History of the Breakaway Basketball Rim

Have you ever wondered how the breakaway basketball rim came to be? Check out this guide to the history of this unique sports equipment and why it’s still so important today.

What is a Breakaway Rim?

Because they are now so commonplace and are often viewed as the standard, many people don’t know what a breakaway rim is. It’s actually a specific type of basketball rim that is able to bend at a slight angle when a player dunks the basketball. When pressure is applied, the rim bends downward to accommodate it. Then, when the pressure is released, the rim snaps back into the horizontal position.

There are several benefits of using this type of rim, including:

• Improved Safety: The possibility of wrist injuries is reduced when using a breakaway rim.
• Better Durability: When used with a breakaway rim, the backboard is less likely to be shattered while someone is dunking.
• Fewer Game Delays: Breakaway rims reduce the chances of a bent rim or a shattered backboard delaying game play.

The Inventor of the Breakaway Rim

The Smithsonian Institution’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention & Innovation names Arthur Ehrat as the inventor of the breakaway basketball rim. In 1976, his nephew, an assistant basketball coach at Saint Louis University, asked Ehrat to design a special rim that wouldn’t distort the rim or shatter the backboard during dunks. Ehrat used a spring from a John Deere cultivator to create a rim that could withstand 125 pounds of force by bending and then snapping back into the original position. His official patent was awarded in 1982.

Use in Official Games

The first use of a breakaway rim in the NCAA occurred during the 1978 Final Four in St. Louis. Over the next several years, the traditional bolted rims were slowly phased out until the NBA made breakaway rims a required equipment upgrade. Today, they are considered an essential for just about all basketball courts, and very few of the old bolted style rims are used.

You can check out a great selection of some of the best breakaway basketball rims when you shop at First Team.

How to Hang Wall Padding

Buying wall padding for your gymnasium or sports facility is a smart move. It’s sure to keep players safer and reduce injuries during practices and games. However, it’s important to make sure your wall padding is installed correctly since it’s so important for player safety. Use this guide to make hanging your gym wall padding easy and efficient.

Three Methods of Installation

Most types of gym wall padding can be installed using one of these three methods:

1. Furring Strips: Pieces of wood are mounted to the wall, then the pads are nailed directly to the wood. This is best for a more permanent installation that you prefer not to be easily removed.

2. Z-Clips: The Z-clips are attached to the back of the panels, while Z-Clip bars are attached to the wall. Then, the pads can easily slide into place. This is best for pads that you prefer to be easily removed when necessary.

3. Concrete Screws: Tapcon screws are used to attach gym wall padding directly to concrete walls. These are more expensive than using furring strips, but are sometimes preferred for permanent installation.

Tips for Installation

There are several things to consider when hanging your gym wall padding, including:

• Safety guidelines: Measure your space to ensure that the wall padding is hung in the correct place. Some facilities must meet certain safety guidelines, like extending the padding four feet to each side of the free throw lane.

• Cutouts: Another reason that measuring is important is to ensure that any cutouts (such as those for outlets or windows) are accurately placed.

• Flooring: You may need to hang wall padding differently according to the flooring type in your facility. For example, pads should hang about 4 inches off the floor for a poured or tile floor, or 4 ½ inches for a wood floor.

Check Manufacturer Instructions First

When you purchase wall padding, check the manufacturer’s instruction first to find out what they recommend in terms of installation. You may find that any of the above methods can be used to hang your wall padding. However, some manufacturers will recommend a specific type of installation.

Shop at First Team for high-quality, safe wall padding for your facility, then use this guide to assist in the installation process.

Storage Space Required for Your New Athletic Equipment

Whether you’re buying new athletic equipment for use at home, at a school or at a sports complex, you’ll need to think about whether you have the space to store it when it’s not in use. In some cases, you may be able to leave out your new volleyball set, wall-mount basketball goal or portable soccer net for weeks or months at a time. But for most athletes and coaches, there comes a time when you need to put your equipment away to make space for other activities.

So, which types of athletic equipment will work best for those who have a limited amount of storage space? Check out these features to look for when you need to keep your gear in storage.

Size

Measuring your available storage space is a great place to start when looking for new athletic equipment. You can look for equipment that folds down or collapses into a smaller shape to make it easy to fit a tight space. For example, many basketball goals feature adjustable height settings, allowing you to fit them into small storage spaces when placed on the shortest setting.

Portability

Another factor to consider is how easily portable your new athletic equipment is. For example, you may have space to store your new soccer goals, but is it too heavy to move on your own? If you’d like to be able to get your gear in storage easily and quickly, look for equipment that is made with portability in mind. For example, residential portable basketball sets such as the RollaSport and RollaJam roll right into your garage or shed for quick and easy storage.

Durability

If you don’t want the hassle of taking equipment in and out of storage, you can always opt for permanent or semi-permanent equipment. For example, you can choose an aluminum soccer goal that’s made from durable aluminum and meets ASTM standards for tip-over and failure requirements. This means you can leave it in place without worrying that it won’t hold up to rough outdoor conditions and regular use.

Make sure you consider how you’ll store your new athletic equipment before making a purchase. First Team’s incredible selection of portable, adjustable and permanent sports goals and other accessories make it easy to find something that’s suited to your athletic endeavors and your available space.

Improving Basketball Shooting

If you’re about to play a game of basketball, in addition to your shorts, sneakers, wristbands and sports drinks, make sure you don’t forget your shot. For all the amateur basketball players who log hours and hours on the court, many of them shoot inconsistently because they lack the proper mechanics to shoot the ball the correct way.

What are some tricks for improving my basketball shooting?

Ball Handling:

One of the first things to remember is to hold the ball on your fingertips so that you have proper control of the ball when you release your shot. Make sure to keep your elbow in, pointing to the middle of the rim. The same goes for your middle finger on the follow through, your shot should finish as if you were dipping your hand into the rim. Many shooters do not fully extend their arm as they should on the release, so make certain to snap your elbow as you reach the peak of your shot. The moment you release your shot, your elbow should be above your eyes instead of pushing your arm out toward the basket in order to get enough distance on the ball.

Posture & Momentum:

Proper follow through on your shot entails your arm finishing straight, with the wrist loose and fingers hanging down naturally. And when you’ve done that, hold, or “freeze” your follow through because that will help your body get used to the motion of following through so that you can repeat the same motion each time you take a shot. You should be landing in front of where you started when you finish your shot, so make certain that your momentum is going toward the basket every time you catch a pass that you are going to turn into a shot. Some basketball experts believe that when you practice shooting you should use a multi-colored basketball so that you are better able to see the rotation of the ball.

Mental Preparedness:

Other shooting fundamentals that can help you improve your accuracy are not physical fixes, but mental ones. Try to stamp negative thoughts completely out of your head. In fact, stop thinking–at least about shooting. Don’t think about what your shot is supposed to be like in a game. Just dribble it and shoot it, or catch it and shoot it. The more you think, the more you are likely to think yourself right into a slump. Whenever you practice, and before every game, face the basket and attempt 50 simple shots from close to the basket, no more than 10 feet away. This will help you establish proper shooting mechanics and it might also give your confidence a boost. Seeing shot after shot go through the net is a nice image to carry with you into a game.

Where Do Missed Shots Go?

Far too many amateur basketball players are, unfortunately, experts on the art of the missed shot. Even the best three-point shooters in the NBA rarely exceed a 50 percent accuracy rate from that distance beyond 20 feet, so the weekend warrior is likely to fall far short of that mark even if the NBA All-Star finds it a challenge. For many amateur players, as well as defenders and potential rebounders, figuring out the physics of where a missed shot will carom off the rim and which direction it will travel can provide a competitive advantage.

What the Data Says

In basketball, where on the court do most 3 point attempt rebounds occur?

Data from SportVu shows that we can actually tell with some degree of reliability where the rebound is going to land depending on where the shot is attempted from on the floor and what part of the rim it hits. A three-point attempt that is missed from one corner tends to go to the opposite side of the floor much more often than it caroms back toward the originator. The most common location for a missed corner three-point rebound is below (closer to the baseline) of the low block on the weak side.

Rebound Patterns

The data also shows that shots from one side of the court more frequently carom off toward the other side of the rim. Also, the team on offense is much more likely to get the rebound of their teammates’ missed shot if that shot is attempted from close to the rim (a layup, short jumper or finger-roll) than if it is a perimeter jumper. The longer the distance of the shot, the farther away from the rim the rebound is likely to land–so missed three-pointers are a lot more likely to lead to a fastbreak the other way than a missed layup would. Studying these patterns of rebound tendencies can actually help players gain a competitive advantage, and might enable a player or a team with a height disadvantage to still get more rebounds than their opponent does.

Must-Have Hoop Accessories

You have the hoop, and you’re ready for tip-off. Or are you? Even after you purchase a backboard and rim for a basketball system you plan to have endless hours of fun with, the truth is you can add plenty of accessories to add even more fun to your game.

What should I buy for my young basketball player?

Ball Return

If you want to practice shooting with your new rim, a return system allows you to do so without having to chase the ball down before you take your next practice shot. A Ball Return: This can help you take a much higher volume of practice shots without interrupting your rhythm. Some basketball return systems are small and can be easily removed, while others are large and may take more effort to install and relocate.

Safety Pads

Safety Pads: For protection to equipment and safety of players, basketball pole pads are made of a thick foam cushion that is covered with material that is resistant to weather, usually vinyl. You can find pole pads in different sizes. Make sure you buy one that is the appropriate size for your hoop pole. The pads attach to the pole with Velcro straps or hooks. A Court marking kit can be used to create an accurate regulation basketball court in your driveway or backyard court. Most kits are designed so you don’t need to measure.

Ball Netting

Basketball Court Lines and Markings

The sport of basketball is not complex, but to the uninitiated, the series of lines and markings on a basketball court can look like a confusing set of hieroglyphics. What does it all mean?

Court Lines

How do I draw basketball court lines?

To begin with, the sidelines are the two boundary lines that span the length of the court. A full-size court is 50 feet wide, although there are plenty of basketball courts in parks and smaller gyms that are not regulation size. The length of the two sidelines and the two baselines represent the court’s complete “in bounds” playing area. The aforementioned baseline is also referred to as the endline. The baseline/endline runs from sideline to sideline behind the baskets at both ends of the court. Both baselines are 4 feet behind the basket, and normally have a width of 50 feet. The two baselines on a full-sized regulation court are 94 feet apart, but, again, many courts are not regulation size and are frequently shorter than this. In the center of the floor, the midcourt line divides the court in half.

The rules state that when the team on offense (the team with possession of the ball) brings the ball across midcourt by way of a pass or a dribble, the offense cannot reverse field and bring the ball back behind that midcourt line, or else the referee will call that team for a “backcourt violation,” or “over and back,” and the team will have to surrender possession to its opponent. The offensive team only has 10 seconds to advance the ball across the midcourt line (eight seconds in the NBA).

Scoring Points

Field goals (baskets during the flow of action) made from outside the arc that forms a semi-circle from side of the baseline to the other corner count for three points. How far the three-point arc is from the basket depends on the level of amateur or pro basketball being played. Any baskets made inside the arc count for two points. Fifteen feet away from each basket is a straight line running parallel to the baseline that connects both sides of the lane (or the “paint’), and this is where players attempt free throws from when the referees call a shooting foul (a defensive violation while the offensive player is in the act of attempting a field goal). The free throw circles have a diameter of 12 feet and come into play on free throws and jump balls. During a free throw attempt, the shooter must remain inside the free throw circle. On jump balls, non-jumpers must remain outside the circle until the ball is tapped by one of the jumpers.

Lane lines are boundaries than span from the free throw line to the baseline. The width and shape of the lane lines vary depending on whether it is an amateur or pro game, and the size and shape of the lane also differs in international competition. The lane lines also contain lane spaces markings used to align and separate the non-shooters. The first lane space, on both sides of the basket, are occupied by the opposing team from the free throw shooter. Non-shooters cannot step into the three second area until the ball leaves the hand of the player attempting a foul shot.

Does a Warranty Cover Slam Dunks and Hanging on the Rim?

Once upon a time, dunking was against the rules in college basketball games. Then, even after those restrictions were relaxed, it long remained illegal to dunk during warmups of a high school basketball game. There’s no doubt that the sport was slow to adapt to the revolution of the jam. But, now that the sport is played above the rim so much more often than it ever used to be, the question is, if you buy a basketball hoop, does the manufacturer’s warranty cover damage caused by slam dunks or hanging on the rim?

Of course, if you’re buying a hoop for your three year old, this probably won’t be an issue, until they sprout to a formidable height and develop some genuine “ups,” or the ability to leap like a pogo stick. But if the hoop you own is going to be used by some serious ‘ballers, it still may not be guaranteed against damage from the abuse heaped upon it by dunking or hanging on it. Because of this, a direct mount breakaway rim that holds up well against the force of slams is a feature in high-end hoops that is much more important for a basketball system that will be used by serious players than it would be if the backboard is going to be used primarily by youngsters just developing their games.

However, there are now plenty of backboards that are made to “grow” with your developing young player, and some of these hoops/backboards can be lowered to 5 feet to ensure that you don’t compromise on form. And don’t think for a second that a youngster who watches the pros on TV won’t try to imitate them by trying his or her own version of a youthful dunk. First Team was the first manufacturer to offer basketball systems that are warrantied against hanging on the rim and remains among the few manufacturers who do.

Is there a warranty that covers slam dunks and hanging on the rim?

Most other manufacturers units void their warranty if you hang on the rim. Make sure you read the fine print and check out the warranty that’s included. It’s the best thing you can do to ensure everybody’s safety as well as to protect your investment.