Soccer Goal Safety
The Issue of Soccer Goal Safety:
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Report on Soccer Goal Guidelines, January, 1995,
“There are approximately 225,000 to 500,000 soccer goals in the United States. Many of these soccer goals are unsafe because they are unstable and are either unanchored or not properly anchored or counter-balanced. These movable soccer goals pose an unnecessary risk of tip-over to children who climb on goals (or nets) or hang from the crossbar.”
Misuse of soccer goals has resulted in serious injury and death. Most injuries occur when there is no adult supervision. Wind, sloped surfaces, and people hanging from a goal can all cause a soccer goal to tip over. Any freestanding goal that is not anchored into the ground can be tipped over if enough people hang from the goal. We believe education is the key component to ensuring that the field you are playing on is safe.
Please note all movable soccer goals should be properly anchored or secured at all times.
What safety standards do soccer goals need to comply with?
The American Society of Testing and Materials, (ASTM), standard regarding movable soccer goals is ASTM 2950-14. It includes two tests: The Unanchored Goal Testing, (Swing Stability Test) and the Anchored Goal Testing, (Strength of Goal Frame Test). Note: Several states have laws pertaining to movable soccer goals. Please check the laws in your state.
Keeper Goals Takes Soccer Goal Safety Seriously
Keeper Goals has been actively involved in drawing awareness to the issue of soccer goal safety since the 1980’s. Jim Moynihan traveled to Washington DC in the 80’s and along with owners of other soccer goal manufacturing companies helped the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission begin to develop guidelines for soccer goal safety. Keeper Goals continues to play an active role in soccer goal safety by designing and building safer goals, educating consumers on the need for goal safety, working to provide the best anchor options available for every situation and distributing and selling warning labels for movable soccer goals.
Keeper Goals recommends duckbill anchors to secure movable soccer goals.
Keeper Goals recognized the need for safe soccer goals early on and we take the need for soccer goal safety seriously. Soccer goal safety rules vary from area to area. All rules state that at a minimum, movable goals must be anchored or secured. Many of the soccer goals manufactured by Keeper Goals meet ASTM safety and performance specs when secured properly.
Though many soccer goals look the same they are not all created equally. At Keeper Goals, we offer a wide range of goals including several lines of goals made from high-performance materials that are stronger and thicker than the materials typically used by many of our competitors. The result: We offer goals that can sustain more abuse, without deforming as compared to those goals made out of less expensive materials.
Keeper Goals sells a variety of stakes and anchors to suit your specific needs. Keeper Goals recommends duckbill anchors to secure movable soccer goals.
Important soccer goal safety legislation and documents:
- Virginia Law Soccer Goals
- Wisconsin Legislation – Soccer Goal Safety
- Illinois Legislation – Soccer Goal Safety
- Arkansas Legislation – Soccer Goal Safety
- New York Legislation – Movable Soccer Goal Safety
- CPSC Guidelines for Movable Soccer Safety
- CPSC Safety Alert – Movable Soccer Goals Can Fall Over On Children
- ASTM F2950-14(2021) Standard Safety and Performance Specification for Soccer Goals.
- FIFA Quality Program For Football Goals – Best Practice Guide