Goalpost Safety

Football should be fun, safe and enjoyable, whether you play in a park, at school or for a local club. The FA has produced Guidance notes and Technical notes and is relaunching this important campaign that sets the standards in Goal Post Safety.

Background: 

Tragically, nine children in England have been killed as a result of falling goalposts since 1991.

In the past six months, two more children have been killed in accidents involving goalposts, one in Ireland and one in Malta.

During the 2001/02 season, The Football Association carried out a programme of on site inspection and testing of goalpost sets at a number of sites across the country. Some of the findings are as follows:

a. Of all goals tested, 41% of mini-soccer goals, 50% of 5-a-side goals and 22% of junior goals failed stability tests. These types of goals are almost all of a portable type and reliant upon secure means of ‘holding down’, either using anchors or weights.

b. Anchor weights are rarely used properly or to the recommended loading.

c. Ground conditions can affect the stability of goals therefore it is important to liase with manufacturers on the appropriate ground fixings in relation to weather conditions

d. Users at every second site were unaware of the safety campaign involving goalposts. Through extending this campaign to the third year - with 250,000 leaflets going out to Clubs, Schools, youth groups, referees, coaches and leisure facilities across the country from the beginning of November 2002 – The FA is committed to raising this awareness and aims to create a safer environment for all football.

e. Only 51% of users were unaware of how goalposts should be assembled correctly 

f. Only 50% of goals inspected and tested had any means of identification and many are pre - PAS or BS/CEN standards 

Key Areas of FA Concern:

a. The stability of goalposts

b. Wooden Goals

c. 5-a-side or goals on artificial pitches – not properly weighted

d. Mini soccer goals – not erected properly

e. Metal cup hooks – dangers of cuts, gouging

f. Modifying of existing goals and DIY changes or welding of equipment 

Key Message:

When buying goalposts for your club/school/Local Authority, ask manufacturers if the goals comply with The FA Technical Parameters & Guidance Notes.

See: www.thefa.com/Grassroots/FacilityDevelopment/GoalpostSafety for more information.