Goal Safety

Goal Safety on the Soccer Field

You have nothing to fear from a quiet, unassuming portable soccer goal, right? Its importance as the focus of a child's goal-kicking effort outweighs any possible danger, right? WRONG!
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported 26 deaths and hundreds of injuries since 1979 resulting from soccer goal accidents. Most of these injuries occur when children climb on top of an unsecured goal, causing it to either break from the strain (in the case of many homemade goals) or simply flip over onto an unsuspecting victim. You only need to review some of the descriptions of injuries and deaths addressed in the CPSC report to become saddened by this easily-preventable problem.

The bottom line is this: Goal safety is everyone's job and your volunteers and parents need to be aware of the dangers.

The problem with goals is their shape. There is nothing in front of the goal to prevent its tipping forward. The only way is to keep the back from lifting up.

Many portable goals are not professionally manufactured, and use the same heavy materials for the front face (goal mouth), back and bottom. Using lighter materials for the front and heavier materials for the bottom can help reduce the risk of goal tipping.

Still, even when they're properly built, securely anchoring the bottom and back of portable goals is the most important step you can take to prevent soccer goal injuries. Several anchoring methods are shown on the reverse of this flyer.

Ways to Make Your Goal Safer

Properly anchored goals are less likely to cause an accident, but that's not the only preventive measure you can take.
In several cases, children climbing on goals or getting underfoot while they are being moved has resulted in serious accidents. Additionally, high winds may cause goals to tip over. Therefore, never allow children to play on goals, and always exercise caution when transporting them.

Most accidents don't happen during a game situation, but when kids are playing nearby on a non-soccer day and get the idea to hang on the goal. So be sure goals are properly stored when not in use, and disassemble them completely for the off-season.

The CPSC is working with manufacturers to address risks presented by goals and to make movable soccer goals more stable. However, there are actions you can take now to prevent accidents:

Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times.
Never climb on the net or goal framework.
Remove nets when goals are not in use.
Tip unused goals onto their goal face, or chain them face-to-face. You can also chain unused goals to nearby fence posts or other sturdy fixtures.
Check all connecting hardware before every use. Replace damaged or missing fasteners immediately.
Use warning labels and make sure they are clearly visible.
Fully disassemble goals for off-season storage.

To get free safety labels, write to:
SAFE GOALS
c/o SICA
200 Castlewood Drive
North Palm Beach, FL 33408 or call any of these soccer goal manufacturers: BSN Sports, (800) 243-0533
Goal! Sporting Goods, Inc., (800) 334-4625
Kwik Goal Ltd., (800) 531-4252

Anchoring Your Goal
A properly secured/anchored goal is much less likely to tip over and cause injury. Stake or auger anchors are best to secure movable goals. If using auger-type anchors, use at least two. More may be necessary depending on the weight of the goal, soil conditions, or manufacturer's specifications.
Pegs or stakes should be at least 10 inches in length and hammered in at an angle. If top of stake is not flush with the ground, it should be clearly visible to persons playing near the goal. If the base of the goal does not have pre-drilled holes, you can use J-Hook stakes.

Another type of anchor is called "semipermanent" A permanently secured base is buried in the ground, and the portable goal is attached to it by a tether or directly.

Net pegs are only meant to secure the net. They are not anchors!

Sandbags or other counterweights may be used where the surface does not allow for conventional anchoring (such as an indoor facility).