(**) Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning our company, JCHQ Publishing will get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through the links, but at no additional cost to you.
As I was jogging in my neighborhood this morning, I noticed that many households have a portable basketball hoop in their yard. Since we usually would have a massive amount of snow during the winter, I wonder how do they winterize it?
Winterizing a basketball hoop could involve draining the water or sand from the base, disassemble the poles, and protecting it with a suitable cover. But the steps could be different depending on whether you will leave the basketball unit outdoors or not.
A few days ago, I just wrote a post on “How to winterize a backyard?“. Since then, I did more in-depth research specifically on winterizing a basketball hoop.
I’d love to share with you now, and hope you’ll find it helpful.
Interesting Things in this Post
Method #1: Basketball Hoops will Remain Standing in a Backyard
Although it is winter, some families prefer not to take it down as there are times where their kids could still play.
- The first thing you should do is to tighten all the loosely bolts.
- Then apply a rust converter to rusted area.
- Remove all the loose paint, and repaint the surface.
Strong winter wind not only could wiggle the basketball stand, but in some cases, it could even cause the entire unit to fall over. I need to emphasize that securing the base is a crucial step. Failure to do so could injure a child and the people around.
Here’s a short clip I found online where a falling basketball hoop hit a child’s head. Luckily, he is fine now, but we should do whether it takes to prevent that.
Secure the Base with Water
Water tends to expand in freezing temperature. If you filled the base with water, then there could be a risk of cracking. Some families stated they would add antifreeze into the water, then refill with new water when spring arrives.
On the other hand, some manufacturers suggest against using antifreeze. They are concern that could damage the material at the base. Also, if there were leaks, it could be toxic to a child or pets. A dog could be attracted in licking it due to its sweet taste.
Secure the Base with Sand
Many users recommend filling the base with sand. If you load the same volume of sand, it would be a lot heavier than doing so with water. This several hundred pounds of weight would make the basketball hoop more safe and secure.
However, for the same reason, it would be difficult to move it around afterward. So make sure you choose a spot where the hoop will be staying there for a long time.
Additional Step to Secure the Base with Straps
Another way I learned to secure the base is the strapping method. This strategy requires the unit to be placed on the grass.
Besides the two sides of the base, place two long anchor screws deep into the ground. Then hook a strap on the two anchors where it would wrap around the top of the base. Make sure it is securely tightened.
Here’s a video demonstration I found on Youtube
According to the filmer, a durable strap and anchor screws could secure hundred of pounds. To make it even more secure, you could place straps on both front and back of the base.
I’m unsure if the strap method would be good enough when there is strong wind. To be honest, I didn’t know about it before I watched this video. Therefore, you should check with the basketball hoop manufacturer to see what they say about it. Just to be on the safe side, I would still secure the base with either water or sand.
Regardless of which method you use to secure the base, you should always lower the poles when it is not being played. It helps to reduce the wind impacts on the basketball stand. I would also remove the net, as the cold temperature, snow and ice could significantly deteriorate the material.
Method #2: Take Down the Basketball Hoop
Step1: Lower the basketball unit’s pole.
If possible, remove the pole from the base. It would be a lot easier to drain out the water or sand in the next step. You might need the help from a couple of adults in doing so since the pole could be quite heavy with the rim and backboard attached to it.
Step2: Empty the base
It’s relatively easier to drain water than sand. You simply pull the plug on the side of the base, then the water pressure and gravity would do the draining work.
You could do the same thing for sands. There are designs where the base part has two holes in it. To speed up the draining process, you could use one hole for drainage, while using a leaf blower on the other one to blow out the sand. But keep in mind this could be very dusty, so I would recommend wearing an air filter mask and safety goggles while emptying the base.
Some users expressed it was still challenging to empty the base with sand, especially there was only one drainage opening at the top, and it was just the size of a quarter. To resolve this problem, I have seen a man cut the hole bigger. After the base is emptied, he installed a cap to cover the hole. It has a design where you could open or close the plug by turning it.
Step3: Store the entire basketball hoop system
Once the base is empty, you could store all its components into your shed or garage. (i.e., poles, backboard, rim, base.) Be sure to store all the screws and bolts securely. I would put them separately in a small box while placing it right beside the basketball unit.
If you do not have available space for indoor storage, leaving them outdoors is also fine. But you should cover all the parts with a waterproof tarp. This could protect the basketball hoops from exposure to snow, ice, and UV ray. Then you should then tied the tarp with bungee cords.
In any case, the poles should be laid down horizontally flat on the ground.
My Final Thought about Winterizing a Portable Basketball Hoop
After knowing more the different ways to winterize a basketball stand, this is what I’m likely to do.
Although the basketball stand should last longer if I store it indoors during winter, the works involve are too troublesome for me. I would leave it outdoors in my backyard, lower the pole, remove the basketball net, while applying rust converter or paint as needed. To make sure the basketball unit is steady, I would fill it with sand, and also using the strap method for additional security.
As I was reading a product review of a basketball hoop, a user shared that rather than filling the base with sand or water, he attempted to secure it by placing heavy items on top. The problem is every impact could wiggle the weighted items, for example, the ball hitting the basketball stands, you or your child trying to make a slam dunk.
At one time, the items fall off from the top of the base part. Then his entire basketball unit fell to the ground and broke into pieces.
Therefore, you should take proper precaution to secure the portable basketball hoop. It is always better to be safe now, than sorry later.
>> Here’s a brief review of a portable basketball unit that I like. Hope this would be helpful.
Disclaimer: This content of this website is for general information, and do not intend to provide any specific advice. Although I’m trying my best in providing accurate information, I cannot guarantee they are error-free. Information displayed on this website could be subjected to change. For any medical-related question, you should always consult with your family doctor. For product related question, you should consult with the actual manufacturer.
Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please understand that I include them based on my experience or the research on these companies or products, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Jacob is a father of two daughters. He loves spending quality time with them in the backyard. Playing sports, blowing bubbles, and planting are some the favorite activities Jacob and his daughters like to do together. He believes it is essential to spend quality time with them while they are still young.