A stand for a vertical pole support for a tether ball type game includes a base which can contain ballast and a lid, through which the pole passes and a formation on its floor for receiving the end of the pole. The lid and base are attached by a two stage attachment arrangement. The first stage includes inter-engageable tongue and groove formations which are capable of attachment and detachment by application of finger pressure, and the second stage includes locking devices at points around the periphery of the base container for a positive lock of the lid to the base, so that the first stage cannot be broken other than by the use of excessive force having regard to the conventional use of the stand.