Soccer Goal Safety

Soccer Goal Safety - A Serious Issue

Also read our Soccer Goal Safety Blog Post for more information

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.

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). ASTM 2950-14 pertains to goals weighing over 40 lbs. 

Note: Several states have laws pertaining to movable soccer goals. Please check the laws in your state. See below for a list of states with soccer goal safety laws.

Keeper Goals Takes Soccer Goal Safely 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.

FAQs

What are methods of anchoring or securing soccer goals to a wall or fence?

  • Bolt the goal to the ground – base plates are welded onto the base of the goal to secure the goal to the ground
  • Secure the goal to a wall, base plates are welded to the backstays of the goal to secure the goal to the wall
  • Fabricate the goal with additional weight built into the frame of the goal.
  • Add additional weight to the goal using anchor weights. Please note that anchor weights can be easily moved and need to be monitored to make sure they remain on the goals at all times!

What are methods to anchor indoor soccer goals?

  • Bolt the goal to the ground.
  • Secure the goal to a wall.
  • Use duckbill or other ground anchors if it is possible to install the anchors through and below the floor.
  • Fabricate the goal with additional weight built into the frame of the goal.
  • Add additional weight to the goal using anchor weights. Note: Anchor weights can be easily moved and

    need to be monitored to make sure they remain on the goals at all times!

What are some common requests for soccer goals with custom back depth?

One of our most common requests is for a Box-style Soccer Goal to fit in front of football goal posts. If need be we can often shorten the overall depth of the soccer goal to fit. However, if you have 7’ or more of depth we can provide our standard box-shaped soccer goal to fit in front of the football field goal post.

For goals with a shorter back depth, you can add pads to cover the back and side bottom bars as a safety measure.

What method do you recommend using to secure movable soccer goals?

Keeper Goals recommends the use of duckbill ground anchors to properly anchor soccer goals to meet ASTM guidelines.

Why do indoor goals often need special consideration when it comes to safety?

  • Many indoor facilities have goals with custom back depth so the goals can fit in a smaller space. In these

    cases the goals need to be weighted or secured to prevent the goal from tipping over.
  • It’s typically not possible to the more some common methods of anchoring goal indoors because holes

    can’t be put in the playing surface. So other methods of anchoring the goals need to be utilized.

Important Soccer Goal Safety Legislation & Documents