The Football Association, along with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Health and Safety Executive and British Standards institution, would like to draw your attention to the following guidelines for the safe use of goalposts. Too many serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goalposts. Safety is always of paramount importance and everyone in football must play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.
1) For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely to the ground.
2) Portable freestanding goalposts must be anchored at all times, either by using the correct number of weights attached to the back bar or as part of the goal frame, or by attaching the back bar to permanent fixing points, for instance eyebolts, stainless steel loops set in concrete blocks, or suitable attachments on a permanent fence.
3) Portable freestanding goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be either dismantled and placed in storage or removed to a designated area and secured face to face to prevent toppling forward.
4) Avoid any dragging or twisting of the portable freestanding goal frames.
5) Guidelines to prevent toppling:
a) Follow manufacturers’ guidelines in assembling goalposts.
b) Before every use, an adult should:
• Ensure each goal is anchored securely in its place.
• Exert a significant downward force on the cross bar.
• Exert a significant backwards force on both upright posts.
• Exert a significant forward force on both upright posts.
6) It is essential that under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb, swing on or play with the structures of the goalposts
7) Goalposts which are ‘’home made’’ or which have been altered from their original size or construction should not be used. These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.
8 ) All nets should only be secured to the goal frame by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup hooks. Also the nets should be tethered to the ground using plastic or nylon pegs.
9) Regular inspections of goalposts should be carried out to check that they are properly maintained.
BTYFC Goalpost Safety
14/07/08
To download a copy click here: BTYFC Goalpost Safety Guidelines.
