Soccer Goal Safety

Soccer Goal Safety

The information provided in this post is for general guidance, it is not all-encompassing. Implementing this information should help you have safer soccer goals; however, it may not prevent all accidents. We have taken precautions to ensure the content is current and accurate, however errors can still occur. Plus, given the changing nature of laws, rules, and regulations, there may be delays, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information contained on the site.

Millions of people across the United States enjoy playing the game of soccer every day. However, soccer players are vulnerable to injuries and even death if movable soccer goals are not adequately secured. The Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s August 17, 2021 document titled, "Think Safety First As Kids Head Back to School" states, “The CPSC, is aware of 12 reported fatalities involving children under the age of 16, which occurred between 2000 and 2019, due to soccer goal tip overs or structural failures. From 2000 to 2019, there were about 3,400 emergency room-treated soccer goal tip-overs or structural failure-related injuries involving children under the age of 16.”

A white soccer goal with a net stands on an indoor artificial turf field, marked with white and yellow lines. The background includes a fence and walls covered with netting.

Soccer goals could potentially fall, tip or collapse during games or practice sessions.

They can even fall or collapse and injure people when the goals aren't in use, leading to concussions, broken bones, or other severe injuries and consequences.

The good news is there are measures we can all take to lesson the risk of accidents occurring. Properly secured goals provide a safer environment for players to enjoy the sport with reduced unnecessary risks. They also mean less risk of unattended goals injuring bystanders.

Individuals and organizations that own or use movable soccer goals would benefit in many ways by dedicating time and resources to soccer goal safety:

  1. Preventing Accidents: By prioritizing safety measures, such as anchoring goals securely and maintaining them properly, the risk of accidents can be significantly reduced.
  2. Protecting Players: Soccer players, especially children, are vulnerable to injuries if goals are not adequately secured. Collapsing or unstable goals can fall on players during games or practice sessions, leading to concussions, broken bones, or other serious injuries. Properly secured goals provide a safer environment for players to enjoy the sport without unnecessary risks.
  3. Ensuring Spectator Safety: Soccer matches often draw large crowds of spectators, including families with children. Unsecured goals pose a threat not only to players but also to spectators near the field. Goalposts that fall or tip can injure spectators, leading to legal liabilities for event organizers or field owners. By focusing on goal safety, the risk to spectators can be minimized, enhancing the overall experience of attending soccer games.
  4. Legal and Financial Liability: Injuries resulting from unsafe goals may lead to lawsuits against sports organizations, schools, municipalities, or facility owners. Legal battles and settlements can be costly and damaging to reputations. Implementing proper safety measures is not only ethically responsible but also protects against potential liabilities.
  5. Promoting Confidence and Participation: Ensuring soccer goals are safe fosters confidence among players, coaches, and parents, encouraging continued participation in the sport. When players and their families trust that safety is a priority, they are more likely to engage in soccer activities with enthusiasm and peace of mind. This, in turn, contributes to the growth and sustainability of soccer programs and communities.
  6. Compliance with Regulations: Many sports organizations, including youth soccer leagues and governing bodies, have established guidelines and regulations regarding goal safety. Adhering to these standards is essential for compliance and participation in organized soccer events. By focusing on goal safety, organizations demonstrate their commitment to meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring the well-being of participants.
  7. Setting a Positive Example: Prioritizing soccer goal safety in your organization sets a positive example. By proactively addressing safety concerns and implementing preventive measures, your soccer organization can demonstrate leadership in promoting athlete welfare and community safety. This proactive approach can influence other soccer organization to adopt similar safety practices, creating a culture of safety across the sport.

In summary, focusing on soccer goal safety is essential for preventing accidents, protecting players and spectators, minimizing legal liabilities, promoting confidence and participation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and setting a positive example for sports organizations and communities. By prioritizing safety measures, the enjoyment and benefits of soccer can be maximized while minimizing unnecessary risks.

In an ideal world all those involved with a soccer organization including players of all ages, coaches, administrators, referees, volunteers, facility maintenance staff, and parents would be educated on the dangers of soccer goals as well as the guidelines set by the CPSC for soccer goal safety.

The following is a list of suggestions for soccer organizations to consider adopting to promote soccer goal safety:

  • Conduct pre-match, pre-practice safety checks
  • Put a safety plan in place to ensure goals are secure at all times.
  • Develop and implement a plan for anchoring, maintaining, labeling, storing and moving your soccer goals.
  • Develop and implement a plan for putting up, taking down, storing, maintaining and replacing your soccer nets.
  • Regularly discuss the issue of movable soccer goal safety with all within your organization including players of all ages to make sure all are educated on the dangers of soccer goals as well as what can be done to make your goals safer.
  • Encourage everyone within your organization including parents, coaches, volunteers, administrators, maintenance and facility staff, and players of all ages to take responsibility for this issue.
  • Consider copying adopting the motto from the Chicago Transit System - "If you see something, say something."

Organizations Offering Guidance and Information On Movable Soccer Goal Safety:

Logo of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, featuring stylized red, white, and blue elements, including an American flag pattern and abstract eagle heads, with agency name encircling the design.

Consumer Product and Safety Commission

The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal regulatory agency in the United States. Its mission is "to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury or death from consumer products through education, safety standards activities, regulation, and enforcement."

The CPSC has compiled and "presents specific guidelines for the installation, use, and storage of full-size or nearly full-size movable soccer goals. These guidelines are intended to address the risk of movable soccer goal tip-over. They are not a CPSC standard, nor are they mandatory requirements. Therefore, the Commission does not endorse them as the sole method to minimize injuries associated with soccer goals."

The following list is from CPSC Publication 5118 072014:

To help prevent deaths and injuries associated with soccer goals, follow these safety suggestions:

  • Securely anchor or counter-weight movable soccer goals at all times (see illustration).
  • Never climb on the soccer net or goal framework.
  • Always instruct soccer players on the safe handling of and potential dangers associated with movable soccer goals.
  • Use movable soccer goals only on level (flat) fields.
  • Check all connecting hardware before every use. Replace damaged or missing fasteners immediately.
  • Ensure safety labels are clearly visible.
  • Remove nets when goals are not in use.
  • Anchor or chain goals to nearby fence posts, dugouts or similar sturdy fixtures when not in use.
  • Fully disassemble goals for seasonal storage.

View the complete CPSC Safety Alert here: Movable Soccer Goals Can Fall Over On Children PDF Publication 5118 072014

The ASTM logo with stylized blue letters forming ASTM above the words American Society for Testing and Materials in blue text on a white background.

American Society For Testing and Materials

American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an international organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. "Over 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance health and safety, strengthen market access and trade, and build consumer confidence," states the ASTM website. You can learn more about the organization by visiting the ASTM website.

ASTM has developed multiple standards and revisions regarding soccer goal safety over the past 30+ years. The first two listed are currently relevant, and the others are listed for historical context. All ASTM standards are copyrighted; therefore, the full content is not included here. You may purchase the full ASTM documents on the ANSI website. Links to buy specific ASTM documents related to movable soccer safety are listed below.

Most Recent ASTM Standards Regarding Movable Soccer Goals

ASTM F2950-14(2021) MOST RECENT

Standard Safety And Performance Specification For Soccer Goals

Purchase ASTM F2950-14(2021)

1.1 This standard specifies safety and performance requirements aimed at providing safer soccer goals and thereby reducing injuries and fatalities.

1.2 This specification applies to all soccer goals with a total weight greater than 40 lb when weighed in accordance with 7.1.1 and 7.1.2.

1.3 This specification supersedes Specification F2056-09.

1.4 This specification supersedes Specification F2673-08.

1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. This standard does not include other units of measurement.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides, and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ASTM F1938-98(2017) (MOST RECENT)

Standard Guide For Safer Use of Movable Soccer Goals

Purchase ASTM F1938-98(2017)

1.1 This guide presents directions for the installation, use, and storage of full-size or nearly full-size movable soccer goals. It is expected that these guidelines can help prevent deaths and serious injuries resulting from soccer goal tip over.

1.2 These guidelines are intended for use by parks and recreation personnel, school officials, sports equipment purchasers, parents, coaches, and any other members of the general public concerned with soccer goal safety.

1.3 These guidelines are intended to address the risk of movable soccer goal tip over.

1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by th

Historical ASTM Standards Regarding Movable Soccer Goals

If you are interested in reading earlier ASTM standards for historical context, you can do so here:

ASTM F2056-09 (HISTORICAL)

Standard Safety And Performance Specification For Soccer Goals

Purchase ASTM F2056-09

1.1 This standard specifies safety and performance requirements aimed at providing for safer use of soccer goals and reducing injuries and fatalities.
1.2 This standard applies to soccer goals for training and competition in outdoor sports facilities and indoor arenas.
1.3 This standard addresses the risk of accidental tip over or pullover of soccer goals.
1.4 This standard is based upon safety and design requirements listed in EN 748.
1.5 This standard applies only to goals whose inside measurements are 6½to 8 ft high and 18 to 24 ft wide.
1.6 This standard replaces PS 75–99.

ASTM F2673-08 (HISTORICAL)

Standard Safety Specification For Special Tip-Resistant Movable Soccer
Goals

Purchase ASTM F2673-08

1.1 This specification covers safety requirements aimed at providing for safer use of soccer goals and reducing injuries and fatalities.

1.2 This specification addresses the risk of accidental tip over or pull over of soccer goals.

1.3 This specification applies only to movable goals whose inside measurements are 6½ to 8 ft (2 to 2.4 m) high and 18 to 24 ft (5.5 to 7.3 m) wide.

1.4 This specification applies only to movable goals meeting all criteria in Guide F 1938 and Safety and Performance Specification F 2056 and, in addition, meets criteria for tip resistance before installation.

1.5 This specification covers special tip-resistant goals that are intended to complement standard goals meeting Guide F 1938 and Safety and Performance Specification F 2056. These goals are designed to provide some additional degree of safety if, by accident, they are not tied down or tied down incorrectly.

1.6 This specification simulates two boys up to twelve years of age swinging together from the X-bar.
Note1—Injury data supplied to the committee indicates that approximately 75 % (74 %) of the fatalities (1979-2003) were three to twelve years of age.

ASTM 1938-98 (2004) (HISTORICAL)

Guide For Safer Use Of Movable Soccer Goals

Note: This standard still exists as it has now been updated to the 2017 version referenced above in this blog post.)

Purchase ASTM F1938-98(2004)

1.1 This guide presents directions for the installation, use, and storage of full-size or nearly full-size movable soccer goals. It is expected that these guidelines can help prevent deaths and serious injuries resulting from soccer goal tipover.

1.2 These guidelines are intended for use by parks and recreation personnel, school officials, sports equipment purchasers, parents, coaches, and any other members of the general public concerned with soccer goal safety.

1.3 These guidelines are intended to address the risk of movable soccer goal tipover.

States With Laws Regarding Soccer Goal Safety:

Soccer goal safety affects many people every day. Ideally, everyone involved with soccer organizations takes responsibility for the safety of soccer goals. Currently, 5 states have laws regarding soccer goal safety - Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, and New York. Multiple steps can be taken to increase the safety of soccer goals and decrease the likelihood of accidents occurring, including securely anchoring or counter-weight movable soccer goals at all times and other actions cited on the lists referenced in this article. The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) both offer information and guidance on soccer goal safety. Multiple documents with detailed information are referenced in this article.