How to Put Together Hockey Nets

Backyard hockey happens in parking lots or tennis courts when the weather's warm and out on frozen lakes and ponds when it's cold enough. Many of those who play the sport recreationally make their own nets, either from PVC piping or metal tubing, since lugging around an actual regulation galvanized steel net can be a bit cumbersome. Whether you play neighborhood ice hockey in the cold or go for some street or inline hockey in the heat, making your own hockey goal is a relatively easy task.

Things You'll Need

  • 30 feet of PVC piping, 1 1/2 inch
  • PVC saw
  • PVC primer/bond
  • Tape measure
  • 4 T-joints
  • 6 elbow joints, 90 degree-angled
  • Plastic zip-ties
  • Replacement netting
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure and cut the 30 foot PVC piping to the following lengths (if you're not using pre-cut pieces): two 5 foot, 2 1/4 inches; two 4 foot, 4 1/2 inches; two 3 foot, 9 1/2 inches; and four 2 1/2 inches. Brush away remaining burrs on the freshly cut ends, then separate them into individual piles according to length to avoid confusion during the building process.

    • 2

      Attach an elbow joint onto one end of each of the two 4 foot pieces (don't bother to use the bond just yet), then insert a 2 foot piece into each remaining hole on the elbow joint. These two lengths will be the side posts of the finished goal. Attach elbow joints onto the exposed ends of each 2 foot piece, turning the joints so that the open holes are perpendicular to the two other elbow joints you attached previously. You now have the side posts and the bottom side runners of the goal in place.

    • 3

      Attach elbow joints to the tops of the side posts, angling them as you did the elbow joints in the previous step. Insert a small 2 1/2 inch piece into each exposed hole on the elbows, then attach a T-joint to the ends. Insert a 5 foot piece (the crossbar) into the exposed ends of the Ts. You should now see the framework of the goal coming together. Flip the goal over, facedown (the crossbar touches the ground), and insert the two remaining 2 1/2 inch lengths into the holes on the two rear elbow joints.

    • 4

      Attach the two remaining Ts over the ends of the two 2 1/2 inch lengths, then attach the rear crossbar. Stand the goal back up to its normal position then insert a 4 foot length into each exposed T, thus connecting the top and bottom crossbar T-joints and giving your net support. Once done, disassemble the net, then reassemble it, this time applying primer to the joint and liberally applying generous amounts of bond to give the finished goal strength and stability. Attach the regulation size netting with the zip-ties as needed.