Pool Sport Game Ideas, Maintenance Tips and More
The latest helpful articles and tips on pool maintenance, decorating ideas, and the latest pool sport equipment to enhance your outdoor water fun.
Pool Sport Game Ideas, Maintenance Tips and More
Top Pool Accessories 2019
As winter turns to spring, our thoughts drift to wonderful warm days of summer. The long days, the barbecues, the smell of freshly mown grass are soon to come, but most importantly, it will be time to open your pool. Whether you use your home pool for exercise, relaxation, or to be the center of the neighborhood, you need to accessorize your pool for maximum enjoyment. So, what are the must-have items for your backyard pool in 2019?
Wireless Waterproof Floating Speakers
You can't have a party without music. The hottest trend in technology for your pool is floating speakers that are wireless and waterproof. Just put them in your pool and control the music flow with your phone, tablet or laptop. Floating speakers allow you to enjoy your tunes at a reasonable distance, so you don't have to crank up your in-home system and bother the neighbors. Models are available that connect to your home Wi-Fi or via Bluetooth.
Pool Basketball
With a
pool basketball hoop, you can play horse or take on the neighbors. There are myriads of hoop styles to fit the type of pool you own. If you have an above ground pool, look for backboards that will mount on the side of the pool. If you have an in-ground pool, find a set that is freestanding and place it on your deck. For added security, get a mountable backboard and affix it to your deck, or the concrete pad around your pool. Free-floating hoops are also available, which can be used in any pool and you can take it with you to the lake, the beach, or a friend’s pool for fun on the go.
Pool Volleyball
Whether its two on two or a whole group playing, pool volleyball is the perfect mix of frivolity and exercise. Learn to set spikes and get that last dig while staying cool in the pool. Like basketball sets, there are plenty of mounting options for the net depending on the style of pool you own. Most are easy to put up or take down, so you can go from swimming to spiking in no time.
Combo Sports Units
Can't decide whether you'd prefer a basketball hoop or a volleyball net? Don't! Get yourself a
combo unit with both games. Now you can seamlessly transition from the top of the net to the top of the key, while still your pool.
Summer is just around the corner so don't wait to pick up some or all these accessories. Then you can have fun in the sun all season long.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
Pool Basketball Rules
There are so many great reasons to love summer. The weather is great, school is out, and most people do not mind getting outside and enjoying it. The only draw back to most summer activities is that it can get so hot you are just miserable and want to head back inside where the AC will protect you from the heat or take a dunk in the pool. If you hate choosing between fun sports activities and staying cool, then pool sports such as basketball is the solution.
What is Pool Basketball?
Pool basketball is literally the best of both worlds for summer fun. With a quality pool basketball hoop, your backyard pool can become a fun family battle ground for endless days of summer fun. The
pool basketball hoops from Dunn-Rite products are strong, durable and able to withstand even the most serious basketball showdowns.
Pool basketball hoops come in a few different varieties. Floating Aqua Hoops are simple pool toys which you can easily add to your pool. These toys allow players to move around the pool with the hoop and make shots from anywhere. This is great for low key playtime, especially for smaller kids.
If you want to take your pool basketball to a more serious level, there are heavy duty hoops which can be placed at the deep end of your pool. These can come in both mounted or unmounted styles. Mounted styles offer the best in durability, while unmounted allow the flexibility of moving the hoop when you wish.
How to Play Pool Basketball
Obviously, you can have a ton of fun just shooting hoops and making up your own rules as you go, but if you are interested in hosting some serious games with a bigger group, there are official rules to pool basketball, in fact this sport has been added to many collegiate line ups at colleges across America. The following water basketball rules were taken from the student recreation information of the University of Arkansas.
There should be 5 players per team, with only 4 in the water. This is a great number for most neighborhood games, or even large family get togethers.
Players are required, in official pool basketball, to remain inside an inner tube flotation device at all times. If you don’t want to follow the official rules, obviously you don’t have to, but the flotation devices make the game a bit more challenging, not to mention it really intensifies the work out you are getting.
Each team is only allowed 3 fouls. If your team exceeds the fouls, then the other team begins accumulating points for each foul. The rules of play are very similar to that of court basketball except that free throws and 3-point shots are not allowed.
Out of bounds is considered the edge of the pool. If the ball goes beyond the edge of the pool it will be considered out of bounds.
There are violations in pool basketball just as there are in court ball, however the violations are quite different. Players are not allowed to exit their inner tubes. Any action which takes place outside of the inner tube is obsolete. Players are not allowed to push off the sides of the pool to give themselves momentum or advantage. The ball cannot be submerged in an effort to keep it away from another player. Players cannot jostle other players by grabbing their inner tube. Players may not push, shove or hold anyone under water. Any of these actions result in a personal foul.
Water basketball is just one of the many fun pool sports you can incorporate into your family’s pool time this summer. Having a pool is great but having a pool that doubles as a family rec center, is even better. Dunn-Rite Pool Products has everything you need to turn your pool into the go to spot for family fun and exercise.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
Improve Fitness the Easy Way — In Your Own Back Yard
It’s
summer. The sun is shining, and the weather is just right for fun. But
if you’re one of the 50 million Americans that are living a
sedentary
life, you might not be getting all the benefits
that getting outside can give you. Steven Blair, an expert in exercise science and a
professor at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of
Public Health, calls this lack of exercise, “the biggest public
health problem of the 21
st century.”
And he should know.
Not only does he study the effects of exercise on your brain and
physiology, but he contributed to the 1996 U.S. Surgeon General’s
Report on Physical Activity and Health as the senior scientific
editor.
Let’s take a look at the ways that you can improve fitness to benefit your
health and your happiness.
Improve Fitness with Exercise and
Health
There’s
an extensive amount of research that shows that exercising — even
as little as 30 minutes per day — can add a significant boost to
your health.
Just
by making it a regular part of your day or week, exercise can:
Help you live longer
Contribute to weight loss
Keep your muscles and bones
strong as you age
Reduce chronic disease risk
Promote brain health
Promote skin health
Reduce pain
Improve your sex life
With
just a half-hour of activity per day, you could be on your way to
significant benefits to your life and health.
Lose the Laziness for Longer Life
A
study
conducted around the exercise habits of 80,000 participants found
that just 30 minutes of exercise translated to better health and
reduced mortality. In
fact, men who were just moderately fit enjoyed six more years of fun
in the sun than their couch-potato counterparts.
Trounce Obesity with Activity
Exercise is a proven
way to get those extra pounds off and keep from getting a metabolic
syndrome, a disorder where your body finds it hard to lose weight. What’s more, you’ll find as you exercise, your body will naturally be firmer and more toned, contributing to a positive body image and increased fitness.
Move More for Strong Muscles and Bones
As
we age, our muscles and bones need some extra care to stay strong and
healthy. Exercise, even a little bit each day, can help lax muscles by helping your body absorb amino acids more easily. In addition, adolescents were better able to keep osteoporosis, or brittle bones, at bay later in life.
Reduce Chronic Disease with Regular Activity
in the International Journal of
General Medicine showed that exercise through leisure activities
helped to decrease risk factors like hypertension, diabetes,
metabolic syndrome, and more.
Exercise can help you even if you’re already experiencing a loss of
health. In
people that already have coronary disease, exercise helped prevent
heart attacks and stroke, and in patients already in heart failure,
exercise increased quality of life and reduced need for surgery.
Big Payoff for Brain Health
By
putting a halt to inflammation, exercise is a powerful way to keep
your brain healthy far into later life. Exercise has many benefits for your brain, including clearer
focus, improved memory, and improved outlook.
Go for the Glow
Everyone wants to keep the rosy glow of youth and exercise can help you do it. By increasing
your body’s absorption of antioxidants and
reducing oxidative stress on your skin, exercise can keep the skin of
your face and body looking years younger. If you improve fitness, you improve your skin as well.
Increase Activity, Reduce Pain
If you’ve got chronic pain, you need exercise. It might seem
counter-intuitive, but moving
your body is one of the best ways to combat insistent, long-term pain. Syndromes like fibromyalgia benefit from gentle, repetitive exercises performed
regularly.
Get Some Action and Improve Your Sex
Life
Who doesn’t want more, and better, sex? If you want to increase
the passion, go for a walk, a run or a swim. Exercise is correlated
with more desire, better sex and more sex. No pills necessary , all you need is a little bit of daily movement to
get a whole lot of action at night. Although all of these benefits are fantastic, the link between exercise and
happiness deserves some special attention.
Exercise - A Drug-free Way to Happiness
Getting physical isn’t just good for your body, it’s good for your
mind as well. There’s wide-ranging evidence that getting your move on can help fight depression, improve overall
mood and increase motivation. There have been numerous studies that point to a clear link between exercise and mood. Exercise
can help improve the outlooks of even those suffering from a major depressive
disorder. Exercise works by lowering inflammation and increasing the release of
endorphins, the “feel good” hormones, that can boost
outlook.
Exercise is a natural way to release stress and anxiety while promoting a
calm, centered mind. But there’s even more benefit to getting yourself in motion. Exercise
boosts blood flow to your brain, which contributes to clearer focus
and sharper memory. Getting some daily movement into your life is also associated with better, more restful sleep. This, in turn, contributes to a host of anti-aging benefits, including clearer, more radiant skin for those interested in keeping their youthful glow.
Let’s Get Physical — Improve
Fitness the Fun Way
There are many ways to get some exercise. You can walk, run, hike or bike. One way in particular is so much fun that people don’t really think of it as exercise, swimming. Specifically, swimming has been proven to be an excellent way to stay fit. It’s low-impact, so it’s within reach for most people, even those with physical limitations to enjoy. A study of women who were regular swimmers showed lowered body fat, increased fitness and flexibility and lowered blood lipids. Women with mild hypertension who practiced high-intensity interval
training in the pool were able to lower their blood pressure through this exercise alone.
Swimming can get your blood pumping, your muscles working, and those feel-good endorphins flowing like a river. Within days of regular visits to the pool, you could begin to feel, and look better.
Let’s look at some great ways to put fun and fitness into your pool.
Take A Daily Dip
The simplest way to get fit in your pool is the most intuitive — just get in and swim. If you’d like to cool off after a hot day running errands or doing yard work, then jump in when the sun’s high in the sky. If you want to be careful of getting too much sun, then a morning or evening dip might work best for you. To improve fitness, just be sure that you put it on your calendar so it’s part of your daily routine. You definitely do not have to be a pro swimmer. Even a dog paddle down the length of the pool will get your heart rate up and your muscles moving.
Water Work Out
Water aerobics are a great way to get both cardiovascular and muscle-toning
into your pool fitness plan. You can use equipment specially designed
for the pool to add weight to your routine, such as special floating
belts to help you stay upright in deep water. Water fitness routines are online from many sources. Once you learn a number of exercises, you can put them together for an individualized exercise plan and set them to the music of your choice for an extra boost.
Water Sports — The Ultimate Combination of Exercise and Fun
One of the best ways to get a fantastic water workout and improve fitness without even realizing that you’re exercising is to make fitness a social, playful event.
Water basketball is a great way to get your heart rate up, burn some calories and burn off some steam. It doesn’t take much to get a full-on water hoops game going in your own backyard pool, just a hoop and a ball
and you’re ready. You’ll want to make sure the equipment you choose is heavy-duty and ready to stand up to the sun and the pool environment because once you realize how much fun it is to get your exercise this way, you’ll be playing
every day. Dunn Rite makes water basketball equipment for any pool size and type, and their equipment is built to last, so you’ll be able to get your exercise regularly for the most benefit.
If you’re more of a volleyball fanatic, Dunn Rite has you covered there, too, with both
deck-mounted
and portable pool volleyball nets.
Pool volleyball can involve large teams, so you can get the entire family
as well as a few friends or neighbors in on the action.
Both types of water sports are great for young kids and adolescents who
don’t like the idea of “regular” fitness. Once engaged in a
game, kids and adults alike forget about the fitness aspect and just
concentrate on having fun. Before you know it, you’ll have gotten more than your half-hour of exercise in without feeling like you’ve been chained to a tedious workout.
Pool Sports — Your Fun, Easy, Inexpensive Way to Fitness
There’s no need for expensive gym memberships and thousand-dollar gym equipment when you have the ultimate fitness playground in your back yard, your pool. No need to travel long distances to a running track, gym, or basketball court when your own sports and fitness center is a few feet from your back door. Plus, you don’t have to worry about bringing a change of clothes, enduring a sweaty ride home, or worse yet, showering in unsanitary facilities. Instead, choose some pool aerobics routines, get some sturdy equipment from
Dunn Rite
for your choice of water basketball or volleyball, and let the fitness begin.
Best of all, exercising in your pool won’t even seem like exercising at all, and you’ll be reaping the benefits of being more fit in no time. In fact, with water sports, you’ll be able to make fitness a family affair and get everyone in on the action.
Establishing fun exercise activities for your kids when they’re at home will help keep them fit, build good habits for adulthood and help the whole family reach health and fitness goals together.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
Water Basketball and Pool Games You Need to Try
It’s summer and it’s time to get out and enjoy the sunshine. If you have a pool, you’re in a select group of lucky individuals who don’t even have to leave their homes in order to have a blast. Pools are a great way to get family and friends together for some fun in the sun, whether you're playing water basketball or just hanging out. Even when it’s hot and humid, a pool offers the perfect way to be active without being overheated.
Water Basketball & Pool Games You Need to Try
And
it’s a good thing you’ve got a built-in source of entertainment
right in your own backyard. In our world of hustle and bustle,
there’s a growing
trend to take a summer vacation at home.
Whimsically
named “staycations,” this trend underscores that today’s
families want simpler fun and leisure activities that don’t cost a
lot of money and don’t require the hectic pace of airline and car
travel.
So
there are the staycationers, but what’s even more interesting is
that more and more Americans seem to be opting for no vacations at
all, with 43% of Americans claiming
they won’t take vacation at all this summer.
But
don’t worry. If you have a pool, “no vacation” doesn’t
necessarily mean “no fun.”
Because
you’re lucky enough to have a staple of summer fun, you’ll be
able to fill your evenings and weekends with a whole slew of
activities that are fun for the whole family.
And
just to show you what we mean, we’ve compiled a list of some of the
best activities for pool-time entertainment.
Water Basketball — A Great Way to Get
Fun and Fit
Water basketball is one of the most exciting pool sports and one that can
engage the whole family, from small to tall.
The
game has a long
history of providing a watery challenge for aficionados. Created
to be a combination of basketball and water polo, water basketball is
the ultimate family-friendly competitive water sport. In
general, it involves five-player teams who each shoot a regulation
pool basketball into a goal once their team has gained possession of
the ball.
Variations
of the game were developed in Slovenia, where a floating basket was
introduced. While this adds some difficulty to the game, in the home
pool a floating basket can be just right for smaller children. Finally,
two players from Slovenia created a basket specifically for pool
basketball that featured a pole that extends into the water with a
basket that’s hung over the water level by one meter. This allows
the game to played behind the basket, which added to the
competitiveness and excitement.
Bring Water Basketball to the Pool
At
Dunn-Rite, we manufacture high-quality pool basketball equipment that
can bring this fun, dynamic sport to your very own backyard. You
can choose from our
floating basketball hoop called AquaHoop to make it easier for small children or one of our
many fine
equipment sets.
Our
products are made with strong, corrosion-resistant materials for
protection against saltwater and chlorine environments as well as
protection against UV rays. This
attention to quality means you’ll be able to enjoy your pool
basketball equipment for years to come.
To
play the game at home, you can any follow any variation of the
standard rules, or even create your own game.
Generally,
people tend to follow the same rules for violations, which include:
No pushing off of the side of
the pool.
No submerging the ball to
keep it from the other players.
No off-balancing other
players.
Free throws and 3-point shots
are disallowed.
Goal tending just means a
point for the other team.
The pool edges serve as
boundaries and the ball is “out” beyond them.
If a player forces a ball
out, the other team gets the point.
Any of the above actions
results in a foul.
Really,
it’s your pool and your game. The sky’s the limit for creativity
and fun!
Pool Games to Try
There
are more games than just pool basketball on the agenda this summer.
With
just a few basic pieces of equipment, you can turn your pool area
into a fun and fabulous destination for friends, family, and
neighbors.
Water Volleyball (aka Pool Volleyball)
Another
exciting game for home pools, pool volleyball offers a way to get the
whole family in on the action.
With
two teams of one to four people depending on the size of the pool,
this fast-moving game can easily accommodate even the youngest
players.
Smaller
or shorter players can occupy the shallower section of the pool,
while older or taller players can move into the deeper water.
The
rules are simple — don’t let the ball touch the water or go out
of the pool onto the decking or grass. Most people play to 11, 15, or
25 points and a team must have a two-point lead to win the game.
You
don’t need much equipment to get a good game going, Dunn-Rite provides everything you need in the same high-quality materials
you’ve come to expect from them.
You
can choose from a set where the net is mounted into poles in your
pool deck or where the net extends from weighted bases that sit on
top of your deck’s surface.
Like
all Dunn-Rite pool equipment, their
pool volleyball units are made from
heavy-duty materials of the highest quality to stand up to rigorous
play, pool conditions, and the harsh rays of the sun.
Covered or “Blind” Volleyball
Want
to find another great game to play with your pool volleyball
equipment?
Covered
volleyball is a simple way to spice up your pool ball game without
spending a lot of money or taking time out to set up extra equipment.
Covered
volleyball involves hanging sheets or towels over the volleyball net
so that you can’t see the positions and movements of the opposing
team.
This
means you’ll never know where the ball is coming from, so you’ll
have to be on your toes. Any number of players can play, making this
ideal for large group settings.
Like
any volleyball game, the points are scored when the ball hits the
surface of the water or the pool deck. Follow the usual volleyball
scoring rules and game play.
Night Ball
It
seems like the simplest of switch-ups but playing pool basketball or
volleyball with a bit of glow-in-the-dark equipment can add interest
and entertainment to your game play.
You
can suit your team up with glow-in-the-dark T-shirts to wear over
their bathing suits, get a glow-in-the-dark ball, or even substitute
a glow-in-the-dark basketball net for the one that came with your
hoop.
Most
of these glow-in-the-dark items are not chlorine, UV ray, or
saltwater-resistant, so you’ll need to remove them at the end of
game-play and replace them with your original, pool-quality equipment.
Bucket Ball
If
you’re lucky enough to have a Dunn-Rite AquaHoop floating basketball hoop, you have all you need to play a game of
bucket ball.
It’s
best to have multiple floating hoops for more challenging game play,
but even one will do. First, get a hold of some floating bean bags or
floating hacky sacks.
Your
aim is for your team to get as many bean bags or hacky sacks into the
floating hoop as possible, taking turns from one team to the next.
If
you have more than one hoop, both teams can play at the same time or
you can position the hoops at different places in the pool.
If
you have hoops at different places, team members can score more
points for making the more challenging shot.
This
game lends itself to all kinds of iterations. You can use different
floating items to score baskets, have a team member move the basket
while someone takes a shot, or have everyone jump around to cause the
motion of the water to move the baskets.
There’s
no end to the number of games your friends and family can invent
using these simple pieces of equipment.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
Make Your Summer a Slam Dunk with Pool Basketball
Nothing says summer fun like a sport that combines the cool, refreshing environment of a crystal-clear pool with the high-energy game play of basketball.
Plus, pool basketball is a great way to entertain a group of friends for a summer afternoon when everyone’s tired of being cooped up indoors.
The chill of the pool water coupled with invigorating exercise is the perfect antidote for those summer doldrums. Perfect for large groups or even just a handful of friends, pool basketball is your answer to summer entertainment.
Never heard of pool basketball?
That’s okay — here’s a quick primer to get you up to speed.
What is Pool Basketball?
Pool basketball, also called water basketball, combines the fast-paced action of water polo with the finesse of basketball into a game you can play in your own backyard swimming pool.
It was created in 1986 by an Italian, Francesco Rizzuto, who developed the format for the basic game.
Currently, there are a lot of variations of the game, but the basic premise is simple. Once they have possession of the ball, teams consisting of five players each have a certain amount of time to make a shot at the goal.
But it’s your pool, and you can play any version of basketball you like. Shooting hoops solo? Sure. Two-on-two? Awesome. A rousing game of H-O-R-S-E? Absolutely! From teams of two to however-many-are-there, pool basketball can be played any way that makes you happy.
A pool basketball set at your home pool will make staying active this summer simple, easy, and fun.
Pool Basketball Around the World
In fact, it’s so much fun that many countries have teams play regularly and even compete on a national level. There are so many teams across the globe that it’s hard to catalogue them all, so we’ll highlight just a few.
Water Basketball Down Under
Tasmania has had their own
Water Basketball league since 2003 when the season was kicked off with a demonstration game between two teams that were made of players drafted from the Hobart Chargers, Tassie Devils football, Hobart Hurricanes, and team members from the cricket team the Tassie Tigers.
The community loved it so much that the local Hobart Aquatic Centre developed a recreational form of the game that involves two six-player teams (with three female players each) that work to pass the ball from the end of the pool to the goal.
Italian “Water Basket”
There have to be Italian pool basketball teams, given the fact that the originator of the sport is an Italian national — but they didn’t get serious until 1994.
Then, it still took more than ten years for the excitement to build. But in 2003, the first “Water Basket” tournament was
played in Florence between national teams from Hungary and Italy.
The home team, Italy, was triumphant, in part due to the large number of skilled water polo players on the team.
The Italian Federation of Basketball went on to officially recognize the water sport as a form of basketball in 2005.
Slavic Innovation
In nearby Slovenia, the game was tweaked to make it more convenient. Originally, there were two popular forms of the game played locally.
In the first, there was a fixed basket at the pool’s edge. Some players found the basket height too high for finesse moves from the water and others ended up kicking the pool wall during a shot, causing injury.
The second game format used a floating basket, which many players felt made accurate shots more difficult.
To solve these problems, two players from Kranj, Slovenia — Tomaž Slavec and Matjaž Kodek — invented a basket that consisted of a long pillar sunk in the water. The pole then had a basket hanging about three feet above water level.
This unique water-mounted hoop permitted players to play from all angles around the basket, allowing the game to become more dynamic.
Dutch Waterbasketbal — A Game for Everyone
Another form of water basketball has been played in the Netherlands for many decades. Developed to provide fun and exercise for people with handicaps, this Netherlands version of the sport includes a series of tournaments, a national championship, and an official Dutch Waterbasketbal Championship to honor the best of the best.
Water Basketball in the USA
No line-up of water basketball teams would be complete without our homegrown crews. Water basketball has been a staple sport in backyard pools around the country for decades, but it’s also found its way into community
recreation centers and college campuses.
In fact, one recent video featured the University of Louisville baseball team showing off their water basketball skills at their annual Labor Day Dunk. The video,
which went viral, showcased eleven players making an ultra-elaborate, choreographed goal shot in a pool.
The ball traveled from a trampoline, to players in the pool, to a perfectly-timed catch on a slide, to more players, back to the trampoline, and finally in the basket. Just watching the clip will make you want to suit up and dive into the fun.
Ready to Add the Fun of Pool Basketball to Your Pool?
It’s obvious that pool basketball makes having summer fun so much easier. Easy to learn and fun to play, water basketball is the perfect sport for the whole family.
To get started, all you need is a few simple pieces of equipment.
But don’t be fooled by all the choices. Pool basketball equipment is subjected to extremes of seasonal heat and chemicals or salt from your pool, so you’ll need to choose wisely. You’ll want to consider only equipment made with high quality components that will give you many years of playing pleasure.
In this case, it’s better to buy a quality pool basketball set once than purchase a cheap set that only lasts a season. Let’s take a look at what goes into a pool basketball set.
Shopping for a Quality Pool Basketball Set
There are only two components to a game set — a basketball hoop and ball.
Seems simple enough, right?
But this is where it pays to understand the construction and nature of these kits to ensure you’re not throwing your money away on substandard equipment that will break down in a season.
Let’s look at your options.
Pool Basketball Hoop Options
There are two types of hoops — those on the pool deck and those that float in the water. It’s up to you which suits your way of gaming better.
FLOATING HOOP
Those with small children might prefer the
floating hoop that kids can swim up to, but at the same time, a floating hoop can also add excitement to a game played with active teens as it bobs and moves in the pool.
It does not have a backboard, so it removes the problem of rough-housing such as rim-hanging from your summer pool scene. If you choose this kind of hoop, be sure that the netting is heavy-duty polyester that will stand up to the salt and chlorine in your pool water.
Some nets are made of flimsy plastic that will degrade from sunlight and chemicals in just one season. Some floating pool basketball hoops are made of cheap metal.
Don’t waste your money on these. They’ll rust and deteriorate quickly, and can be a potential safety hazard.
Choose at least a 3P PVC construction to give you a tough, durable hoop that can take some bouncing off rough pool walls without scratching or wearing. Thicker PVC will also give the hoop additional resistance against deterioration by UV rays, and hold up to seasons of fun and play.
DECK-MOUNTED HOOP
A hoop that’s meant for your pool deck can be freestanding or mounted in a hole in your deck, called a ground sleeve. A
freestanding hoop is one with a weighted base filled with water or sand to anchor it to the deck surface. Some higher-end models have a four-way leveling system that allows placement even on sloped or uneven deck surfaces.
Many models have an adjustable pole to accommodate players of any age and skill, but even if the poles aren’t adjustable, higher-quality builds will normally feature an inward-slanting pole to extend the hoop over the water for ease of play.
If you’d like a pole mounted to a cupped indentation in your pool decking, look for the height you want, as these poles are normally not adjustable.
The size of the post is variable as well, so measure the diameter of your pool deck sleeve to ensure you purchase the correct size post. They normally come in 1.90” and 2 3/8” sizes. You’ll also want to ensure the pole features stainless steel construction so it can stand up to severe salt-and-chlorine environments.
For saltwater environment, vinyl-coated or powder-coated stainless is best for additional rust-resistance. The rims on the hoop are important as well, and should be stainless steel or vinyl-coated stainless steel for the ultimate in weather protection and structural soundness.
Look for hoop systems that offer brass anchors with a cap to protect the ground sleeve of your pool from standing water when the pole is not in use. This will leave your pool deck more attractive in the off-season and keep mosquitoes and other insects from making your pool into a habitat.
Hanging on the Rim — What You Need to Know
Kids and adults alike love showboating their basketball skills by hanging on the rim of the basketball hoop. If you think you’ve got one — or more — people among your pool pals that might be a rim-hanger, it pays to get a backboard (and rim) that can handle this kind of abuse.
You’ll want a reinforced poly backboard for maximum strength under pressure and a stainless-steel rim for weather- and environment-proofing.
Your backboard needs to be strong to withstand repetitive hits as well as weather and rust. For safety’s sake, the entire pool basketball unit should be the highest quality possible.
A person’s body weight, especially when involved in a fast, up-and-down motion as in a basketball dunk, can put a lot of pressure on flimsy rims and lightweight hoop systems. If your pool basketball set is going to see some heavy action, it’s worth the money to get the very strongest and most durable backboard and rim combination.
How to Ensure You Get a High-Quality Pool Basketball Set
The best way to guarantee you’ll get a pool basketball set that’s attractive, durable, and a great value is to purchase from a company that knows the sport and knows how to make quality, long-lasting equipment.
Dunn Rite Pool Products has been around since 1988. A family-owned business, Dunn Rite has a reputation for innovation and high quality.
In fact, they were the first company to design and market a commercial-grade water basketball hoop product. Their family of water basketball products not only features the highest-quality materials for long-lasting durability, but also a range of products that can suit any budget — without sacrificing quality.
Best of all, they supply individual parts for everything they sell, so if you lose an anchor or leave your basketball at a friend’s house, a replacement is just a click away. They warranty their products and their returns policy is very generous — it’s obvious that customer care is at the top of their list.
In addition, they offer online instruction manuals for all their products. If you lose your manual between seasons, it’s easy to find the information you need right at your fingertips.
Don’t trust your summer fun to just anyone. If you want a pool basketball set-up that’s done right, then Dunn Rite is your only option.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
Perfect Planter Pot
Why a Self-Watering Pot?
If you currently have houseplants, or have ever had them in the past, you know that they can bring a lot of peace, calm, and relaxation to your environment. Some plants, however can require a lot of time and work for the benefits they provide. When growing herbs and vegetables this can start to turn into a full-time job if you let it. What’s the best way to provide your environment with that extra pick-me-up that only foliage can provide? A plant in a self-watering container, the
Dunn-Rite Perfect Pot!
Plants are usually fairly easy to grow, but they do still require regular watering and maintenance. If you are busy or just forgetful sometimes, this can cause your plants to suffer the consequences. It's always a sad day when the plant you've been nurturing and helping to grow over time gets droopy and starts dropping leaves.
Even if you don’t have a problem with forgetting to water your plants, it still takes time to do so - particularly once you start having a lot of them. Having a self-watering container will help cut down on watering time tremendously, and free that time up for you to enjoy nature’s bounty while you relax. Sometimes after a long day you don’t necessarily want to spend an hour watering, weeding, and trimming your plants before you can enjoy them.
Additionally, it is better for your plants to have a regular watering schedule. It’s natural to want your plants to be healthy and productive, and making sure they have all the water they need to grow and thrive is one of the important keys to keeping them that way. If you travel a lot and are away from home frequently, the Dunn Rite Perfect Planter is a great way to make sure that your plant stays healthy while you're away without having to have someone come by and water it every day.
Benefits of Nature
Air purity is one of the benefits provided by plant life, particularly converting carbon dioxide to usable oxygen that we breathe. In addition, individual plants have a small impact on airborne particulate matter, which can definitely add up. Airborne particulate matter and other types of indoor air pollution are on the rise, and any steps that you can take to help reduce this in your own home can go a long way toward making you breathe easier.
Another surprising benefit to spending time in and around plant life and soil is elevation of mood and mental well-being which can make all the difference when you’re trying to relax after a hard day or week. Studies have shown that the effects of this can last as long as three weeks after spending just a few hours surrounded by natural flora and fauna.
High-Maintenance Plants
If you’re growing food plants, such as tomatoes or other vegetables, water is a major concern to keep them healthy and growing! Did you know that world-record pumpkins can consume up to 100 gallons of water a day? Your backyard tomato plant probably won’t need quite that much, but it is still good to make sure that your edible plants have ready access to the water they need as they grow.
If you’re growing flowers, having a Perfect Pot can help you maintain the right conditions and environment for them so that they grow to be healthy and colorful. Flowers need special soil sometimes, so it’s also a good idea to check their specific needs before potting them. You may also wish to use a fertilizer designed for the type of flower you are growing, it can be a good idea to look into the recommendations for your individual plant and biome.
For plants that aren’t native to your area, having a container is a must! If you have plants that don’t handle cold well, you can bring them inside during freezes and keep them alive. This is also helpful for plants that might spread if planted directly in the ground, like rhizomatic bamboo or some other popular ornamentals. In many areas, it can be illegal to plant anything that could potentially become an invasive species directly into the ground, so planting in a container is a great alternative to checking your local zoning regulations.
Conclusion
If you love growing plants, or even if you are just curious about trying your hand at growing something, it's hard to go wrong with the
Dunn-Rite Perfect Pot. Our design has been exhaustively tested and refined to bring you the self-watering planter that we believe is the best in class, as well as stylish and affordable. Growing in a container like this means no need to weed or treat the area for pests, and far less risk of wildlife deciding that your plants are a tasty treat just for them to snack on. Plus, it’s great for people who are on the go or not always at home to water the plants. Order one today, and you'll be happy you did.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
3 Fun (and Highly Competitive) Pool Games
When you’ve got a pool, one of the best things about it is the vast array of activities you and the kids can enjoy. But even though playing underwater games, swimming, and relaxing on inflatables is an obvious choice, did you know team sports are another great source of entertainment for your pool?
From pool parties with your friends to family fun in the sun, these pool sports can be tailored to suit both children and adults, providing you all with plenty of exercise, fun, and bragging rights (if you win!).
So to help you make the most of your pool and the cool sports you can play within it, we’ve listed three of our favorite pool games below:
1. Basketball Pool Games
How on earth do you play basketball in the water, we hear you ask. Well, even though it does require some imagination (and no underwater dribbling, you’ll be pleased to know), there’s plenty of fun to be had shooting the basketball into a net at the end of the pool. And, if you want to get really competitive, there are some technical rules you can adhere to, too.
There are several different ways you can play pool basketball but these games often combine the traditional rules of water polo and basketball. Simply create teams of three or five and see who can shoot as many goals as possible in a certain timeframe. You could even change this up a bit by seeing how many goals each team can score every time they gain possession.
If you can, install two
basketball hoops to create a more competitive environment with each team having their own hoop to defend.
However, regardless of whether there are two hoops or one, each jump shot gets 2 points and slam dunks get 1 point. After a player gets the ball, they’re not allowed to move, but they can use a pivot foot to maneuver themselves around. Play until the designated time is up, or until a team gets to a certain score.
2. Volleyball Pool Games
If you’ve never played pool volleyball before, you’re in for a real treat. And it’s ideal for a large number of players or small groups.
Pool volleyball nets don’t need to be a permanent fixture, either, as you can opt for portable ones with water-filled bases for the poles, or deck-mounted designs where the poles can be removed after play and replaced with finishing caps.
Want to give the game a competitive edge?
Then you’ll need to follow very similar rules to land-based volleyball (while obviously taking into account that players are restricted by the water in the pool). Create teams of 4 or 6 players with one on each side of the net. Then, it’s the best of three games, with each game being won by the first team who gets to 11, 15, or 25, depending on how long you want the game to last for. But for the team to win, they have to lead the other team by at least 2 points. Otherwise, you’ll need to keep going until one of you has this advantage.
Fancy having a go at both volleyball and basketball? Then there are
combo units available so you can have the best of both worlds.
3. Water Polo Pool Games
Finally, why not try your hand at a game that merges the rules of hockey, soccer, and basketball, with a little bit of swimming and wrestling thrown into the mix, too. All you need is a ball and a goal at either end of the pool (a soccer goal will suffice).
Create teams of up to seven players before playing four rounds of seven minutes. Typically, players are only permitted to use one hand to pass and hold the ball and each goal scored gets a single point. This goal has to be scored by getting the ball between the two goal posts (again, like soccer). And once a goal has been scored, the ball is released again after everyone has returned to their positions in the pool.
So, whether you fancy yourself as the next water-based Michael Jordan or you’re keen to reenact the volleyball scene from Top Gun (in the water, of course), there’s a game to suit everyone.
For high-quality pool products that’ll provide you plenty of fun in the sun, look no further than our fantastic selection at
Dunn Rite Products.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products and Inflatable Paddle Boards
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Inflatable Paddle Boards - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
A Guide to Choosing Swimming Pool Basketball Games
Whether you’re accessorizing the pool for the kids or you’re looking for ways to add the fun factor to your next pool party, one thing’s for sure, swimming pool basketball games are a must-have.
But with a variety of different models available, how do you choose the right one for you, your kids, and your pool?
Below, we’ll explain what to look out for when buying a pool basketball set, while also providing you with some helpful advice on what age groups these sets are best suited for.
Floating Swimming Pool Basketball Games
If you’re buying for the kids, or you want a design that suits all abilities (and you’re not taking your basketball games too seriously!), The
AquaHoop is ideal. These are designed to float on the surface of the water so kids can easily jump out of a shallow pool to score a slam dunk.
They’re also great if you’re still wondering whether or not a basketball game’s right for your pool because they don’t require any installation and aren’t as big an investment. And even if you do upgrade your basketball set afterward, this pool game will still bring hours of lighthearted entertainment – for kids and adults.
Portable Swimming Pool Basketball Games
When it comes to the bigger
basketball hoops, there are two main types – portable basketball hoops (where you fill the base with water or sand to keep it in position at the poolside) or deck-mounted basketball hoops (that are fixed to the side of your pool).
Portable basketball hoops are ideal if you want to be able to store the unit out of sight when it’s not in use (although, this is a feature on some deck-mounted hoops, too). However, with their heavy-duty bases, you can still enjoy the peace of mind that these are safe and secure throughout play – even if someone loves to show off with a slam dunk or two.
Look for designs like the
Splash and Shoot that feature reinforced backboards and hard-wearing posts for added durability. Designs like these often come with an adjustable feature, too, so it’s suitable for kids, teens, and adults alike.
Deck-Mounted Swimming Pool Basketball Games
Know you’re going to be hosting regular basketball tournaments in your pool?
Then you may want to ditch the water-filled base in favor of a post that’s fixed straight onto the side of your pool. This offers a slightly more streamlined look and looks just like a traditional basketball hoop (except for the fact it’s half the size to allow for the depth of the pool!).
It’s important to note, though, that because this is a fixed pole, you can’t alter the height of it, so it is best suited for teens and adults, or in very shallow pools for the kids.
Again, you’ll want to find a design that’s been made to stand up to the demands of even the most competitive of basketball matches (like the
Clear Hoop Jr., for example). Furthermore, designs like this do come with the added bonus that, although they are fixed, they can be removed when they’re not in use. All you need to do is replace the post with a finishing cap when you’re not using it.
Combination Volleyball and Basketball Pool Sets
Decided you want a basketball hoop for your pool but still looking for ways you can up the ante?
Then look no further than
pool combo units.
These allow you to play basketball and volleyball in your pool (not at once, though – that would be a little difficult!) and come complete with a basketball hoop, basketball, volleyball net, and volleyball. And, even though the volleyball nets in these sets are quite standard, you will still need to choose between the water-based or deck-mounted design of the basketball hoop – the former being more ideally suited to various ages and the latter for older teens and adults.
Hopefully, the above has shed some light on the variety of basketball hoops available for swimming pools. But whatever design you do choose, you are guaranteed plenty of entertainment, lots of splashes, and some epic poolside pictures of everyone’s slam dunk faces!
With Dunn Rite Pool Products, you can be confident in the high-quality, durable products we sell. Still need some more advice? Then contact our friendly team today at 800-798-9646.
Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories
3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality.
Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball
