FAQs

YardRink is North America's fastest-growing backyard rink brand! Imagine the joy of unlimited ice time right in your own backyard. YardRink fosters the love of hockey, while providing an authentic rink experience to improve skills.

• Uniquely designed for realistic hockey play. Our custom-made, rounded corner Tarp goes on the outside of the Panels, out of the way of pucks, sticks, skates and shovels.
  
• As an official licensed product of the NHL, our rinks are designed for the ultimate hockey experience. Whether you're practicing your shots or enjoying a game with friends, our rinks offer unparalleled playability.
  
• Setup is a breeze! Say goodbye to complicated instructions. Our innovative design allows easy setup and maintenance. Just spread the Tarp, interlock the Panels, fasten the Tarp to the outside of the Panels, and fill the Panels with water. No measuring, no brackets – just pure, hassle-free fun!
  
• Crafted with patented technology by an MIT and Caltech PhD engineer, our rinks are a testament to cutting-edge innovation. Best design, best performance, best value.
  
• Join the growing YardRink community of ice hockey enthusiasts. It's not just a rink; it's an experience that brings families and friends together.

The YardRink tarp is like no other backyard rink tarp in the world. It is custom manufactured for YardRink and is an important part of YardRink’s revolutionary design.

• The tarp has rounded corners and is shaped just like the rink itself.
• It wraps around the outside of the panels, so it stays clear of pucks, skates, sticks, and shovels. The ice runs right up to the wall for a clean ice-to-wall interface. There is no ‘tarp slush’ to slow your play.
• Grommet-reinforced eyelets run along the entire outside edge of the tarp, spaced several inches apart. These eyelets are used to attach the tarp to the links on each panel, using cable ties that we provide.
• Once assembled, there is no excess tarp flapping around in the wind or requiring ‘caps’ or 'bumpers' to hold it in place.
• 8 mil thick; triple laminate HDPE/LLDPE rip-stop construction.
• Bright white to minimize solar absorption.
• Woven-in lines and centering marks guide panel placement during setup. Yes, the tarp gets laid down first, then the panels are arranged on top of it!

YardRink panels were designed to make your back yard hockey game feel similar to playing in a regulation rink. We started from scratch, and ended up with a few key innovations that make all the difference:

• Straight and gently curved 18" high panels allow rinks of various sizes to be built with smoothly rounded corners.
• The panels are super easy to lock together, with a single hex head bolt for each.
• The panels are filled with water and then frozen, so your rink's walls are incredibly solid, 
providing nice rebound action for a puck.
• The result: A smooth, 1-ton steel-belted wall of ice around your rink.
• Constructed of lightweight, high strength, UV resistant plastic.

Every YardRink comes with two Puck Retention Nets (one for each end of the rink) so players can practice their slapshot without losing dozens of pucks. There is no extra charge for these nets! They are easy to assemble (separate 1-page laminated instructions are included) and manufactured with super durable materials to withstand use for years.

Simply connect the poles, insert them into the panels' fill ports, hang the net, and secure it with cable ties. The nets will lock in place once the water inside the panels freezes, providing a rock-solid foundation.

The result: attractive, effective nets at both ends, to save you time, money and frustration from lost pucks.

The price of your YardRink will depend upon the rink size you order, ranging from $1,810 to $7,235, plus shipping and handling. Our two most popular and cost-effective rinks are our Starter Rink (17’ x 35’), which costs $2,699, plus shipping and handling and our Standard Rink (26' x 53'), which costs $3,699, plus shipping and handling. These prices include everything you'll need, including YardRink Puck Retention Nets at each end of the rink plus NHL logo decals and NHL team decals of your choice.

YardRink offers rink sizes customized to best fit your yard location, from a small circular rink of 17' x 17' all the way up to an enormous 50' x 101'. Our two most popular and cost-effective rinks are the Starter Rink (17’ x 35’), which is a perfect size for young skaters/hockey players, and our Standard Rink (26' x 53') for larger pick-up games for players of any age. Note, custom-sized rinks can take up to three weeks for delivery.

Of course! Just e-mail us at CustomerCare@YardRink.com to get started. If you currently own a Starter Rink (17’ x 35’) and you would like to upgrade to a Standard Rink (26' x 53'), you can purchase our Upgrade Kit, which includes 18 additional straight panels (you'll then have 30 total -- 12 for each side and 3 for each end), a Standard size tarp, plus additional cable ties, hex nuts and stakes.

We recommend a minimum ice thickness of four inches.

Yes, and these decals are free! Because of YardRink's relationship with the NHL, we are able to offer custom NHL decals for each rink. You will automatically receive three of the famous NHL 'shield' logo decals, plus you can choose three additional logo decals from among every NHL team and select vintage teams. These decals can be placed either on the inside panel surface above the water/ice line or on the tarp facing outward. In either location, apply decals prior to filling the rink.

Yes. YardRink recommends wearing a helmet when skating. Helmets that meet NOCSAE ND030 and ASTM F1045 standards are advised.

Before finalizing your YardRink purchase, it is important to assure that your yard doesn’t have too much slope. Your yard location for YardRink should have no more than 10” of slope in any direction. If you are unsure about the slope of your yard, we can help. Please e-mail us at CustomerCare@YardRink.com to learn more.

For the easiest installation, we recommend setting up your YardRink on a day with low wind, after most of the leaves have fallen, on or close to the day that you intend to begin filling the skating surface. YardRink setup is quick and easy, requiring no measuring, brackets, kick-plates, or bumpers. The water in the Panels and the rink may take a few days to freeze, depending on the weather.

Instruction with illustrations are provided in the one-page laminated set up and take down card that comes with your rink. Here's the summary:

• Rake and level: Important -- Choose a location in your yard big enough for the rink and with no more 
than 10” of slope in any direction. Remove all sharp rocks.
  
• Spread the tarp: Lines and marks should face up. Hint: In windy conditions, place a few partially-filled panels 
on the tarp to hold it in place.
  
• Place the panels: To form the long walls, align the bottom inside edge of the straight panels with the blue lines woven 
into the tarp. Form the corner walls by placing four curved panels each. Note: Short lines on the tarp indicate the 
center of each side.
  
• Connect the links: Start at any panel: slide the panel rightward to position its link in front of its neighboring panel's link. While pulling the adjacent panels together snugly, insert the hex bolt using a cordless drill with the supplied hex bolt driver. Repeat this procedure for each successive pair of panels.
  
• Attach the tarp: Wrap cable ties to pull the tarp tightly toward the link. Important: use a cable tie for every eyelet. The free end of each cable tie can be trimmed off. If your yard has some slope, ensure the tarp on your deep end comes all the way up to the link. If needed to provide more slack in the tarp, the tarp on the shallow end can be connected to the links using (for each relevant eyelet) two cable ties 'daisy-chained' together. A single straight panel can also be removed, if needed, to allow for the best fit with your yard and the tarp.
  
• Install the stakes: At the vee at each end of every straight panel, hammer the stakes into the ground, taking care not to pierce the tarp. Important: angle stake slightly toward the rink and hammer each stake flush with the top of the panels.
  
• Fill the panels: Use a hose to fill each panel using the fill ports. Each panel holds about 7 gallons, and typically takes less than 40 seconds to fill.
  
• Fill the rink: Note, we recommend a multi-layer freeze. First, fill the rink until the water line in the deepest area reaches the top of the indentations at the lower end of the panels (about 4 inches). Allow this layer of water to completely freeze. Then, add a few inches of water at a time, allowing each layer to completely freeze. Fill the rink until there is at least 4 inches of ice everywhere in the rink.
  
• Enjoy!
  

YardRink can be set up on any level surface with a maximum slope of 10" in any direction and with no sharp rocks or other sharp protruding objects. YardRink may be set up on grass, dirt, pavement, sport courts, etc.

When using on a surface that will not allow for the placement of Stakes (e.g. pavement and sport courts), we recommend no more than 4" of slope in any direction.

Installation over a septic system/leach field is not recommended. Consult with a licensed septic system professional for additional information.

Yes, you can!

YardRink Stakes are made of rugged pultruded fiberglass and can easily be driven with a sledge hammer into unfrozen soil. Typically they cannot be driven into ground that is solidly frozen. But, with a drill and a long bit, frozen ground is no problem!

Frozen ground freezes from the top down. As winter progresses, the depth of freezing can extend deep into the soil. To insert YardRink Stakes in frozen ground, first drill a hole of suitable depth and appropriate angle-of-entry near the vee at each Straight Panel end (be careful not to cut the Tarp). The hole should be angled slightly toward the Rink. Remove any excess loose material. Finish by driving a YardRink Stake into the hole so that it is flush with the top of the adjacent Panels. If hammering the Stake all the way in is not possible, then cut the top of the Stake so that it is flush with the top of the Panels.

Items needed:

• Cordless drill, or hammer drill (for example: Milwaukee 3404-20)
• A suitable drill bit (for example: Bosch HC2129 3/4” x 37”)
• Safety goggles and work gloves

This process is fast, easy, and fun. (Note, if the ground has not yet frozen solid, drilling need only be as deep as the frozen ground.)

If you have questions, please call YardRink Customer Care: 888-622-RINK

Refer to the size of the rink you ordered and then consult the chart below to determine how many straight panels should go on each side and on each end of your rink. For example, if you ordered a rink that is 29' wide x 47' long, you would place 4 straight panels on each end and 10 straight panels on each side.

The tarp shape and size will also guide you -- when the correct number of panels are connected on each end/side, you should have roughly the same amount of tarp outside every panel before pulling it up and attaching it to the panels with cable ties.

• Instruction with illustrations are provided in the one-page laminated set up and take down card that comes with your rink. Here's the summary:

• Drain the rink: Choose a spot to start draining your rink. Near that spot cut several cable ties and carefully fold down the free tarp, releasing a controlled flow of rink water. If needed, work your way around the rink cutting additional cable ties and carefully folding down the tarp. (Note: You will need to order new cable ties for the next season.)
• Remove the stakes from the ground
• Empty the panels: Once the rink is empty, cut all remaining cable ties and unfasten all hex head bolts (save them for use next winter!) Tip over each panel to empty it.
• Stack the panels: For off-season storage, stack panels head-to-toe. (You may wish to use the shipping boxes.) If your tarp is in reusable condition, allow it to dry thoroughly before folding.
• Store disassembled rink for reuse next season: Store your YardRink in a garage, or other suitable area, to enjoy next winter!

• Proper assembly: Every grommet should have a cable tie securely connecting the tarp to the link of the panel. Every straight panel should have a stake inserted at its intersection with another panel, and the stake should be hammered flush with the top of the panels, with its top tilting toward the rink.
• If your rink is on a sport court and stakes are not utilized, you may want to add additional bracing and support during high winds using sand bags or other weights.
• For rain water: While the grommets in your YardRink tarp allow rainwater to exit the rink once it reaches significant depth, very heavy precipitation can over-fill your rink and place excessive pressure on your panels. To prevent this, you can cut a few cable ties and fold down the tarp to allow excess water to flow out of the rink.  Replace the cable ties with new ones after the storm.
• For snow removal: In cases where you have ice that is thick enough to stand on, shovel the snow off the rink as soon as you can. If your ice is too thin to stand on, it is possible that the weight of the snow will push your ice block down, bringing water up around the edges and turning the snow into slush that can then freeze into terrific ice.  If you end up with non-melted snow on top of ice that is too thin to walk on, some users report that roof snow rakes are helpful to remove it.

Ensuring your YardRink is assembled correctly, and taking these proper precautions can help prevent the unexpected during inclement weather.

Because the tarp wraps around the outside of the panels, unlike most rinks, it is less likely to get a hole along its edges that could result in a leak. To minimize the chance of punctures or rips occurring while the tarp is being spread, we recommend raking and inspecting the area where the tarp will be placed. Be sure to remove all sharp rocks. If a leak does occur, your local hardware store will have tape that adheres under water and which should do the trick to fix any small hole.

No problem! While YardRink panels are intended to be completely filled with water and frozen, a partially filled panel will not impact the integrity or playability of your rink. A leak will result in a panel that is filled at least to the rink's adjacent skating ice level. Panels have been engineered and tested to withstand the impact of skates, pucks, shovels, and even snowblowers.

Once your YardRink is set up for the season, little to no maintenance of the rink components is required. We recommend periodically checking to see that the Tarp remains securely fastened to the Links of the Panels by ensuring that all the cable ties are in place and pulled tight.

As for the rink’s skating surface, regular ice maintenance is recommended. Because the Tarp is on the outside, it is easy to run a shovel, snowblower or mini-Zamboni right up to the Panels, without fear of damaging the Tarp.

Tips and suggestions for optimizing your ice’s skating surface can be found online, including groups on Facebook dedicated to outdoor rinks.

YardRink currently sells within the U.S. and Canada. If you live outside of these geographies, we’ll work with you to try to get you a rink. Please e-mail us at CustomerCare@YardRink.com.

YardRink is shipped via UPS Ground service or LTL (less-than-truckload) service. YardRink kits arrive in boxes light enough to be carried easily by two people.

The Starter Rink ships in 9 clearly labeled boxes: four boxes contain curved panels; two boxes contain straight panels; two boxes contain stakes; and one box contains the tarp, cable ties, hex head bolts, and a simple, one-page laminated set up and take down card.

The Standard Rink ships in 15 clearly labeled boxes: four boxes contain curved panels; five boxes contain straight panels; five boxes contain stakes; and one box contains the tarp, cable ties, hex head bolts, and a simple, one-page laminated set up and take down card.

Custom-sized rinks will ship in various quantities of boxes, depending on rink size.

We designed YardRink to be ridiculously easy to assemble, and that starts with the way our parts are ‘boxed up’.

In most locations in the U.S. and Canada, shipping takes less than 5 days once an order has been processed (which typically occurs within 2 days). Custom-sized rinks can take up to four weeks for delivery.

In most locations in the U.S. and Canada, shipping costs for our Starter Rink are typically in the $400 range.
The Standard Rink shipping costs are typically in the $600 range. Shipping costs for custom-sized rinks will vary.

The return policy can be found here.