Position under hoop, where players may be (9)
I believe the answer is:
bandstand
'where players may be' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'position under hoop' is the wordplay.
'position' becomes 'stand' (stand is a kind of position).
'under' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, some letters go below others).
'hoop' becomes 'band' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stand' after 'band' is 'BANDSTAND'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bandstand that I've seen before include "place to play?" , "Outdoor concert platform" , "Outdoor music platform" , "Park structure for musicians" , "Outdoor concert stage" .)