Shock-absorbing basketball goal unit

A basketball goal unit for use with a basketball backboard having a front surface and comprising a rigid backboard mounting frame adapted to be securely mounted on the front surface of said backboard, including a first portion configured for lying against said backboard and for being secured thereto, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion, and, thereby, outwardly from the front surface of said backboard, a goal mounting frame configured for cooperative interengagement with said backboard mounting frame, said goal mounting frame being configured for overlying the second portion of said backboard mounting frame, a goal carried by said goal mounting frame, a pivot shaft for pivotally interconnecting said goal mounting frame with said backboard mounting frame to permit pivotal rocking movement of said goal and goal mounting frame about a transverse pivot axis, said pivot shaft connecting said goal mounting frame to said second portion of said backboard mounting frame, said goal mounting frame having a pivot shaft-remote portion extending from said pivot shaft toward said backboard, first coupling means for providing resilient coupling between said goal mounting and backboard mounting frames to permit resilient pivotal rocking movement of said goal about said pivot axis, and second coupling means for providing shock absorbing coupling between said goal mounting and backboard mounting frames during said pivotal rocking movement of said goal about said pivot axis, said first coupling means interconnecting said second portion of said backboard mounting frame and said pivot shaft-remote portion of said goal mounting frame, said second coupling means interconnecting said first portion of said backboard mounting frame and said pivot shaft-remote portion of said goal mounting frame, said pivot shaft-remote portion of said goal mounting frame and said second portion of said backboard mounting frame each being of channel section and of inverted-U configuration and each thereby having side flanges, said pivot shaft extending through said side flanges, said goal mounting frame thereby being pivotally secured to permit rocking movement of said goal about said pivot axis relative to said backboard upon said goal being displaced downwardly by external application of force, said first coupling means comprising a spring interengaging said second portion of said backboard mounting frame and said pivot shaft-remote portion of said goal mounting frame.