Goalpost Safety

For the safety of all concerned the following instructions should be strictly followed when erecting and dismantling mini-soccer goals at the London Marathon Playing Fields or other locations.

The Football Association, along with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Health and Safety Executive and the British Standards Institution, would like to draw your attention to the following guidelines for the safe use of goalposts.

1. For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be either dismantled or removed to a place of secure storage or placed together and suitable fixings applied to prevent unauthorised use at any time.

· Portable goalposts must be secured as per the manufacturer’s instructions; this is also a requirement for the Laws of the Game

· 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 either dismantled or removed to a place of secure storage or placed together and suitable fixings applied to prevent unauthorised use at any time.

3. The use of metal cup hooks on any part of a goal frame was banned from the commencement of season 2007-08 and match officials have been instructed not to commence matches where such net fixings are evident for safety reasons. Nets may be secured by plastic fixings; arrow head shaped 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 “homemade”, or which have been altered from their original size or construction should not be used under any circumstances as they potential pose a serious safety risk.

5. There is no BS/CEN standard for wooden goals, and it is unlikely that wooden goals will pass a load or stability test. All wooden goals previously tested by independent consultants have failed strength and stability tests. The FA recommends that wooden goals should be replaced with compliant metal, aluminium or UPVC goalposts (this was updated in March 2012).

Funding for the replacement of unsafe goals is available via the Football Foundation and eligibility criteria and further details can be obtained from their website at www.footballfoundation.org.uk.

SAFETY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE AND YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE ABOVE PROCEDURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.