Basketball Backstop Safety
By: John Pos
The buzzer sounds just as two points are added to the scoreboard, and spectators erupt in cheer for the home team. Hundreds of hours of practice and physical conditioning went into the team, and when the final buzzer sounded, it was all worth it. Watching kids play sports is great-children working together, learning the importance of good sportsmanship, and doing all of this in a safe environment, right? Of course the gym is a safe place-floors are regularly cleaned and inspected for damage, bleachers are lubricated and seats are tightened, and electrical and plumbing systems are subject to strict codes. But what about the stuff hanging over your head? Too often, basketball backstops are the most overlooked piece of equipment. Of course, manufacturers design and build backstop systems that are safe and reliable, but the majority of existing units lack a fully automatic safety strap and aren't regularly inspected.
In the cases I have seen or heard of, there were several different reasons for equipment failure. The one overriding factor in all falls is the lack of a fully automatic safety strap. Pulleys, cables, components, limit switches and many other factors can contribute to failure of a suspended backstop.
What Happens If They Fall?
When you turn the key to lower or raise your basketball backstops, do you ever think about what would happen if suddenly a cable snapped? For some backstops, it might not be a question of if, but when. Many athletic directors and staff members who operate basketball goals are quite weary of the size of these units and keep an open ear and a close eye on the unit when raising or lowering them. The movable portion of a backstop system can weigh close to 1,000 pounds and can be suspended 20 to 30 feet above the court floor. Together, when these systems fall, they can generate thousands of pounds of force on impact. It usually damages the backstop structure and facility. More importantly, it can also cause injury to people below. The type of damage that occurs when this happens can include pipes damaging ceilings and walls, damaged gym floors and bleachers, and even fractured ceiling beams.
Preventing Falls
Most systems are custom built at a state-of-the-art factory, shipped as a kit to a job site, and hen reassembled and installed in the gym ceiling. Manufacturers of suspended basketball equipment are very safety conscious and build safe and reliable structures. Once the system is properly installed, it is the schools responsibility to inspect and maintain that equipment.
The one item you should have even if you inspect and maintain your suspended equipment regularly is a fully automatic safety strap. This piece of equipment acts as a backup so that if the cable ever failed, the safety strap acts like the seatbelt in your car and stops the backboard from falling. Many older safety systems were not automatic and pinched the belt when triggered, requiring a manual reset of the unit. Striking the belt of an older system with a ball could trigger some of these systems, leaving the basket stuck in mid air. After having to travel 30 feet high to reset the unit a few times, many were just removed from the backstop and tied off to avoid having to reset them. Today, safety straps are fully enclosed and work silently in the background and do not need to be reset if actuated. There is no good reason for any movable backstop to not have a safety strap installed.
Accidents happen sometimes besides our best efforts to prevent them. Having a proper safety system installed will provide a greater level of safety. If you do not already have a preventative maintenance plan for your basketball backstops, I suggest you plan one now. If you do not have the resources or expertise to perform an initial inspection or to provide preventative maintenance, there are qualified equipment installers who can provide this service for you locally.
If you plan to perform this yourself, here are some suggestions for inspection and maintenance of your equipment:
* Install a safety strap or inspect your existing safety strap belt for any sign of wear and perform a pull test to test the units function
* Inspect and tighten bolts where needed
* Check all moving parts for signs of wear and replace as needed
* Lubricate moving parts where required
* Replace winch cable every two years or immediately if there is any visible wear
* Inspect and adjust limit switches
By following some of these general guidelines for better backstop safety, the next game in your gymnasium can be a safe and enjoyable experience for all involved.
John Pos is the sales and marketing director for LynRus Aluminum Products, www.lynrus.com, a manufacturer of patented safety systems and automation equipment for basketball backstop systems.
