If your child loves basketball and has dreams of becoming the next Michael Jordan, you can put a small basketball court in your backyard so they can hone their skills. This basketball court does not have to be like traditional courts, but it can still give your child enough space to play. Below is some more information about this so you can get started.

Choosing the Size

A traditional basketball court is 94 by 50 feet, and this would take up a lot of space unless you have a big yard. Because you want to build a small court, you could choose something like 21' by 25' or 31' x 26'. Go outside and measure to see what would work best. Consider that your child will likely continue using the court as they become older. A smaller court would still allow them to practice their free throw skills as well as their jump shot, dunk, and layup. 

Once you determine the size you want, set up stakes so you can see how it will look in your backyard. This will ensure it does not take up too much space for you.

Choosing the Place

Once you choose the size, you need to determine where you want to place the basketball court. Choose an area that has level ground. Consider where water runs when it rains as you do not want the water to run directly to the court. Do not place the concrete slab near young trees, as when the trees grow, their roots will also grow and may spread towards the basketball court, eventually getting underneath the concrete and causing it to crack or break completely.

The soil should be in good condition as you want it to drain well. If you do not have anywhere in your yard that has good soil, the contractor can still install the slab. They can do this by strengthening the concrete using post tensioning. With this, it does not matter what type of soil you place the court on.

During the post tensioning process, the contractor will stretch post-tensioning tendons, which are steel cables that have been pre-stressed, over the area. They are placed throughout the area before the concrete is poured. Once the concrete is poured and has set for a few minutes, the contractor will pull the cables tight and use a hydraulic jack to anchor the cables around the outer edges of the concrete. Once installed, you will not have to worry about the concrete slab cracking

Once you are finished with the above, you can purchase basketball court chalk kit to place the markings on the concrete. You can purchase stain for the concrete to make it look like a real court or you could simply spray paint it. 

For more information, contact local professionals like Advanced Post-Tension, LLC.