How to Make a Tether Ball Court

Co-authored by Sophia Latorre

Last Updated: June 29, 2021 Approved

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.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Building a Tetherball Pole

1
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]
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- Be sure to measure the rebar carefully; the crossbar won’t fit inside the tire otherwise.
2
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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3
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.
4
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.
5
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]
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- 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.
6
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]
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- Remove the garbage bag from the bottom of the tire once the concrete is dry.
7
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]
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- Some tetherballs come with a cord attached; if this is the case, use that instead of the rope.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Creating a Tetherball Court

1
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.
2
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]
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3
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.
4
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]
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5
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]
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Community Q&A

Question

How much cement is needed for a 14 foot court?

Community Answer

It would depend - more measurements would be needed to give an exact answer.
Question

How much cement is needed?

Community Answer

I was surprised to use five 60 lb. bags to fill a mini-van's tire. That is 300 lbs! Works great, though.
Question

How far from the ground should the ball be ?

Community Answer

This 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.