A ball retrieval apparatus adapted for use in retrieving a ball having a ball diameter, the apparatus having an apparatus weight and an upright operational orientation and including: a ball receptacle having a lower end when the apparatus is in the operational orientation, and a receptacle opening at the lower end; a first receptacle portion adjacent to the lower end defining a pair of rod retention apertures; an elongate rigid rod extending in a rod longitudinal direction, across the receptacle opening at an acute angle relative to the horizontal when the apparatus is in the operational orientation, and having two opposite rod ends, each of the rod ends being received in a respective one of the rod retention apertures, wherein each rod retention aperture is oversized relative to the respective rod end received in that aperture such that the rod is free to move from a lowermost first position relative to each of the rod retention apertures, upwardly relative to the ball receptacle and laterally relative to the rod longitudinal direction, to a raised second position, while the rod ends remain in the respective rod apertures; wherein the rod has at least one upper corner edge (36.3) that extends longitudinally relative to the rod, the corner edge being adapted to engage the ball immediately on entry of the ball into the receptacle; wherein the rod is disposed at a first distance from an opposing portion of the apparatus such that a space is defined between the rod and said opposing portion, wherein the ball retrieval apparatus is such that the diameter of the ball for which the apparatus is adapted to be used is greater than the first distance when the rod is in its first position and is at most the same as said first distance when the rod is in its second position, and the apparatus weight is sufficient to enable the apparatus to be lowered onto the ball such that the rod can be moved by the ball from the first position towards the second position to enable the ball to pass between the rod and said opposed portion of the apparatus, into the receptacle without deformation of the rod or compression of the ball. a ball receptacle having a lower end when the apparatus is in the operational orientation, and a receptacle opening at the lower end; a first receptacle portion adjacent to the lower end defining a pair of rod retention apertures; an elongate rigid rod extending in a rod longitudinal direction, across the receptacle opening at an acute angle relative to the horizontal when the apparatus is in the operational orientation, and having two opposite rod ends, each of the rod ends being received in a respective one of the rod retention apertures, wherein each rod retention aperture is oversized relative to the respective rod end received in that aperture such that the rod is free to move from a lowermost first position relative to each of the rod retention apertures, upwardly relative to the ball receptacle and laterally relative to the rod longitudinal direction, to a raised second position, while the rod ends remain in the respective rod apertures; wherein the rod has at least one upper corner edge (36.3) that extends longitudinally relative to the rod, the corner edge being adapted to engage the ball immediately on entry of the ball into the receptacle; wherein the rod is disposed at a first distance from an opposing portion of the apparatus such that a space is defined between the rod and said opposing portion, wherein the ball retrieval apparatus is such that the diameter of the ball for which the apparatus is adapted to be used is greater than the first distance when the rod is in its first position and is at most the same as said first distance when the rod is in its second position, and the apparatus weight is sufficient to enable the apparatus to be lowered onto the ball such that the rod can be moved by the ball from the first position towards the second position to enable the ball to pass between the rod and said opposed portion of the apparatus, into the receptacle without deformation of the rod or compression of the ball.