Goal Safety / Anchoring

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, most soccer goal related deaths and injuries involved either unsecured or homemade goals. Injuries frequently occurred during horseplay such as climbing on the goal or attempting to do chin-ups, thereby tipping the goal over. All goals, whether homemade or manufactured, should be properly secured to the ground to avoid injuries or deaths associated with tip-over.

It is suggested that soccer coaches, officials, parents and players follow these safety guidelines:

1. Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times.
2. Store movable soccer goals in a place where children cannot access them.
3. Never climb on the net or goal framework.
4. Remove nets when goals are not in use.
5. Check all connecting hardware before every use and replace damaged or missing anchors immediately.
6. Ensure safety/warning labels are clearly visible.
7. Fully disassemble goals for seasonal storage.
8. Always exercise extreme caution when moving goals and allow adequate manpower to move goals of varied sizes and weights.  Movable soccer goals should only be moved by authorized adults.
9. Movable soccer goals should only be used on level (flat) fields.
10. Instruct players to avoid unsafe use of goals.

Please click here for the Colonial Soccer Club emergency action plan for goal safety. 

For more information:

• EPYSA Goal Safety