Basketball Goals at Institutional Schools & Churches For Playground or Parks - 5 Required Features

Institutions like schools and churches usually have outdoor playgrounds or parks with basketball courts for the public to use. These commercial applications require proven, heavy-duty basketball equipment that can hold up to demanding play and abuse. I have compiled 5 features that every institutional basketball system needs to survive in public parks and playgrounds.

1. Lifetime Warranty - First and foremost you need a manufacturer that is going to stand by their institutional products. You will see many companies hawking their residential equipment in these situations. Be careful to check the warranty for institutional exclusions. It might say something like "Warranty valid for residential home use only."


2. Removable / Lockable Adjustment Mechanism - Many schools and churches like to lock their adjustable basketball goals at certain heights to keep destructive dunk contests from happening. Also, when locking the system at 10', it's much harder for vandals to disassemble or deface the backboard. There are two ways to lock the system. First many systems allow for the crank handle to be removed which sounds attractive at first until you realize a pair of pliers can work as a good handle too. The other option is to padlock the systems. Many basketball goals have specially drilled holes for this purpose.


3. Acrylic / Steel / Aluminum Backboard - This is probably the only one on the list that I would say is optional. I say that because, although acrylic backboards are "unbreakable," you give up a ton on performance and long-term durability/aesthetics. If you are truly in a rough area and worried about vandalism, I'd go with the acrylic. Otherwise, go with a tempered glass backboard.


4. Six To Eight Inch Pole - When you think institutional basketball goal, undoubtedly, the silver bent post with aluminum fan backboard comes to mind. This is a great system and will hold up to about anything you throw at it. On the other hand, if you're looking something that performs and looks better, get a 6 - 8 inch square pole that's 7 gauge (3/16") thick. This will provide adequate support for larger, heavier backboards.


5. 5 Foot Overhang - This gets the pole out of the playing area keeping players safe when running in for lay-ups or boxing out for rebounds reducing your liability. Watch out for systems with smaller than a 4' overhang as this is not adequate for safety in institutional parks and playgrounds.

Shop institutional basketball systems and Discover church/school/park/playground basketball equipment.

Ryan Tate has been in the premium basketball goal industry for 15 years participating in all aspects including design, manufacturing, sales, marketing and installation. Ryan currently works with Hoops Inc., manufacturer of the popular Pro Dunk basketball goal systems. He specializes in the adjustable outdoor in-ground basketball hoops for home and institutional applications.

By Ryan J Tate