GOALPOST SAFETY

 ITSA GOAL was the first goalpost manufacturer to represent the UK on the European Normalization (CEN) Safety Standards Committee — the first body established to address goalpost safety. Our introduction of uPVC football goals for children was a breakthrough, finally allowing young players to enjoy the game with proportional, lightweight, and safe equipment.

The urgency of this work grew in 1991, following the tragic death of Jonathan Smith. When the BBC program That’s Life exposed the dangers of poorly designed goalposts, the BSI Goalpost Safety Committee was formed. From that moment, the movement toward safer goals gained momentum, and we are proud that uPVC goals have since played a major role in reducing serious injuries worldwide.

Tragically, fatalities still occur due to the continued use of heavy, free-standing metal frames. That is why we remain committed to campaigning for their removal. One grieving mother once told us, “If only my son had been playing with your goals, John, he would still be alive.” Words like these strengthen our resolve and remind us what is truly at stake.

Despite our long-standing efforts, lessons are still not fully learned, and dangerous designs persist. The British Standards Institute, influenced by others in the industry, continues to set standards that allow the production of heavier free-standing goals. Sadly, it appears that our strong stance on lighter goals has been ignored by the BSI Goalpost Safety Committee. Nevertheless, our mission remains the same: to fight for safer football goals and to protect the lives of young players everywhere.

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

 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.

 Global Goalpost Safety Incidents

UNITED KINGDOM
Goalpost accidents in the UK have tragically claimed many young lives and caused life-altering injuries:

• 1986, Morecambe: a 7-year-old boy crushed to death by a goalpost.
  1988, a 14-year-old boy suffered permanent arm injury after a goalpost fell onto him.
  1990, Isle of Wight: a boy died when a heavy free-standing goalpost, chained at the back, overturned.
  1990, Scotland: a 9-year-old girl broke her pelvis when a top-heavy goalpost fell on her.
  1991, Stoney Stratford: an 11-year-old boy died under homemade 90kg goalposts.
  1991, Jonathan Smith: heavy free-standing goalpost fell on him while boys swung on it.
  Following Jonathan Smith’s death, public awareness led to the creation of the BSI Goalpost Safety Standard Committee and the start of EN 748 in 1992, with ITSA GOAL as a founding member.

Additional tragic incidents continued throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including deaths and severe injuries caused by unsecured or poorly designed goalposts. Even goalposts manufactured by leading UK companies have been involved in serious accidents, highlighting the ongoing risks.

IRELAND
Several deaths occurred due to unanchored goalposts, including incidents in Bruff, Donegal, Cork, and Dundalk, often attributed to strong winds or improper setup.

DENMARK
Between 1989–1997, 117 children were injured by falling goalposts, with roughly half swinging or performing chin-ups on the crossbars at the time.

GERMANY
In 2014, authorities in Frankfurt confiscated over 350 goals after a fatal accident in Hamburg, delaying youth football activities.

PORTUGAL
Around 400 goalpost-related accidents are reported annually, including several fatalities and serious injuries among children aged 3–16, often from overturning or falling goals.

MOROCCO
2007: a teenager suffered serious head injuries when a goalpost fell during play.

USA
Records indicate 38 deaths and 56 serious injuries due to goalposts.

RUSSIA
Between 2008, multiple fatalities occurred in schools from unanchored goals during football and handball games.

AUSTRALIA
Several fatal and severe incidents occurred between 1978 and 2003, often due to unanchored or poorly secured goals. Injuries included paraplegia, dental trauma, and death.

JAPAN
2004: a 14-year-old boy died when a full-size adult goal collapsed in strong winds at school, 13 years to the day after Jonathan Smith’s death in the UK.

SLOVENIA, CROATIA, ITALY, SERBIA
Multiple deaths and serious injuries occurred when children swung on or attempted to move unsecured goalposts. Injuries range from broken limbs to fatal head trauma. Many accidents involve short-run-back or heavy steel goals with insufficient counterbalance.

Summary:
Across the globe, unsafe goalposts — especially unanchored, heavy, or poorly designed free-standing structures — have caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of serious injuries. Common contributing factors include swinging on crossbars, insufficient anchoring, short run-back designs, improper maintenance, and lack of supervision. The introduction of lightweight, anchored plastic goals for young children has significantly reduced these risks.

 Make Football Safer: Reduce Goalpost Mass

ITSA GOAL produces lighter, safer free-standing goals that are easier to move, use, and store. Yet current safety standards have made this innovation nearly impossible to adopt.

Under current crossbar topple testing, integral weights of around 120 kilos are required. The result? Heavy, cumbersome goals that are difficult to move, prone to damage, and extremely expensive. This not only discourages clubs from buying safe equipment but may also increase the use of homemade goalposts — a far more dangerous alternative.

Lighter free-standing goals, with appropriately lower testing thresholds, provide effective safety with far less counterbalance weight. They are stronger, last longer, cost a fraction of heavy alternatives, and reduce the risk to children when goals are unsupervised or improperly anchored.

Raising the crossbar testing standard from 800N to 1000N has effectively forced the use of heavier, more hazardous goals. Despite repeated requests, the goalpost safety committee has not answered crucial questions:

• What evidence justified this change?  Why increase testing while ignoring safer lighter designs?
  Why is the ITSA GOAL’s data ignored and dismissed by the British Standards Institute
  
• We believe this decision is endangering children worldwide. Our recommendation is simple: all free-standing goals should weigh no more than 45 kilos. Children’s safety depends on it — yet regulators continue to ignore the evidence.

ITSA GOAL calls on authorities to act now: reduce goalpost mass, restore innovation, and make football safer for every child.