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How to Set an In-Ground Basketball Hoop
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Home Home Improvement DIY Projects How to Set an In-Ground Basketball Hoop
Fast-setting concrete mix makes quick work of installing a basketball goal.
Playing basketball is a great way to get some exercise, and installing your own goal means you can shoot hoops whenever you want.
If you can’t wait to hit the ‘court,’ Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete is the speedy solution for setting a strong foundation.
Here’s how to set an in-ground basketball goal.
1. Dig the hole.
A post hole digger is the most efficient tool for digging a hole.
First, call 811 to make sure there are no underground utilities where you want the basketball goal. If your goal post comes with a set of instructions for hole depth and width, make sure you follow those guidelines.
Once you get the all-clear, grab a post hole digger and dig a hole — the edge of the hole should be, at most, 6 inches away from your playing surface. A hole that is 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep should give your post the necessary stability it needs for everyday use. The bottom 6 inches will be used for something other than concrete. (You’ll see why in a second.)
2. Add the base.
Concrete is porous, so it’s important to add a layer of gravel for proper drainage.
Pour 6 inches of gravel or crushed stone into the hole — then use a 2-by-4 to compact and level the base. This creates a strong barrier between the concrete and the ground, ensures proper drainage and prevents the concrete’s erosion.
Tip: If the soil is sandy, use a building form . The tubular form, made of ridged fiber, is used for pouring cylinder-shaped concrete foundations.
3. Set the post.
Place the basketball pole in the hole and use a level to make sure it’s perfectly vertical. Then pour Fast-Setting Concrete into the hole, just four inches below ground level.
You’ll need those four inches for the next step: pouring water inside the hole to saturate the concrete. Ensure the water reaches the bottom of the concrete by stirring or stabbing the mixture with a stick.
Check the basketball goal’s instructions for any special steps you need to take. We’re pouring concrete around a pole for this how-to, but some in-ground basketball goals require a different installation process.
Either way, the concrete sets hard in 20 to 40 minutes, and you can attach the backboard after four hours — and shoot hoops before the day is done!
Installing an in-ground basketball goal takes no time compared to the countless hours of use that goal will get. (DepositPhotos)
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DANNY LIPFORD
https://www. aboutdannylipford.com/
Backed by his 40-year remodeling career, Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons.
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HAMMER Basketball Installation Tips for InGround basketball hoops
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Day 1
Dig 4’ deep, 18” diameter hole
Mix and pour concrete
Set ground anchor
Let concrete cure a minimum of 72 hours
Day 2
Build the hoop
Place the hoop step by step on the anchor system
TIPS:
1. Use a spirit level to ensure that the basket is aligned straight upright and offers perfect training conditions
2. Make sure that the anchor kit base ends at the same level as the play court so that the height settings of the basketball hoop are correct (e.g. official NBA/FIBA height 3,05 m)
3. Surround the concrete on the upper surface with a wooden frame, so that the visible base of the goal gives a nicer picture
Installation Videos Part 1 + Part 2:
Anchor Kit Installation Guide – Long Version
The videos will walk you step-by-step through the process of installing an in-ground basketball goal. Please find some more details for the installation of the Anchor Kit below:
Mixing concrete for an InGround installation
The secret to a long-lasting basketball hoop is in foundation. Achieving the correct mixture of dry concrete and water can give your goal additional years of life!
A mixture that is too thin lacks the strength needed to properly hold the steel pole in place. A mixture that is too thick will leave you struggling to fill voids that can’t be seen below, again compromising strength. So how do you achieve the perfect balance? Let’s find out!
1. Compressive Strength
Concrete is rated by its compressive strength, which means: how much pressure per square inch can a standard cylinder of concrete withstand before breaking. These ratings are derived from standardized machines which can evenly apply pressure across the surface of a concrete cylinder.
Compressive strength is largely determined by the composition of the mix. Walk into any home improvement store and you’ll see a variety of mixes that advertise ‘fast setting,’ ‘high-strength,’ ‘crack resistant,’ etc. The main difference between each of these is some mixes may contain additional ingredients, such as fiberglass, to provide even greater bond strength.
If you have a specific mix you’re looking for, then great, you already know what to get. However, if you’re simply trying to follow the instructions for your hoop, your standard ‘High-Strength’ mix will do just fine.
Goalrilla recommends purchasing 12-13 bags of Quikrete concrete mix. This concrete meets the ASTM C387 Standard Specifications for concrete.
While directions state you only need 11 bags, it’s not a bad idea to have an extra bag or two on hand in the event the installation gets a little messy. As you’ll find out, concrete mix can be difficult to move and it’s very easy to accidentally tear a bag open.
2. Mixing the Concrete
Once you have all the appropriate materials, start by opening 1-2 bags and pouring them into a large container. Add water according to what the instructions dictate.
For an 80 lb. bag, you’ll want to use 6 pints or 2.8 L of water, or for a 60 lb. bag, you’ll want to use 4 pints or 1.9 L per bag of concrete. If you don’t have measuring bucket around, a 2 L soda pop bottle will work to get a close enough estimation.
Create a depression in the center of the dry mix and add your water here. Work the mix with a hoe or other tool and ensure consistency across the batch. Properly mixed concrete should be wet, but firm enough to hold its shape and in an oatmeal-like consistency. You can test its consistency by picking up a handful while wearing gloves.
Do not let the mix sit for extended periods of time or you run the risk of letting it dry out. Move the mix to the freshly dug hole as soon as possible and agitate as you pour to help alleviate any voids. A trench shovel and extra set of hands will be helpful here.
On especially hot days you may need to add more water to the mix as water will evaporate. Always keep the mix moving and ensure the mix maintains its consistency.
Repeat these steps as necessary until you have the appropriate amount of concrete.
3. Pouring Concrete in Cold Weather
Installing your basketball hoop in winter is possible but has a few caveats. If the outside temperature is below 40° F (4° C) for an extended period of time, you will want to reconsider your install date. Temperatures below this threshold can cause all sorts of problems your average DIY installer is most likely not equipped to handle, nor would want to.
If you choose to pour concrete during the winter months, there are few things you or your installer will want to remember.
If the ground is frozen, you will need to wait until it thaws before you can even consider starting. You should NEVER place concrete in frozen ground, since it poses a number of problems from cracking, crusting, and settling unevenly.
Use a fast-setting mix with hot water. As the name implies, a fast-setting mix will usually set in under an hour. While it may set in under an hour, it will still take several days to cure. When mixing concrete in these temperatures, regardless of type, use hot water.
Use an accelerator. If you don’t have access to fast-setting concrete or have already purchased regular concrete, you can purchase an accelerator that helps increase the concrete hydration rate. This helps to shorten the setting time and gets the concrete to a higher strength earlier. Avoid any accelerators or additives containing calcium chloride as this will cause the rebar to rust and could potentially cause the concrete to crack. Do not mix fast-setting concrete and an accelerator.
Use curing blankets. Specifically, for cold-weather applications, concrete curing blankets help to trap in the heat and moisture, so the concrete can reach its proper strength. Additionally, these “blankets” protect the concrete from freezing. Blankets can be purchased from your local home improvement store for around $50-$60 depending on your area. Keep in mind they do not look like the blankets you would use in your home. These blankets look more tarp-like and usually come in rolls.
In addition to these tips, some professional installers may have other methods or tricks they use to set concrete in colder weather. In this case, it may be better to hire a professional to do the job as they will often have the necessary supplies, like curing blankets, already on hand.
As the cost of additional materials begins to add up, combined with the inconvenience of working in the cold, you may find it’s better to have someone else do it.
Hiring an Installation Professional
Follow this link.
How to equip a basketball court in the country or in the yard
Basketball develops the child's physical abilities - coordination, endurance, develops strong-willed qualities, concentration, attentiveness and teaches non-standard thinking. Professionals recommend sending a child to the basketball section from the age of 8-9, 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.
Points 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.
It is necessary to install a protective net so as not to constantly run after the ball to the other end of the area.
If the shield is stable, then it is safe. A mobile stand from a well-known manufacturer will also not let you down, and it can be moved around the site.
When choosing a basketball, you need to focus on the players. For games involving children and adults, balls of different sizes are needed.
If you want a basketball ring that doesn't rot in a year and you don't have to spend money on buying a new one, choose rings from well-known manufacturers made of high quality metal.
Don't forget about care. Do not leave equipment and inventory on the street. Racks need to be removed to the house for the winter.
Concrete preparation for playgrounds, football or basketball mini field - Profifloor
Arrangement of industrial floors
updated
Recently, more and more playgrounds, mini football fields, basketball courts are being built and reconstructed in Kyiv. One of them was an old abandoned site on 3 Alekseevskaya Street in Kyiv.
One of the sponsors decided to do a good deed and financed the construction of a mini football field on it.
This mini field measures 12 x 22 meters.
The first step was to level the surface and install the boards.
Then followed: backfilling the site with a crushed stone-sand mixture of two fractions 40-70 with an average thickness of 100 mm and 0-40 with an average thickness of 50 mm
After that, it was possible to start laying a polyethylene film and reinforcing with a mesh. A plastic film is needed so that the moisture from the concrete does not go too quickly into the soil. All materials were provided by the customer.
Laying polyethylene film, reinforcing with mesh and laying the concrete pump route
After that, we started pouring concrete.
The thickness of the concrete was about 120 mm. But it was necessary to fill in below the side by 12 mm. since further coating of rubber crumb will be made, the thickness of which should be from 9 to 15 mm. The peculiarity of the work was that the site should have a slope of 1.5% in the longitudinal and 1% in the transverse direction, so that the water does not stand on it, but leaves along the slope.
The next step was to sand the surface. In such cases, it is imperative to grind concrete, because. if you do not rub it, then the rubber crumb of the future coating will stick to the concrete milk, which will eventually shoot off and fall off along with the crumb.
Grout was done with discs and once with paddles. Thus, the adhesion of the rubber coating to the concrete on the site will be the best.
The final step was to moisten the concrete surface with water and cover it with polyethylene film so that the concrete does not release moisture very quickly.
Then pour Fast-Setting Concrete into the hole, just four inches below ground level.
aboutdannylipford.com/
Use a spirit level to ensure that the basket is aligned straight upright and offers perfect training conditions
Please find some more details for the installation of the Anchor Kit below:
Walk into any home improvement store and you’ll see a variety of mixes that advertise ‘fast setting,’ ‘high-strength,’ ‘crack resistant,’ etc. The main difference between each of these is some mixes may contain additional ingredients, such as fiberglass, to provide even greater bond strength.
Add water according to what the instructions dictate.
Always keep the mix moving and ensure the mix maintains its consistency.
As the name implies, a fast-setting mix will usually set in under an hour. While it may set in under an hour, it will still take several days to cure. When mixing concrete in these temperatures, regardless of type, use hot water.
Keep in mind they do not look like the blankets you would use in your home. These blankets look more tarp-like and usually come in rolls.
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 better to buy racks from well-known manufacturers. So, the American companies Spalding or Royal Fitness guarantee high quality, durability and safety. 
They will be appreciated by experienced basketball players 
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. 
One of them was an old abandoned site on 3 Alekseevskaya Street in Kyiv. 
since further coating of rubber crumb will be made, the thickness of which should be from 9 to 15 mm. The peculiarity of the work was that the site should have a slope of 1.5% in the longitudinal and 1% in the transverse direction, so that the water does not stand on it, but leaves along the slope. 
