketballs, but they are not nearly as complicated. Many people enjoy these balls when practicing and having fun because they are easier to clean and allow you to care a bit less about how and where they are used.
Add Water And Soap In Sink
The most significant difference is that we wash these balls in the sink, either in the kitchen, the bathroom, or the sink used in the washroom. Because the material is not sensitive to excessive water and soap, you can be rougher and more thorough when cleaning.
Usually, filling the sink with an inch or two of hot, soapy water will be enough to clean every part of the basketball thoroughly.
This provides enough water to do everything needed, and the hot water will aid in cleaning off any substances like oil, sweets, or cooldrink on the surface.
Cover Entire Ball with Soapy Water
Before cleaning the ball thoroughly, we recommend turning it around in the water for a few minutes, ensuring that every part has soaked in the water. This will make it easier to start scrubbing, having water everything, and the loose dirt and dust away to reveal the stains.
Rubber and composite materials can be stained with more stubborn dirt and fluid, almost absorbing it into the fabric. To clean these stains, you need to have the water-soaked onto the surface of the basketball, not merely splashed or on the surface.
Wash With Rag or Brush
Now that the ball is wet and hot, you can grab a brush or rag and start scrubbing away, moving in any way you are comfortable. You do not have to be too careful as the materials are resilient and are not easily damaged by your motions while cleaning them, even in hot water.
A brush is an easy way to get into the grooves of the basketball, while the rag is perfect for cleaning the dots and more expansive surfaces of the ball. To ensure that you are not having a problem cleaning the ball, we recommend doing this with one hand holding onto the ball while the other brushes.
Leave In Sunny or Windy Area
Unfortunately, plastics, rubbers, and composite materials never clean when dried with a towel. You will have to leave the ball in a slightly sunny, indoor area or with a fan on it to get it dry entirely, usually going it for half a day or more.
This ensures that the surface is not wet when you start dribbling the ball on the courts, which will cause more problems as the wetness soaks up dust and dirt. We highly recommend that you make sure it is dry; otherwise, you will have to start from the beginning again.
Conclusion
Basketballs may be inexpensive or extremely expensive, but they will always be easy to clean, with only leather basketballs requiring extra attention to how you are cleaning them.
We recommend following these steps to ensure you can perfectly dunk on anyone that challenges you.
Whatever you do, please don’t let a leather basketball soak in water for more than a few minutes!
Sports ground in the country: How to arrange a sports ground in the country
Sports ground in the country will be useful for both adults and children. We tell you how to organize a workout in your own garden
Why do we go to the country? Relaxing in a hammock. For fragrant barbecue and vegetables from the garden. And, of course, for fresh air and activity. Even the laziest vacation in the country provides much more reason to move than city life. But, in addition to natural activity, hiking in the forest and gardening, I don’t want to part with sports in the country. Outdoor sports are a special pleasure.
If evening badminton on the lawn is not enough for you, create a real sports ground in your country house. It is not enough to make a choice in favor of sports here - you need to choose a place, shape and coverage. And to think about it now, in order to start the “construction site”, as soon as the snow melts on the site.
Woodhull
What are the types of sports playgrounds for summer cottages? Let's figure it out!
B. Jane Gardens
Collective or individual
Previously, each microdistrict had its own football field and a playground with simple gymnastic equipment. Children, and adults from all the surrounding courtyards, gathered here to fight for the ball or cheer for their comrades. Horizontal bars and bars were not idle in vain. They did exercises, trained, children played. Well, in between cases they beat out carpets - also why not exercise? In any case, street public playgrounds - sports and games - were a familiar attribute of urban and rural life. And I'm glad to see that trend is coming back. In many courtyards, mini-stadiums or open training complexes are now appearing. And the presence of a basketball court is almost an obligatory item for arranging the territory of new buildings. Therefore, if you think that there are not enough conditions for sports in the country, it may be worth discussing this issue with your neighbors. It is easier to equip the training ground collectively, and it is more interesting to use it. The territorial issue and administrative subtleties can be clarified in the board of your settlement.
Harry Elson Architect PC
If you still want to have your own gym, keep in mind that most sports require quite a lot of space. Even if it's not a professional field at all. As a compromise, you can choose local training equipment to place on your own site. And move football, tennis and volleyball to the collective field.
Whether you prefer a team approach or individual training, these tips will come in handy for both the large public field and your personal outdoor training space.
Design Focus International
Shape and size
Depends on the activities you plan to do on the court, whether you need only gymnastic apparatus or an entire field of play (and which ones).
A sports ground may well be combined, taking into account the needs of different sports disciplines. On the same field, both a basketball hoop and a mini-football goal are perfectly placed, and on the sides there are racks for a tennis and volleyball net. Sports playgrounds for summer cottages do not necessarily have to meet the requirements for a professional field. I will give recommendations for standard sizes for various active games. But for amateur dacha tournaments, they can be further adjusted while maintaining proportions.
Kate Markham-Zantvoort
- Basketball : court 15 m wide and 28 m long, baskets are fixed on backboards at a height of 3 m. Basket diameter 45 cm. The game is played on a half basketball field with one basket. The construction of such a basketball court in the country does not require serious work. It is convenient to mount a streetball basket on a blank wall of a house or garage if there is enough space in front of it.
SGDI - Sarah Gallop Design Inc.
- Futsal : a platform with a width of 12 m and a length of 24 m, at the ends of the field there are gates.
- Tennis : tennis court dimensions 8.23x23.78 m, in the center a net is stretched at a height of about 1 m.
- Squash : This game is usually played on a court bounded by at least 3 walls. Its dimensions are 6.4x9.75 m. You can use the same training tennis court with a wall, providing it with mobile side barriers.
- Badminton : the badminton court is smaller than the tennis one - 5.18 x 13.4 m. And the height of the net is larger - 1.5 m.
- Volleyball 5 m. Beach volleyball field is slightly smaller - 8x16 m, covered with a layer of sand at least 40 cm deep.
Southview Design
- Gorodki : 2 x 15 m or 2 x 8.5 m. A similar field, but even smaller, is useful for playing horseshoes or balls.
- Table tennis : ping-pong table dimensions - 1.52x2.74 m, net height - 15 cm. 2 m on each side. A ping-pong table can also be placed outdoors, especially if it is made of modern composite materials. But it is better to provide for it a canopy, stationary or folding. It will make it possible to play in wet weather and in bright sunshine.
PITCH Concepts
Such games as golf, cricket, rounders and others, according to sports rules, have fields of sufficient size. But they may well be adapted to the size of the site. As you can see in the photo, a place for a miniature sports field was found even within the recreation area on the roof.
TaC studios, architects
- Swimming pool : if it is intended for training, and not just for swimming, then its length is usually laid from 25 m. The width of the path in the swimming pool, and therefore the minimum width of the pool, is about 2.5 m.
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In addition to the field for sports games, they will be used at the appetizer, at the summer projectiles and equipment for physical activity. Horizontal bars, wall bars, bars, boxing bag - all this will not take up much space. A mini-climbing wall will perfectly fit on a high blank wall. Also now there are excellent simple training complexes for the street. Interesting obstacle courses can also be made from improvised materials - logs, boards and old tires.
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All in the garden: important tips for children's games in the garden
V.I.Photography Idea: To lure teenagers who are obviously not interested in your mushroom picking romance, put together a ramp for a skateboard and roller skates - let them hone their skills while you grow cucumbers.
Decorative Landscaping
Trampoline is an excellent sports equipment. And it only seems like children's entertainment - it gives a significant physical load. And the kids will definitely be happy with it. You can use mobile structures or a stationary model buried in the ground, as in the photo (it provides more security). In any case, be very careful about the coating.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Where to find a place for a sports field in the country
Of course, the location of the court, as well as its size, depends to a large extent on the sport. Building a full-fledged football field or basketball court will require a lot of space. Therefore, the shape of the site and the existing layout will be of decisive importance. But there are a few general points to consider when choosing a place.
Doubles and team courts, which are usually rectangular in shape, should be placed with the long side in an east-west line. So the sun will not blind the players. For the same reason, shells and platforms for individual exercises should not be oriented to the south.
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It's good if the site is shaded during the hottest hours. At the same time, a sharp motley shadow is not very suitable for sports activities. Active, and especially moving spots of light and shadows are disorienting. You can place a sports area on the north side of a tall building - its shadow will cover the site from the southern sun.
PanZAH
For small areas, a folding or permanent canopy can be provided. It will not only shade, but also protect from rain. In order not to create a dull shadow, use a matte polycarbonate cover. In addition, glazed verandas, outbuildings and winter gardens will be a good place for sports activities, where you can place exercise equipment or put a table for ping-pong or billiards. They provide protection from cold and rain, but retain a visual connection with nature.
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Greenhouse Life: Modern Greenhouse Applications
Total Sport Solutions, Inc.
When building a court, keep in mind that the ball may fly out of it. Make sure that there are no windows, greenhouses and other fragile structures in the direction of its flight. However, flower beds, bushes and beds can also suffer. Therefore, it is better to protect the field with a high net, at least from two sides. If the sports ground is located next to the fence, it is also worth installing a grid there. Neighbors are unlikely to be happy with the ball that has arrived. Fence off the field, even if you only intend to play badminton. Shuttlecocks do not cause such strong damage, but they are perfectly stuck in branches and on roofs.
Ames Group Chicago
A unidirectional ball court, such as a streetball hoop, is best placed near the blank walls of tall buildings. Areas near garages and even the entrance area are a traditional place for their placement. You can also play squash and practice tennis here.
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Harold Leidner Landscape Architects
Classic Nursery & Landscape Co. / Alan Burke, asla
Think about the audience. It's good if the field is visible from the terrace or balcony - they will be excellent stands. Or provide an area with chairs and benches next to it. It is good to have a playground for quieter games or game equipment next to the joint recreation area. It will perfectly accommodate a mini-golf course, height chess or a table tennis table.
Please note that sports are often noisy activities. It is desirable that the windows of the bedrooms and areas for a relaxing holiday are located on the other side of the house.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
What flooring to choose for the sports ground
After you have decided on the purpose, placement and dimensions, you need to choose the flooring material. Each sport discipline has its own specific needs. They are due to both the type of activity and traditions. Some sports require a special surface. But, in general, there are a few general characteristics that apply to any outdoor playground. This is safety, high wear resistance and resistance to atmospheric factors.
Marin's Distribution
The safety of the coating is provided by its anti-slip properties and elasticity. For some sports, the rigidity of the surface has its advantages. But the elastic surface protects the joints and prevents injuries when falling. Therefore, modern professional coatings strive to maintain a balance of these characteristics. Ecological properties are also important. Weather resistance means resistance to precipitation, temperature extremes, as well as to sunlight.
Of course, in childhood we enjoyed running around the slippery trampled earthen fields and peeling off our knees with the ubiquitous granite chips. But when designing a sports ground on your own site, you should pay attention to modern materials that will create more favorable conditions for training.
PAN Terrain
Recycled rubber flooring is perhaps the favorite material for creating multifunctional playgrounds - sports and playgrounds. They are very widely used in urban landscaping for children's playgrounds, stadiums and sports areas at schools, yard training complexes. Nothing surprising. Rubber coatings meet all of the above requirements. They are safe due to shock-absorbing and anti-slip properties. They are highly resistant to both abrasion and dynamic loads, as well as to atmospheric factors. In addition, this coating is available in various colors. This means that the marking and zoning of the same basketball court can be done by the material itself. And, importantly, crumb rubber surfaces are easy to repair. And in winter, rubber coatings allow you to fill the ice rink from above.
Revival Arts | Architectural Photography
This type of coating consists of crumb rubber itself, a polyurethane binder and a dye. The crumb is a product of processing of old automobile tires and waste of their production. That is, the material is also environmentally friendly. It is suitable for seamless application, but is also available in the form of tiles and rolls. On the street, a seamless or tiled rubber coating is usually used.
Rubber crumb coating can be used alone, but to ensure greater wear resistance and expand the color palette, it is supplemented with a layer of EPDM crumb (synthetic rubber granules). These granules are colored in mass, which means they are even more resistant to abrasion. In this case, they usually talk about EPDM coating, but you need to understand that it is laid as a finishing layer 7-10 mm thick on a rubber crumb substrate 10-15 mm thick.
Seamless rubber coatings applied directly on site. The viscous mass is distributed over the base, and then solidifies. For sports, and especially for playgrounds, the general application layer is usually recommended to be 20-25 mm thick. The base for the screed must be firm and well prepared. The advantage of seamless application is the ability to create patterns and markup from it.
Gregory Davis & Associates
Rubber tiles are manufactured industrially. A mass of crumb rubber and binders is molded and pressed under high pressure. Often such tiles are made immediately multi-layered - with an elastic substrate and a more stable top layer. Tiled rubber coating is less demanding on the base and can be laid on a sand cushion or soil.
Manufactured from environmentally friendly polymer materials. And, as the name implies, they are assembled as a constructor. Soil and a compacted sand cushion are suitable as a base. But the modularity of the coating places high demands on the quality of alignment and compaction. The lattice structure ensures water flow. This coating is also convenient for self-laying. Compared to rubber compounds, it is more rigid.
Easy to apply, but demanding on the base and rather expensive formulations. They are used in the creation of professional grounds for team sports: tennis, basketball, volleyball. Mixtures for liquid sports grounds are produced on the basis of acrylic resins or polyurethane. The hardness of the coating differs depending on its chemical composition, the number and characteristics of its layers.
Southwest Greens Atlanta
This surface is used for football fields, tennis courts, golf courses. It is also suitable for a combined playground - sports and play, you just need to choose the right pile length. The main advantage over natural grass is wear resistance. A living lawn needs care and attention. Even a sports turf mixture will not be happy with constant active loads on it. Artificial turf is completely unpretentious. And in a modern version - and it looks quite good.
Semi-infill and infill artificial grass is used in professional sports. The pile, fixed in the substrate, is covered in the first case with sand, and in the second - with sand with rubber granules. This creates elasticity comparable to natural soil, which can also be adjusted by choosing the thickness of the backfill.
The type of fibers also differs. Monofilament grass has unsplit whole fibers. Fibrillated - consists of wide polyethylene fibers with cuts. It is less wear-resistant and tough, but cheaper.
Motionspace Architecture + Design
Decide on the base
The base on which the flooring is laid depends on its type. In general terms, the preparation of the base for a sports ground is similar to the technology for arranging tracks. It bears the same load. But, in view of the larger area, it is worth taking the preparation with special responsibility. The base must be level, sloping and draining for water to drain. Also, keep in mind that some sports equipment may require a foundation or penetration into the base. Special recommendations for the selected type of coating and equipment can be obtained from the company where you will purchase it.
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Land & Water Design
Mark out
Typically, dacha sports playgrounds require marking. Its nature depends on the purpose of use. On multifunctional sites, as a rule, the markings are applied in different colors for different games. If you do not have a seamless rubber flooring and the lines were not made when laying, they must be applied from above. For this, use permanent paints suitable for road markings. Reflective compositions will also look good here. Then even in the evening with artificial lighting, the game will be interesting and beautiful.
YOUR TURN…
What kind of active games do you like on vacation? Do you have a sports ground? Tell us about its device and equipment in the comments.
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How to equip a basketball court in the country or in the yard
Basketball develops the physical data of the child - coordination, endurance, educates strong-willed qualities, concentration, attentiveness and teaches non-standard thinking. Professionals recommend giving the child to the basketball section from 8-9years, but outside the city or in the yard you can "chase the ball" from an early age.
I myself equipped a basketball court in my country house and now I am ready to share the secrets of its arrangement. I'll tell you what you need to do, how to choose the right equipment and how to care for it.
Prepare basketball court surface
To create a basketball court in accordance with all the rules, you need to select a flat horizontal surface for it and fill it with concrete. After that, I recommend applying a special rubber coating, like on playgrounds in the yard. There is a more expensive coating option - from rubber.
The coating will provide cushioning - the ball will bounce well.
If it is not possible to organize a special platform, you can simply place a rack or hanging basket on a dirt surface. In this case, the ball bounce will not be so strong. An important requirement for safety: the surface must be flat, without holes and bumps.
The dimensions of the site depend on the features of your yard or plot in the country. A full-fledged basketball court has dimensions of 28 × 15 meters. However, not everyone has the opportunity to build such a site in the country.
It is necessary to take into account the technical features of the game. The three-point line in basketball is 6.75 meters from the hoop. Therefore, it is necessary that the size of the site be at least 10 × 13 meters. If you are not going to train three-point shots, a 5 × 5 meter court will do.
Mark out
The second step is to mark up. It is important to use paints of contrasting colors. It is better to buy paints with a high content of rubber or polymer.
If you are equipping a basketball court for children, make the markings bright so that they cheer you up and attract attention. For the game of teenagers and adults, it is better to immediately apply technically correct markings.
Place a small fence or protective net on the site. Thanks to them, you do not have to constantly run after the ball to the other end of the site.
Buy stand or backboard
It is difficult to answer the question of what is better - a basketball stand or a backboard. It all depends on taste, tasks and opportunities. Each of these types of equipment has its pros and cons.
There are two types of racks: mobile and static. The static one is mounted in the ground.
The base of the mobile rack is filled with sand or water - for stability. The main advantage of a mobile rack is that it can be moved from place to place. This is convenient when there is no dedicated basketball court or if you are going to play other games in this area, such as tennis or football.
The main requirement for racks is their stability. It will be much more comfortable and safer to play if you are sure that the stance will withstand a blow of any force.
Pay attention to the materials from which the racks are made. A static rack will be outdoors throughout the year, which means it must be made of reliable materials. It is better to buy racks from well-known manufacturers. So, the American companies Spalding or Royal Fitness guarantee high quality, durability and safety.
Basketball backboards can be made in the country with your own hands from a board, chipboard or plywood remnants. If this option does not suit you, you can purchase semi-professional or professional options in stores.
There are four types of materials from which the shield surface is made: composite, polycarbonate, acrylic and tempered glass. The first one is the cheapest. It is intended for entry-level players. Now manufacturers offer a large selection of colors. A carbonate backboard will provide a good bounce of the ball. An acrylic shield is bought to hold competitions or intense games.
The mobile stand can be moved, so it is suitable for a playground in the country and for those who want to play other games besides basketball
Shields and racks made of tempered glass look solid. They will be appreciated by experienced basketball players
Pay attention to rings
You can buy cheap rings, but I don't recommend doing that. In a year they will deteriorate and you will have to buy new ones. Basketball hoops from Spalding and Royal Fitness are made from quality metal that won't rust in the rain.
The ring must have a springy structure - no rigid attachment to the shield.
According to NBA rules, the ring must be fixed at a distance of about three meters from the ground. For a game with the participation of younger students, it can be hung lower so that it is not very easy to hit it, but at the same time it is quite possible.
Choose rings made from high quality metal to last for many years. For a game involving adults and teenagers, metal chain rings are suitable. They are distinguished by durability and strength.
Know what types of basketballs exist
Success in the game depends on the basketball.
They are divided by size. Size 7 is for men, 5 for women. Even smaller balls are bought for children. The size 6 ball is suitable for street ball or street basketball where the game is played on half the field.
You also need to take into account where you will play the ball: on the street or in the hall. The street ball has a stronger bounce, it is harder and more wear-resistant, but the indoor ball is more convenient to hold in your hands.
It is important to pay attention to the composition of the basketball. Well-known companies use complex polymer compositions for its production. The more expensive the ball, the more complex the polymer composition. The quality of the material determines how comfortable it will be for the players to hold the ball, what kind of rebound it has from the floor and from the bow of the ring.
Another important nuance: do not forget to purchase a pump with any needle.
If you want the ball to have good grip and bounce well, you need to choose polymer models from world famous manufacturers
Proper care
Professional athletes are ready to play in any weather, but amateurs are better off not following their example. If you don't properly store, use and care for your basketball arsenal, its lifespan will be shortened. Humidity will ruin the ball and all equipment, so you can’t leave them outside during rain and snow.
Balls should be stored only in a dry and ventilated room at a temperature of 10 to 20 °C.
Before winter storage, water must be poured out of the base of the mobile rack, and then removed from the street. If you don't feel like doing this every time, fill the rack with sand. Then it will not need to be constantly moved. Basketball stands from Royal Fitness can be left outside in the winter.
Things to remember when setting up a basketball court
- The area needs to be determined. The classic version - 28 × 15 meters - is not suitable for everyone. For a dacha, a 5 × 5 meter area will be enough if you want to train three-point shots.
- Don't forget the markup. It should be in a contrasting color. Bright colors will interest children and cheer them up.