An anchoring system for anchoring a post to a concrete body, such as a post for a basketball goal, includes a template for alignment of anchor bolts, which can be J-bolts. The template includes a plate with openings corresponding to openings on a mounting flange of the post, each plate opening including an alignment feature for orienting an anchor bolt perpendicular to the bottom of the plate. A nut engages the anchor bolts beneath the mounting flange of the post. The vertical shank of the anchor bolts is coated with a pre-cured elastomeric composition that has dampening properties, with the thickness of the coating being 5-75% the diameter of the anchor bolt.