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:
- 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.
2. Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be dismantled and removed to a place of secure storage.
3. The use of metal cup hooks on goals will be banned from the commencement of season 2007/08 and match officials will be instructed not to commence matches where such net fixings are evident for safety reasons.
Nets should only be secured by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup hooks. Any metal cup hooks should be removed and replaced.
New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks.
4. 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.
5. There is no BS/CEN 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, aluminium or plastic goalposts. All wooden goals previously tested by independent consultants have failed strength and stability tests.
Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association. Registration Number DYD00535
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