Soccer goal safety
All moveable soccer goals must be adequately secured or safely stored away at all times to prevent injury or death.
- What is a moveable soccer goal?
- Why are moveable soccer goals unsafe?
- Preventing injuries and death
- Soccer goalpost safety [PDF 44KB]
What is a moveable soccer goal?
Moveable soccer goals can be described as:
- any freestanding soccer goals designed to be moved from field to field, or to be moved on and off a field; or
- any soccer goal designed to be inserted into the ground or a ground sleeve, commonly known as semi-permanent soccer goals.
Why are moveable soccer goals unsafe?
Moveable soccer goals can cause serious injury and death if they are:
- improperly designed or manufactured;
- incorrectly installed;
- unanchored or not adequately anchored; or
- unstable.
Preventing injuries and death
Unanchored or inadequately anchored goals can tip over causing serious injury or death. For safety reasons, all moveable soccer goals should be adequately secured or safely stored away at all times.
There are four steps you can follow to safely anchor goals. The measures you should take will depend on soil conditions.
Check it
Ensure all goals are in good condition and constructed according to Australian Standards. For full details you can purchase a copy of the Playing field equipment - Soccer goals - Safety aspects.
Secure it
Generally it takes 200 kg to anchor a moveable soccer goal, with weights distributed evenly on the ground bar and both side supports. This equates to:
- using 10 hooked pegs; or
- 12 sandbags.
The preferred approach is to secure goals by inserting the frame into a ground sleeve.
Test it
Before use, adults (preferably club officials) should test all moveable soccer goals to make sure they are stable.
If you are unsure of the safety of your goals, don’t use them until they have been tested professionally. Football West provide contact details for local goal testers who can professionally test the stability of your goals.
Respect it
Never allow anyone to climb or swing on the netting or goal framework.
Goals should never be left unattended on the ground. They should either be stored away or chained together on the grounds.
For more information
Further information about goal post safety please contact us.