Context

Football should be fun, enjoyable and safe, whether you play in a park, at school or for a local club. Tragically during the past few years several children have been killed by falling goalposts.

 

West Hallam Junior Football Club have adopted the Goalpost Safety Guidelines recommended by the Football Association, and in doing so will make reference to two other documents entitled ‘Goals for Football’ which cover Guidance, and Technical Notes for the safe use of goal posts.

 

Guidelines

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.

 

• Portable goalposts must be secured as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb on, swing or play with the structure of the goalposts.

• Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may overturn.

• Regular inspections of goalposts must be carried out to check that they are properly maintained.

 

Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use.  They should be dismantled and removed to a place of storage.

 

Nets should only be secured by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup hooks.  Any metal hooks should be removed and replaced.  New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks that cannot be replaced.

 

Goalposts which are ’home made’ or which have been altered from their original size and construction should NOT be used.  These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.

 

There are no proper quality standards for wooden goals and it is unlikely that wooden goals will pass a load or stability test.  The FA recommends that wooden goals should be replaced when necessary with compliant metal or plastic goalposts.