The most important pieces of equipment a school needs for basketball are the baskets. When planning a location for basketball to be played, either in a gym or another area, a school must make a decision on what type of hoops it wants. The lowest end of baskets are often stand-alone, portable baskets that are supported by sand-filled bases. These hoops often adjust from 7 to 10 feet and aren't the most sturdy option. The advantage of these baskets is that they aren't permanent and can be moved in case a location such as a cafeteria or other area is also being used for basketball.
The type of baskets used by most college and professional teams, that can also be moved, are extremely high end. The standard basket used for schools is a basket that descends from the roof of the gym. This allows the basket to be raised when necessary. These hoops can have a variety of backboards from glass (standard), to plastic or wood. Most baskets used for games have glass backboards.
It may seem like an obvious piece of equipment, but basketballs are often overlooked when allotting for a budget. Basketballs come in many different varieties and prices. There are two standard sizes, a men's basketball which is 29.5 inches in circumference, and a woman's basketball which is slightly smaller at 28.5 inches. The important thing to consider when purchasing basketballs is the proper amount needed for the school or team. While a basketball game is only played with one ball, when practicing, it's safe to say each player should have a ball. Most schools may even decide to have enough basketballs for each player to have one, and half the team to have two, just in case the coach needs the extra balls for drills. The school should also consider if they are part of a league that requires a certain type or style of basketball to be used for games. If this is the case, the school should try and have as many of those balls as possible so players are best prepared for competition.
A final piece of equipment needed for schools is uniforms. Under this category, there are two types a school needs. The first is game uniforms. These should represent the school through the color patterns, the name on the jerseys and shorts (school name or mascot name) and in style. There should be at least one uniform per player on the team's roster, as well as two or three extras. The extras are there in case a player must change into a new uniform because blood gets on the uniform he or she is wearing.
The second type of uniform is the practice uniform. These can include shorts but don't have to. The practice uniform should be some form of reversible jersey that has different colors on each side. This allows for players to change the color of their jersey quickly in practice when the coach is doing drills or scrimmaging.