When it comes to high school sports, basketball is one of the most played sport, along with football and baseball.
But there’s one thing that makes high school basketball different from the others: The high school basketball court can be indoors as well as outdoors.
However, whether you’re building an indoor or outdoor basketball court, there are certain factors you should consider, like the high school basketball court dimensions.
In this article, we will take you through all the basic things you should know about high school basketball courts and the dimensions of a basketball court.
Things to Consider When Building a School Basketball Court
If you’re building a high school basketball court, you have to keep in mind the various dimensions of the court. This includes the overall court size and other parts of a high school basketball court that must be accurate for national or grade-level basketball games.
Let’s have a look:
1. Overall Court Size
The first thing you should consider when building a high school basketball court is the overall court size. The dimensions of a regular basketball court are 94 feet x 50 feet; however, the overall court size of a school basketball court depends on the age group of the players.
Therefore, for a high school basketball court, the overall size is usually 50 feet by 84 feet, and for junior high schools, the size is a bit smaller, 74 feet x 42 feet.
2. Foul Line
The foul line has the same distance across all courts, whether they are professional-level or school-level. It lies 15 feet from the backboard and 18 feet 10 inches from the baseline.
These are the standard dimensions for all basketball courts.
3. The Lane/Key
The lane or the key are boundary lines that run from the baseline to the free-throw line.
Professional-level courts are 15 feet wide; however, school basketball courts are 12 feet wide and include a 6-foot arc that extends from the foul line away from the basket rim.
4. The 3-point Line
The 3-point line is an arc-shaped line around the basket that determines the points of a shot.
In professional basketball courts, the distance from the basket to the 3-point line is 22 feet, but for high school basketball courts, the distance is 19 feet 9 inches from the hoop.
5. Rim
Rim is the metal circle with the net hanging below it, through which the basketball goes.
The height of the rim from the ground is 10 feet, while the diameter of the rim is 18 inches. These dimensions are standard for all basketball courts.
6. The Backboard
Just like the rim and foul line, the dimensions of the backboard are also standard for all levels of play. The backboard is 6 feet wide and 3.5-feet tall, while the inner square is 24 inches wide and 18 inches tall.
All the lines on the basketball court are 2 inches wide; however, there’s no rule regarding the color. You can choose it according to your preference.
Now that you know about the high school basketball court dimensions, let’s move on to the flooring and equipment required for a high school basketball court.
Flooring
When building a sports court, the flooring is quite important, even more than the equipment and the dimensions.
Why? Because it serves as the platform on which you play the game. So, even if you have state-of-the-art equipment and exact court dimensions, playing won’t be fun if the flooring isn’t right for the game.
Therefore, for high school basketball courts, whether indoor or outdoor, you should pick a flooring option that’s specific to basketball.
There are many different flooring options for high school basketball courts, so let’s have a look:
– Indoor High School Basketball Courts Flooring
The most common flooring for an indoor basketball court is hardwood flooring. And while it is the standard option, there are certain things that nobody seems to talk about. For instance, the cost, the maintenance, and the vulnerability to environmental factors.
Hardwood flooring is expensive. It requires regular maintenance to keep it in a workable condition and high-cost HVAC systems to preserve its durability and look. However, hardwood flooring is also prone to termite infestation and can get soft, rotten, and fall apart if exposed to moisture.
Therefore, we recommend a low-maintenance and long-lasting indoor basketball court flooring for high schools, Copo Sports’ Macwood Pro Indoor, and Macwood Standard Indoor flooring system. This revolutionary flooring system is an upgraded alternative to hardwood flooring, with none of its drawbacks!
However, if you’re looking for high-quality elastomer interlocking tiles that focus on the comfort and safety of the players along with high athletic performance, Copo Sports also has the GameChanger and GameChanger+ from its Copo Rezil series.
– Outdoor High School Basketball Courts Flooring
Outdoor basketball courts are usually made of concrete or asphalt, which can crack or chip due to weather conditions. Plus, they are not safe for the players’ joints and knees. So, if someone gets hurt while playing basketball on a concrete court, their injury goes a long way.
To avoid all this, we recommend going for Copo Sports’ Macwood Pro Outdoor and Macwood Standard Outdoor flooring systems that, for the first time, offer a hardwood-like basketball court in the open.
For outdoor basketball court flooring, you can use the GameChanger+ interlocking tiles we mentioned earlier.
Always remember, whenever you choose surface flooring for indoor or outdoor high school basketball courts, ensure it promotes safe gameplay for the players. Flooring with increased shock absorption, reduced impacts, and slip resistance is what goes a long way!
Now Comes the Equipment
Now that you’ve sorted your flooring, let’s get to the equipment to complete the high school basketball court.
The basic equipment required for a fully functional high school basketball court is:
1. Basketball
Basketballs come in four sizes: Sizes 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The official size of a basketball is 29.5 inches, which is the size 7 basketball. This size is for players 15 years and above, perfect for college and high school basketball courts.
But, if you’re getting a ball for a middle school basketball court, a 28.5-inch ball or a size 6 ball is the right choice.
For kids aged 9 to 11, a size 5 ball with a circumference of 27.5 inches is ideal, while for younger kids from 5 to 8 years, the smallest ball, i.e., you should pick the 25.5-inch size 4 ball for the basketball court.
2. Basketball Stand
Basketball stands are of 3 types: Wall mount, in-ground, and portable. But, if you’re getting a basketball stand for a high school basketball court, we recommend getting the in-ground or portable one.
In-ground basketball stands are usually permanent systems that last for years and withstand all internal and external factors. Plus, getting an in-ground basketball stand is pointless if your sports court is used for multiple sports. Therefore, if you don’t want to go through the process of digging and installing in-ground basketball stands, and the court is also used for other sports, you can get the portable ones too!
You can easily move a portable basketball stand around; plus, it is sturdy and durable. It is a good choice for an indoor high school basketball court. Check out Copo Sports’ Titan Portable Backdrop with preset goal heights and multiple color paddings if you’re looking for a cost-effective, stable, and rigid portable basketball stand.
3. Net
The net is an important component of basketball as the ball passes through it. Therefore, you should get the best net based on whether your high school basketball court is indoors or outdoors.
Basketball nets can be made of nylon, steel, or polyester. The basketball net used by NBA comprises 100% polyester with polypropylene tips for extra strength. However, you can get nylon nets if you’re on a budget, but their lifespan is shorter. As far as chain nets are concerned, they are as durable as polyester nets but can get tangled easily.
Therefore, if you’re looking for something sturdy and long-lasting for heavy-duty usage, the most practical option is a polyester net.
From the high school basketball court dimensions to the flooring and equipment, you have all the basic information to start building a high school basketball court!
FAQs
Q. Why is tempered glass preferred over regular glass for backboards?
Tempered glass is 4 times tougher than standard glass. And, if by chance it breaks, it does not break into shards; instead, it shatters into tiny fragments that do not cause severe injury.
Q. Can we adjust the height of the basketball hoop?
For professional basketball, the height remains 10 feet; however, for school-level basketball games, You can adjust the height according to the age of the students. Usually, hoops can be adjusted between 7 ½ feet to 10 feet.
Q. What can we use as a base for portable basketball stands?
You can use water or sandbags to keep the basketball stand in place. Nowadays, base gels are getting increasingly popular. Mixing the base gel with just 16 oz of water hardens and weighs the same as eight 50 lb sandbags.
Conclusion
Basketball is one of the most famous sports in the world; therefore, no wonder it is loved by high school students too! If you are building a high school basketball court from scratch or revamping an old court, you must consider the dimensions of the overall court as well as the various parts of a basketball court. If the court is built according to the age of the players, they can perform their best when competing.
Secondly, the flooring should be such that the health and safety of the players are not compromised. Lastly, you should choose equipment based on its usage.
When you’re ready to put everything together, hire an experienced contractor who can build a high school basketball court that meets the standards.
