Football should be fun, enjoyable and SAFE!

TRAGICALLY, during the past few years several children including Jack Sheerin, a seven-year-old from West Yorkshire and Jonathan Smith, an eleven-year-old from Essex, have been killed an falling goalposts.

Football should be fun, enjoyable and safe, whether you play in a park, at school or for a local club.

That's why The FA is working with manufacturers and the British Standards Institution to set new standards in goalpost safety.

But they can't do it alone!

Keeping safety onside is a team effort and everyone must play their part.

During the 2001-2002 season, The Football Association carried out a programme of on site inspection and testing of goalposts sets at a number of sites across the country.

Here are the findings:

1    Off all goals tested, 41% of mini-soccer goals, 50% of five-a-side goals and 22% of junior goals failed stability tests

2    There is a lack of staff training in the assembly, erection and handling of goalposts

3    There is a need to ensure that manufacturer's instructions and details are kept on site and are readily available

4    Ground conditions can affect the stability of goals and therefore it is important to liaise with manufacturers on the appropriate ground fixings in relation to weather conditions

5    Staff at every second site visited were unaware of the safety campaign involving goalposts.  Through extending this campaign into a third year, The FA is committed to raising this awareness and aims to create a safer environment for all football

Goalpost Safety Guidelines - Your Role

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.

(a)    Portable goalposts must be secured as per the manufacturers instructions

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

(c)    Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may overturn

(e)    Regular inspections of goalposts must be carried out to check that they are properly maintained

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

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

4    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

5    There is no BS/CEN or PAS standard 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


Remember
Check it!
Make sure your goalposts are in good condition and properly constructed.  Homemade goalposts should not be used - they do not have in-built safety features and may be particularly hazardous for younger players.

Secure it!
Goalposts of any size must be anchored securely to the ground as per the manufacturer's instructions.  Portable goalposts must be pinned or weighted down to prevent them for overturning.  Portable goalposts should be removed from the pitch when not in use and stored securely

Test it!
Before use, adults should test the goalposts to make sure they are stable.  If you are unsure of the safety of your goalposts you should have them tested professionally.  The FA can provide details of specialist goalpost testing companies.

Respect it!
Respect your equipment.  Goalposts are not designed for gymnastic display's.  So don't swing on the cross bar.

For more details contact:
The Football Association
25 Soho Square
London
W1D 4FA

Telephone:  020 7745 4545 or 020 7402 7151
Fax: 020 7745 4546

Email:
info@TheFA.com

Visit
www.TheFA.com