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Tetherball is a yard game that originated in North America. Two opposing players attempt to hit a ball that is tethered to the top of a stationary metal pole while standing within a marked court. One player hits the ball clockwise, the other counterclockwise, until the winner is crowned when the ball is successfully wound all the way around the pole. You can easily build your own tetherball court with a few inexpensive supplies and a bit of time and effort.
Steps
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Create a base for the tetherball pole. Weld two 10-inch (25 cm) pieces of steel rebar together in a cross formation. This will serve as the base for the tetherball pole and will be cemented into a tire. [1] X Research source- Be sure to measure the rebar carefully; the crossbar won’t fit inside the tire otherwise.
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Secure the pole to the base. Weld a 10-foot (3 meter) long piece of 2-inch (5 cm) pipe vertically to the center of the welded cross bars.- Alternatively, you can drill holes in the pipe and use 16.5 gauge rebar tie wire to secure the steel rebar to the pole.
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Install a hook for the cord. Weld an eye bolt about 2 in (5 cm) from the top of the vertical pole. This bolt will hold the cord that is attached to the ball.- Alternatively, drill a hole at the top of the pole using a ⅜ in (9.5 mm) drill bit. Attach a washer and ¼ in (6.4 mm) by 2 in (5 cm) eye bolt. Secure the bolt on the inside of the pole with one washer and a ⅜ in (9.5 mm) nut.
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Put the base inside a tire. Place the bottom crossbar stand of the tether ball pole inside a used tire. Place a heavy-duty garbage bag under the tire to prevent the concrete from seeping out. -
Secure the pole with concrete. Mix concrete well, per its label instructions, and fill the tire with wet concrete, cementing the tether ball pole firmly in place. [2] X Research source- Use a level to make sure your pole is completely vertical.
- Use wire to attach your pole to a ladder or other tall structure to ensure it stays in place while the concrete is drying.
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Allow the concrete to dry fully. You will typically need to dry the cement overnight, but check the manufacturer's label for specific instructions. [3] X Research source- Remove the garbage bag from the bottom of the tire once the concrete is dry.
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Attach a tether ball to a 6-foot (1.82-meter) length of cord or rope. Then, attach the other end of the cord or rope to the eye bolt. Make sure your knots are secure so neither the cord nor the ball comes loose. [4] X Research source- Some tetherballs come with a cord attached; if this is the case, use that instead of the rope.
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Choose a tetherball location. Select an appropriate play area, free of obstruction and on level ground. You can choose a grassy location, or somewhere that is paved, such as a driveway. -
Draw a circle on the ground to make your court. The circle should be approximately 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter. Use spray paint to draw the circle on grass or dirt. Use chalk to draw the circle on cement. [5] X Research source -
Relocate the completed tether ball pole to the center of the circle. Carefully maneuver the tire so that it lays on its side. Then roll the tire to the area you wish to play and stand it up so the pole is vertical. -
Draw a line through the center of the circle, separating it into two halves. The line should intersect the tetherball pole's midpoint. This line determines the area of play for each player. [6] X Research source -
Play tetherball . Now you are ready to play the game. Choose two players and alternate hitting the ball to each other. One person hits the ball clockwise, while the other person hits it counterclockwise. The object of the game is to wrap the rope or cord entirely around the pole. [7] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow much cement is needed for a 14 foot court?Community AnswerIt would depend - more measurements would be needed to give an exact answer.
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QuestionHow much cement is needed?Community AnswerI was surprised to use five 60 lb. bags to fill a mini-van's tire. That is 300 lbs! Works great, though.
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QuestionHow far from the ground should the ball be ?Community AnswerThis depends on who will be playing it the most. If you're making it for children, the ball should sit naturally at about a child's chest height. That way, when it's swinging it would take a good amount of effort to return.
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Tips
- To make a mobile tether ball court, attach wheels to the base of the tire. Make sure the wheels can lock into place so that the pole doesn’t move during play.Thanks
- A volleyball, soccer ball, or large rubber kickball may be used in place of a tether ball if you can glue the rope to it, or otherwise attach it in a way that does not puncture the ball.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Welding equipment
- 16.5 gauge rebar tie wire
- 2 10-inch pieces of steel rebar
- 1 10-ft long (3-m long), 2-in (5 cm) wide pipe
- ¼ in (6.4 mm) by 2 in (5 cm) eye bolt
- 2 washers
- ⅜ in (9.5 mm) nut
- Rope or cord
- Tetherball
- Garbage bag
- Cement mix
- Used car tire
- Chalk
- Spray paint
References
- ↑ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/family-home-evening-resource-book/family-activities/marked-yard-games?lang=eng
- ↑ https://oldsaltfarm.com/backyard-fun-make-your-own-diy-tetherball-set/
- ↑ https://oldsaltfarm.com/backyard-fun-make-your-own-diy-tetherball-set/
- ↑ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/family-home-evening-resource-book/family-activities/marked-yard-games?lang=eng
- ↑ http://www.toteth.com/tetherball_poles_sets_balls.html
- ↑ http://www.toteth.com/tetherball_poles_sets_balls.html
- ↑ http://www.toteth.com/rules.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make your own tetherball court, you'll need to find an open space, mark the lines for your court, then put up a tetherball pole. You’ll need a clear space of about 100 square feet to play tetherball. It doesn’t matter if it’s paved or grass, as long as it’s level. Once you’ve chosen your space, you’ll need to draw a circle on the ground of approximately 10 feet in diameter. Use spray paint for grass or dirt and chalk for cement. Draw a line through the center of the circle to separate it into 2 halves that each player will stand in. Place your tetherball pole in the center of the circle and you’re ready to play! For more tips, including how to build your own tetherball pole, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I was told rope attached at the top of the pole had to swivel, wrong.The last time I played was about 50 years ago so I forgot but every playground had a Tetherball Court.Thank you for showing the correct way (with eye hook) to attach rope to the top of pole." ..." more
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"I was told rope attached at the top of the pole had to swivel, wrong.The last time I played was about 50 years ago so I forgot but every playground had a Tetherball Court.Thank you for showing the correct way (with eye hook) to attach rope to the top of pole."
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"Great instructions on how to construct a tether ball pole and court, I thought I was going to have challenges doing so until I came across this articles. Thanks a lot."
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"Great video, nice easy instructions. It was cool to see that the kids got to help. "
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