Basketball Court Safety: Clearance and Padding Rules
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and around the world. It's also one of the top sports for participant injuries. Because of this, the National Federation of State High School Associations developed the following guidelines for basketball court safety.
Create the Necessary Space Around a Basketball Court
A minimum clearance of three feet is required around the perimeter of the basketball court, however 10 feet is highly recommended. If there is less than three feet of clear space outside any sideline or end line, mark a one-inch broken line on the court, parallel with and three feet inside each sideline and/or end line.
Install Backboard Padding and Use the Right Materials
Backboard safety padding is needed to cover corners and edges to protect players in case they make contact with the backboard.
- Install padding to the bottom and sides of rectangular backboards with a poly high-carb, vinyl-type material that meets a resilience test within the range of 20-30
- Padding should cover the entire bottom surface of the board and the side surfaces for 15 inches from the bottom
- Front and back surface padding should cover the space at least a three-quarter inch from the bottom
- Extend padding one inch on both the front and back surfaces of the backboard; it is recommended that the padding be mounted on the backboard with an adhesive or other material, such as Velcro®
- The padding color must be the same on both backboards
Set Up Basketball Support Structures and Padding
Basketball support structures are essential for basket stability but should be padded to protect athletes during play.
- Support structures should be at least eight feet behind the plane of the backboard face and at least seven feet above the floor
- Support structures that are not directly behind the backboard should be a minimum of six inches behind it
- If the support extends above the top of the backboard or beyond the sides, it needs to be at least two feet behind it
- When behind the backboard and at a height of less than nine feet above the floor, the bottom surface should be padded for two feet from the face of the backboard
- Attach portable backstop padding to the courtside surface to a height of seven feet
Warning: Be aware of an "extreme caution" warning relative to the misuse of portable backstops. There is a high degree of injury potential–including death–and a severe liability risk when players or spectators hang, sit or stand on the basket rim or backboard. Prevent this by lowering portable units at the end of the game or practice. A warning or inscription is recommended, such as: "Danger–Please do not climb on the rim or backboard."
Guidelines for Installing Gymnasium Wall Padding
Gymnasium wall padding is not required, but is highly recommended for any walls or facility features that athletes may come in contact with during play. Follow these safety guidelines when installing gymnasium padding:
- Use two inches of firm, 100 Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) polyurethane foam, mounted on plywood or a similar board that is approximately three-eighths inch thick
- Cover foam with a fire-retardant, vinyl material
- For added fire protection, some mats are made with one-half inch, fire-retardant plywood
- The most common size mat is 16 feet wide and six feet high, mounted just above the baseboard or a maximum of four inches above the floor
Padding should have an interior finish rating of Class A or B. In compliance with Life Safety Code (NFPA 101®), Section 10.2, interior walls in educational occupancies are required to have an interior finish rating of Class A or B.
Where a complete automatic fire sprinkler system is installed, Class C materials may be used in any location where Class B is required, and Class B materials may be used in any location where Class A is required.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed a standard for indoor wall and structure padding. The standard covers the construction design and shock absorption (gmax, HIC and thickness) properties of wall padding used in gymnasiums, wrestling rooms and stadium walls.
FAQs
We recommend that if you are designing a new court that you leave it minimum of 6 feet perimeter around the outer edge of the playing surface for out of bounds area. We would rather see 8 to 10 feet or even more if possible however we understand that budget constraints often dictate the available space.
What is clearance in basketball? ›
Ball Clearance: When in play, the ball must be “cleared” on each change of possession. “Cleared” means both feet must be behind the three-point arc. Failure to clear the basketball is a violation.
Are backboard pads necessary? ›
Metal-framed backboards should always be padded to prevent head or hand injuries. In fact, NCAA and NFHS rules state that edge padding must cover boards used during competition basketball play. Bolt-on backboard pads provide the most secure and durable means of covering board edges.
How many sq ft is a high school basketball court? ›
High school courts are normally 84 feet long by 50 feet wide, or 4,200 sq ft. With the recommended safety zone of 3 – 10 feet, your total square footage is between 5,100 and 6,800. Other key measurements: Three-point line: 19.75 ft.
How much space do you need for a sport court? ›
Traditional Game Courts range from 30'x 60' to 50'x 80' Full Courts. Regulation Tennis Courts are quite large and require a space of 50'x 100' up to 60' x 120'.
How small can a backyard basketball court be? ›
If your backyard space is limited — but you don't want to settle for the ol' “single hoop in the driveway” setup — you could also choose a half-court basketball court layout, which is 30 feet by 50 feet.
What is Rule 13 in basketball? ›
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.
What is Rule 7 in basketball? ›
If a defensive player is the last to touch the ball before going out-of-bounds or entering the basket ring from below, the shot clock is stopped and the offensive team shall be awarded the ball. The offensive team shall have only the unexpired time remaining on the shot clock in which to attempt a field goal.
What is Rule 8 in basketball? ›
Section I—Player. The player is out-of-bounds when he touches the floor or any object on or outside a boundary. For location of a player in the air, his position is that from which he last touched the floor.
What is padding in basketball? ›
Player Safety
Safety padding is also essential for the poles of a basketball backboard system. Constructed of high-density foam and vinyl, First Team basketball pole safety padding is available in a variety of sizes to keep players safe when they stumble out of bounds.
Originally Answered: Why do NBA players (seemingly) never use the backboard, especially for free throws? Because it's harder to judge how high you have the place the ball and how hard and how much backspin you need to add to make the shot.
How many feet is a full basketball court? ›
Basketball court dimensions in feet
| Court aspect | Dimensions |
|---|
| Length | 91.86ft |
| Width | 49.21ft |
| Height | 22.96ft |
| Playing area | 4520.43ft² |
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Court Dimensions:
Professional NBA and College Basketball court is 94 feet (29 m) by 50 feet (15 m). International Basketball the court 28 meters (92 ft) by 15 meters (49 ft). High school, and Junior High court 84 feet (26 m) by 50 feet (15 m).
Are high school basketball courts smaller than college? ›
High school basketball courts are a little different from their college and professional counterparts. The most noticeable difference is that the court is a full 10 feet shorter, measuring only 84 feet. However, there are some similarities. The court is still 50 feet wide.
How big is the perimeter of a basketball court? ›
The perimeter of a basketball court is 280 ft. The length is 42 ft longer than the width. What are the dimensions of the court?
How many laps around a small basketball court is a mile? ›
How many laps around a basketball court is a mile? If you are looking to run a mile using an NBA or college basketball court as a gauge, then you will have to run around the court 18.33 times. If you are using a high school basketball court, you will have to run 19.7 laps to complete a mile.
What is the cheapest way to build a basketball court in your backyard? ›
The cheapest way to make a basketball court is to install a portable hoop on your existing driveway. If that's not an option, you can build a small 30'x30' half-court, which gives you enough space for 3-on-3 streetball.
