How to Build a Tether Ball
Tether ball is a classic recreational game played on playgrounds across the country. The game requires very little equipment and can be played in open spaces as small as 10 feet in diameter. From a parent's perspective, tether ball is a great activity for schoolchildren. Not only is the game relatively safe, but it requires physical activity while keeping kids in a confined area, making it easier to monitor them. The object of the game is for two players to alternate hitting the tether ball around a metal pole--one hitting it clockwise, the other counter-clockwise. The winner is the player who wraps the ball completely around the pole without any slack remaining on the rope. Here's what you need to know to build your own setup.
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Cement
- 12-foot metal pole, 2 inches in diameter
- 8-foot nylon rope
- Tether ball with recessed bar or volleyball with external-ring attachment
- Drill
- Eye bolt and nut
Instructions
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1
Drill a small hole through the pole, approximately 3 to 5 inches from the top of the pole. Insert the eye bolt through the hole and fasten with a nut. This eye bolt is where the tether-ball rope will be connected.
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2
Find a level playing surface about 10 feet in diameter. Dig a hole approximately 24-28 inches deep, fill with cement, and sink the pole into the wet cement. Make sure the pole remains perfectly vertical as the cement dries so that neither player has an unfair advantage during game play.
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3
Once the cement has dried, attach the nylon rope to the eye bolt fastened to the top of the tether ball pole. At rest, the rope should hang approximately 2 feet above the ground. If not exact, it is better for the ball to be higher than 2 feet off the ground rather than lower, as it will improve the ease of game play.
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4
Attach the tether ball to the nylon rope to complete the tether-ball setup. If you do not have a tether ball, you can affix a metal ring to the exterior of a volleyball. The best tether balls have recessed bars below the outer surface of the ball. This reduces the risk that children will make contact with the metal bar during play and hurt their hand.
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The final step before playing is to divide the surface area equally between the two players. If played on sand or dirt, this is most easily done by drawing a dividing line by dragging your heel through the dirt. On permanent surfaces, such as asphalt or cement, consider using sidewalk chalk or painting a permanent line.
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Tips & Warnings
There are no official rules to tether ball. After one player initially serves the ball, the two players alternate batting the ball back and forth, one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise. As a player misses the ball, the rope wraps around the pole and shortens the slack. With no established rules, the game has adapted many variations, including playing with paddles.
It is highly recommended that the tether ball pole be sunk into the ground. Above-ground foundations can result in serious injuries to ankles and knees as players often jump during the course of the game. Above ground foundations also increase the chance that the pole may tip over if improperly used, potentially causing serious injury to a child.
