GOALPOST SAFETY TIPS

1 – Anti-vandal lockable steel permanently sited football goal posts offer a higher level of safety and accountability than Nut & bolt steel goal posts.

2 – Lighter aluminium free standing goalposts offer additional safety over heavy moveable goal posts over 45 kilos in weight. (see impact test videos below).

3 – Plastic Goal Posts are best when net supports are secured to the goal frame and not just pushed into a hole. This type of net support can crease and break leaving dangerous sharp protrusions.

4 – Folding goal post should have secure lockable side frames that do not swing freely and act like a guillotine when in use or whilst being moved or stored.

5 – Freestanding goalposts side returns should be at least seventy-five percent of the upright length to improve stability- short run back goals need at least double the counterbalance weight to prevent toppling.

6 – Freestanding goal posts with wheels should allow for safe use on muddy grass pitches, allow sideways as well as forwards and backwards movement. Wheels should not have finger hand or foot entrapment areas if left on the goal during play.  Removeable wheel systems during match play are much safer.

7 – Quick removable net support tubes help prevent vandalism on exposed steel fixed position goalposts.

8 – All bolts used on goalposts should have domed head nuts or nut protectors to protect from gash injuries.

9 – The mass of a freestanding goalpost is safer for use around children if it does not exceed 45 kilos in weight. Goalposts anchors or counterbalance weights should always be used on freestanding goal posts to prevent toppling.

10 – All children’s goalposts should have a smaller net mesh (100 mm sq) to avoid head entrapment. Use goal posts with these basic safety features and it will reduce the risks at your school or Junior football club. 

Heavy free-standing goalposts can be dangerous and cause serious injury if they topple forward. We have recommended to the British Standards and the Football Association for many years that children’s free-standing goalposts be made to a lower mass/weight of a maximum of 45 kilos. We also suggested that the strength test be reduced on youth goalposts to make designs of goal posts mass to be lighter. The videos below indicate clearly why this needs to be done. View both videos and ask yourself which goal would you prefer your children to play with?

This is why the ITSA GOAL make innovative goalposts with a lower mass. The videos show why we feel this is common sense. Not all agree with our evaluation. We asked the BSI to review the standard and withdraw it on the grounds of safety. After showing and proposing a safe 45 Kilo weight to the BSI safety committee the problem was made worse when Chris Harrod of Harrod UK proposed a maximum weight of 75 Kilos for children’s goalposts in October 2012 at a meeting with the British Standards Institute and the lighter weight we proposed was ignored by the committee. Subsequently our company has not been invited to further meetings.

Our recommendations were based on Blunt thoracic trauma research by Sheffield and Hallam University Sports & Science who we commissioned to do research on the dangers of toppling goalposts. The result was a much lower recommendation of 45 Kilos gross weight. To date our work in this area seems to be ignored by other manufacturers. The lower video shows a goalpost made to a lighter weight and the top video shows a goal made to the current goal post standards with a crossbar test to 1800 Newtons.   It is this crossbar strength test that in our opinion is too high and it is this test that ensures the goal posts are heavier and therefore more dangerous. The crossbar strength test has recently been reduced on certain goals on the latest standards BSEN 16579:2018.

 The lighter mass freestanding goalpost bounces on our test melon four times without leaving any noticeable damage.  

 ” Hi John, I have just read an article on the new guidelines for goalposts and note that some of your lighter aluminium goalposts may not meet the current BSI safety criteria. This is ridiculous! As you know we purchased several goalposts from you over the last five years and to date we have not had a single serious accident or problem with your goals. We try to stop goalkeepers jumping up onto the crossbar, but it is very difficult, especially when away team goalkeepers do it during a game. However, out of all the sets we have, not one crossbar has even the slightest bend in it. We always get complimented on our goals, the fact that our club appears to have the safest and best equipment in the area.” Dennis Hickford - Woodbank Junior FC

The company was the first goalpost manufacturer to represent the UK on the European Normalization (CEN) Safety Standards, which was the first committee set up to investigate the issues surrounding goalpost safety. The introduction of uPVC football goals for children by ITSA GOAL made a huge difference and ensured young children at long last could play football in proportional safe football goals.

The BSI Goalpost safety committee was set up soon after the death of Jonathan Smith in 1991 when the BBC program “That’s Life” highlighted the serious injuries caused by poorly designed goal posts. The momentum and drive towards safer goals started and we can be proud that uPVC football Goals have gone a long way towards reducing serious injuries to children around the world. Sadly, fatalities continue with heavy free-standing goalpost frames still in use, and that is why we continue to fight to remove these types of goalposts.

Our company has been involved more than most to try and introduce safer football goals. When you have a distraught mum crying “if only my son had been playing with your goals John, he would still be alive” it does focus the mind somewhat. The lessons are still not being  learned and other young footballers are still being fatally injured by heavy free-standing goalposts. Even though we have been trying for years to make changes The British Standards Institute still is advised by others in the industry and sets standards that encourages the manufacture of heavier free-standing goalposts.

Unfortunately, it seems our views have resulted in our company being removed from the BSI goalpost safety committee.

Our company in 2001 commissioned a detailed report by Sheffield University Sports & Science department which looked at the dangers of toppling freestanding goal posts and the overwhelming conclusion was that the mass of the goal and the speed generated by that mass from the fulcrum point was the main reason why such goalposts cause fatalities. Click on the link to see the   Goal post toppling report

UNITED KINGDOM

In 1986 a seven-year-old boy died in Morecambe – crushed to death by a goalpost. In 1988 a 14 year old boy suffered serious injury whilst playing in goal the goalpost was dislodged by another player and the goal post fell onto his arm. He can now only partially move his right arm. In 1990 young boy died on the Isle of Wight whilst his father was present when a heavy free-standing goalpost overturned trapping him. The goalpost was chained at the back to prevent it from being stolen. In 1990 a nine-year-old girl in Sandend – Scotland sustained serious injury when a top-heavy goalpost fell onto her stomach and broke her pelvis in three places leaving her with lifelong pain and injury. IN  1991 An 11-year-old boy died in Stoney Strafford when homemade goalposts weighing 90 kilos fell onto him and ruptured his heart. In 1991 Jonathan Smith died when a very heavy free-standing goal post fell onto his chest. Boys were running up and swinging on the goal when it overturned.

After this accident and a lot of publicity by his mother Brenda Smith a Goalpost safety standard committee was set up in conjunction with the BSI with the aim to prevent further deaths – EN 748 was started in the Manchester offices of the BSI in 1992. ITSA GOAL were founder members of this committee.

In 1992 a twelve-year-old girl in Oxford died when socketed goalpost were taken out and stored intact against a shed. These goalposts weighed 60 kilos and when the posts toppled forward, she could not get out of the way. The impact ruptured her heart. In 1994 a boy aged six from Croydon died in Devon when a goalpost made from scaffold poles fell onto him whilst on holiday. In 1995 a thirteen-year-old boy died in Blackburn when a goalpost collapsed onto his head fracturing his skull. He had been swinging on the goalpost during a kick about (a common activity).

In 1996 a ten-year-old girl in Manchester died when a metal crossbar fell on her head as she played football. In 1996 a small two-year-old girl died in Ipswich whilst she played under a small set of goalposts which were used for training. In 1999 a seven-year-old boy died in Dewsbury when a free-standing goalpost weighing 72Kilos fell on his head shattering his skull. The children as in many cases were swinging on goalposts that were not secured prior to a match being played. In 2012 Young eleven-year-old was fatally injured at a local football team in Wales when goalpost made by a local steel fabricator overturned onto him. In 2012 A young eight-year-old boy had his arm seriously broken when a folding side frame swung over like a guillotine on to his arm at his local junior football club in Norwich. In 2014 a teenage lad playing in goal had to undergo two hours surgery, after playing in a school football match, when he collided into the corner on a square steel upright post. The last two accidents were with goalposts actually manufactured by leading goalpost manufacturers in the U.K.

A ten-year-old boy died when an unsafe goalpost fell at Holy Cross Summer camp near Bruff. The goalpost was not properly anchored and was blown over in a strong wind. Users do not think the heavy goalpost can be blown over. This was reported as a freak accident however it was the fourth such death in Ireland. A ten-year-old in Donegal and a girl in Cork and another ten-year-old in Dundalk in 2003.

Between 1989 and 1997 one hundred and seventeen Danes were injure by falling goalposts. Half of them were swinging or doing chin ups on the crossbar at the time. ( A common activity that spans the borders of countries )

The latest accident in 2014 has been reported in Germany. Youth football in Frankfurt might not re-start on time, because the authorities confiscates over 350 goals, to add additional weights. This was after (it seems) a child died in an accident in Hamburg, when a goal toppled over. http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/im-frankfurter-jugendfussball-fehlen-361-tore-a-954689.html

In Portugal as in the U K around four hundred accidents are reported each tear involving goalposts. Between 2000 & 2002 five children died and two were seriously handicapped due to overturning or falling goalposts. All were boys between the ages of 8 and 16. The injuries took place when children were playing by themselves in public playing fields or school playgrounds. The injuries were the result of blunt trauma impact to the head, neck, chest and limbs. In one incident a child’s father lifted back the base of the goal causing it to fall striking his three year old on the head causing a fatal injury.

2007 a young teenager playing on San Javier municipal football suffered serious injury when the goalpost fell on top of him hitting him on the head.

We have a separate sheet for the recorded goalpost incidents in the United States that is too long to incorporate however at the time of writing this it shows details of thirty-eight deaths and fifty-six serious injuries. other goal post accidents

2008 a girl aged twelve died whilst at school in the republic of Baskiria in the southwest Urais during a school lesson . In 2008 a ten-year-old boy died at school in a handball game in Motygino, Krasnoyarsk region again not anchored. Handball goals are unstable as many have short run backs that make the free-standing goal an unstable design. In 2008 an eight-year-old girl died when goalpost fell onto her during a mini football match in the central Russia’s Penza region.

1978 a boy of thirteen died at a sports day in Ingham Queensland 1990 another thirteen-year-old suffered when a heavy free-standing goal post fell onto him in Hobart. He survived the incident but is now a paraplegic. In 1997 a boy aged twelve had seven teeth knocked out by a falling goal post Holy Cross Primary school in Cairns. 1999 a boy of ten died when an un-anchored goal post fell onto him at Sydney’s Serbia Club. In 2003 a three-year-old girl died at a soccer gala at Moss Vale soccer club when an un-anchored free-standing goal weighing 180 kg goal post frame fell onto her. The police were able to push it over with one finger. This goal post may well have had a very short run back to be that unstable. Thirteen people have been seriously hurt between 1998 and 2003 in Queensland & Victoria in Australia.

In 2004 a fourteen-year-old boy died at Shimizu Dairoku Junior High School in Shizuoka when a goal post collapsed in strong winds on to his head. He died of brain damage shortly after the incident. The goal post was a full-size adult goal and was not anchored. (people just assumed a heavy steel goal post would not blow over!) This death in Japan happened on the 13th of January 2004 thirteen years to the day that Jonathan Smith died in England which subsequently started the goal post safety standards committee.

Many different kinds of injuries are apparent in Eastern Europe, from legs, to fingers, head, stomach, neck, hands, and all are reminiscent of accidents we have come across in the UK over the last twenty-five years. Injuries seem to be the result of poor design and the quality of goalposts in use. Deaths mainly occurred because of the mass of the goal, the risk during transportation and a lack of any regular maintenance. Expansion and contraction on football goals are common problems and users often attempt poor add hock repairs themselves on site. No warning labelling is evident, no anchoring and no education as to the kilo counterbalance weight required to conform to EN748 is available especially on shorter run back goals. Coaches do not seem to be aware of the dangers and adult supervised sessions often use heavy free standing goalposts without anchors or weights. Currently safe plastic goalposts for use around young children are not available in many countries especially in Eastern Europe.

On 17.08.2008 heavy steel fee standing goalposts were responsible for the death of a 6-year old whilst playing with his team mates, 70 kg steel goalpost fell on him. Even though he was rushed to hospital he suffered such severe injuries on his body, that he died in hospital.

 On 22nd of May 2011 a 51-year-old was killed on concrete football field in Podbrežje.  While playing he hung onto the crossbar and because the goalpost was not anchored it moved, and he lost his balance, and the goalposts fell on his neck and injured him so severely he died on the spot.

on the 20.03.2014 free standing goalposts fell on 9-year-old. Accident happened, when he wanted to transport one-meter-high steel goalposts, which overturned and fell on him in a boy's arcade. Boy suffered severe injuries.

In Slovenia there were several football accidents, mainly with children and three deaths were recorded and one severe injury. There were a lot of minor consequences caused by unanchored and unattached goalposts. At the end of May 1999 unstable steel construction of a goalpost killed ten-year-old »Denis Ozmeca«. March 1994 during a PE lesson a goalpost killed twelve-year-old »Bojan Mlakar«.Year 1990, goalposts which was not anchored and attached to the ground killed again a child in primary school. October 1993 lesson, during the PE, goalposts fell on ten-year-old »Dejan Novak«, which he survived despite severe injuries caused by goalpost.

A thirty-seven-year-old goalkeeper was killed during a game with friends when the goalpost overturned on top of him. Whilst warming up he dived to make a save but got entangled in the net and this pulled the heavy iron goalpost over .The goalpost struck his spine and head killing him instantly.

On 23.march of 2015 goalpost fell on a boy and broke his leg. April 2003 steel goalpost killed seven year old. A goalpost that had been repaired several times. Like many children he started hanging on the upper crossbar, when 3m x,2m goalposts fell on his head. He was killed at the site, despite medical attention.

In April 2008 at town near the Orašje, 70 kg steel goalpost killed 12 year old boy. It happened during PE lesson. He hung up to the goalpost and because goalpost was not anchored, it fell on boys head. He died on the way to the hospital. Parents warned the school on numerous occasions that the goalposts were not appropriate. Similar accident happened in the town of Tomislavgrad.

In June 2009 goalpost severely injured an eleven-year-old girl on her stomach. Between the football matches she jumped and hung on the crossbar She fell on the ground and pulled 100 kg goalpost down on top of herself. Six children, younger than eight years of age succeeded lifting the goalpost from her however her internal organs were so badly injured that she had to have a liver transplant. The same type of goalposts injured another five-year-old which broke his leg/arm. Goalpost was only anchored with a single boulder.

In April 2014 goalposts killed a twelve-year-old »Luka Milković«. As all the previous deaths the boy hung on the ten-year-old steel goalposts, which broke in the middle. Goalpost fell onto his head and killed him on site, despite immediate medical attention from the coaches.

On May 2009 steel goalpost fell on thirteen-year-old boy. Again, the same as all the other children he swung on the crossbar. This seems to be a natural instinctive thing children do all the time all over the world. The goalpost fell on his head and killed him instantly. The introduction of plastic goals for the youngest children has reduced this drastically.

In August 2011 a ten-year-old boy was killed by a goalpost at a tourist camp. The goalpost fell on him and crushed his chest. He died on the way to the hospital.

In June 2011 goalpost fell on a ten-year-old boy. The boy was playing with his teammates, when at the end of the game he swung on the crossbar to imitate other players he had seen doing it. At that moment goalpost fell. Despite medical interference, boy died on the way to the hospital. On October 2013 goalpost again injured a six-year-old youngster. Injuries were bone fractures. It happened during the organized event.

In April 2015, while playing with his team mates a youngster was injured with a free standing goalpost, which was being used in a junior football championship. Goalposts were not anchored properly. Boy suffered heavy injuries, but he survived. These are common short run back goals that are not stable and require a considerable amount of counterbalance weight much more that goalposts with longer run backs. These are common short run back goals are not stable and require a considerable amount of counterbalance weight much more that goalposts with longer run backs.

On September 2013 goalpost fell apart, when a ten year old boy hung onto the crossbar and it fell onto him. The boy suffered severe neurological injuries.On October 2014 a broken frame of a goalpost fell on twelve year old and killed him on site. While the ball was on the other side of the football field during a game, he decided to hang on the goal which fell onto him.

ITSA GOAL manufacture lighter safer freestanding goals that are easier to move around and use.

The current crossbar topple testing requirements make goalposts with integral weights impractical to move around easily which defeats the object of having a free-standing goalpost to move around. The counterbalance weight needed is so high (around 120 kilos) that the actual frames which only rely on bolts just work apart due to dragging such an unbalanced heavy weight around. The main problem with these goalposts, apart from the impracticality, currently is the cost as they are so expensive it may well encourage and increase the amount of homemade goal posts which will make the situation even worse.

Lighter free-standing goalposts in conjunction with a lower testing would require much less counterbalance weight to prevent overturning. Such free-standing goal frames would be safer in instances where goals are not supervised or properly anchored. At about one fifth the cost they are more affordable, stronger, last longer and are easier to use. To prevent junior clubs from using lighter mass goalposts by removing them from the goal post standards by increasing crossbar strength testing is inexcusable. What it does do is remove innovation in design of safer lighter mass goalposts.

To date the goalpost safety committee that introduced this dangerous change has not answered our questions. What evidence was presented to the committee for change? what was the reasoning behind the 1000 newtons increase in testing from the safer 800 newtons test already on the 2005 standard? Were the members shown the evidence put forward by our company? To make such a change that has effectively increased the number of heavier and more dangerous free-standing goalposts in use around children in our opinion is scandalous. ITSA GOAL make one sensible recommendation- Reduce the mass of all freestanding goals to a mass of no more than 45 kilos. The trouble is no one is listening!