Do-it-Yourself Backyard Basketball Hoops

Backyard basketball hoops have been a favorite addition to homes across the United States for generations. A homemade hoop gives basketball fans a nostalgic feeling of a more simple time. It brings back memories of warm summer nights spent outside with friends and family, playing games of "Horse," "Twenty-One" or "King of the Court." Creating a backyard basketball hoop isn't hard, and you may not even have to go to the store to find the right materials.

Things You'll Need

  • Laundry basket
  • Screws
  • Screwdriver
  • Plywood
  • Paint
  • Hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a round plastic laundry basket and measure the diameter with a measuring tape to ensure that it is at least 18 inches (the standard rim size for basketball hoops). You can use a larger basket if you wish. Use a utility knife or handsaw to cut out the bottom of the basket. Rub the edges with heavy grit sandpaper to smooth out any jagged spots.

    • 2

      Make a backboard by taking an old sheet of plywood and cutting it into a rectangular shape. Standard measurements for a traditional NBA backboard are 3.5 feet high by 6 feet wide. Because your do-it-yourself basketball hoop will be in your backyard, it is not necessary to meet these standards unless you want to. Backboards generally are painted white with a red square in the center--but since it's your hoop, the choice of colors is up to you.

    • 3

      Attach the laundry basket to the backboard using screws and and a screwdriver. To get the screw started, use a hammer to tap it slightly into the backboard. If you painted a square in the center of the backboard, screw the basket immediately beneath the bottom of the square. The standard height of a basketball hoop is 10 feet.

    • 4

      Screw your hoop into a tree, telephone pole or the side of a building. If possible, the best place to hang a hoop would be over a concrete surface such as a driveway or concrete court.