A mini hoop indoors turns a rainy afternoon into a tournament. These ten games work with any door or wall hoop and a soft mini ball. A few of them work with rolled-up socks, which is useful when the ball has disappeared under the couch again.
First, a few house rules
- Soft balls only. A foam or mini ball protects lamps, windows and siblings.
- No hanging on the rim. Mini hoops aren't built for it.
- Clear the area. Move anything breakable out of range.
- Set quiet hours. A ball on a backboard is louder than you think at 9 p.m.
1. HORSE
The classic. The first player takes any shot. If they make it, the next player has to copy it exactly. Miss a copied shot and you get a letter. Spell H-O-R-S-E and you're out. For a shorter game, play PIG.
2. Around the World
Mark five or six spots on the floor with tape in an arc around the hoop. Players move from spot to spot as they make shots. Miss and you either stay or, in the hard version, go back to the start.
3. Knockout
Two players shoot at the same time from a line. If the player behind scores before the player in front, the player in front is out. Fast and loud, so it's best for weekends.
4. Sock shots
Roll up a pair of socks and shoot. Then do it with every sock in the clean laundry pile while you match pairs. It's a game and a chore at once. If your hoop sits on top of a laundry hamper, dirty socks count too. More on that in our basketball laundry hamper guide.
5. Beat the buzzer
Set a 30-second timer. How many shots can you make? Write the record on a piece of tape next to the hoop and try to beat it every day.
6. Free throw challenge
Ten shots from the same line. Track scores on a chart for a week. It's a simple way to practice form, and kids love seeing their numbers go up.
7. Trick shot contest
Bounce shots, behind-the-back shots, shots off the wall, shots while sitting on the bed. Film the best one of the week. Just keep the rule about breakable things.
8. 21
Each player gets a long shot worth two points and a follow-up shot from close worth one. The first to exactly 21 wins. Go over and you drop back to a set score, like 15.
9. Two-ball relay
For siblings or friends: two teams, two balls, one hoop. Each player has to score before passing the ball to the next teammate. First team where everyone scores wins.
10. Laundry basketball
Every dirty item of clothing is a shot at the hamper. Count the makes. Misses get picked up and taken again from closer. It's the indoor game that also cleans the room, and it's the reason we built a hamper with a hoop. Our list of chore games has more like it.
Setting up a mini hoop indoors
- Over the door is the easiest setup. No drilling, no floor space. Check that the hooks fit your door with our over-the-door guide.
- Height: high enough to be a challenge, low enough that younger kids can score.
- Floor lines: painter's tape is easy to remove and perfect for marking spots.
Where Sockshot fits
We make Sockshot, a mini hoop that hangs over the door with a laundry bag underneath. Most of the time it catches dirty clothes. On game days, you swap the bag for the net and play any of the games above.
FAQ
What ball should kids use indoors?
A small foam or soft rubber ball. Full-size or hard balls are too heavy and too bouncy for indoor play.
What age are mini hoop games good for?
Most kids from about 4 can enjoy simple shooting games. HORSE, 21 and Knockout work best from around 7.
How do I keep indoor basketball quiet?
Use a foam ball, put a rug under the hoop area, and agree on hours for games.
