Football body releases portable goalpost safety reminder

In advance of the 2018 season, Football NSW has issued a reminder to clubs, associations, coaches, officials, committee members, volunteers and parents of the importance of anchoring, checking and respecting portable football goalposts.

The reminder fillow concerns worldwide following the deaths of a 9-year old boy and two other children in separate incidents in the USA in 2017 from falling portable goalposts.

Unsecured and unstable portable football goals have been associated with at least 43 deaths and a range of serious injuries worldwide, including Australia.

Football NSW advise that tthe safety concerns mainly lie with those that weigh 28 kilograms or more, to ensure they cannot tip over. Portable goals are required to be anchored using either 10 x 300mm stakes or 12 bags of sand (= 200kg) or 10 bags of cement mix (= 200kg).

The Football NSW advice states “when using portable goalposts it is important to ensure they’re anchored securely and correctly to the ground, and then checked that they are stable before they’re used. If they’re not safe, don’t use them. Portable goals should also be secured safely to a solid object when not in use, to ensure they cannot tip over or be moved. This is usually by chain with a coded or keyed padlock.

“Portable full size or heavy goalposts weighing more than 28kg must only be moved by adults. Children are not permitted to move or set up portable goalposts unless they are the small lightweight fiberglass or pop-up style goals.

“If you see a portable goalpost that is broken, unsecured or appears to be unsafe for use, please stop using the goal and take immediate steps to ensure it cannot be used until it can be inspected and notify an appropriate person at the club or association.

“In preparation for the upcoming football season, all clubs, associations, coaches and volunteers should refer to the FNSW Goalpost Safety Notice and Policy and other important goalpost safety information.”

Last year the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released updated a new document on goalpost safety, Anchor, Check, Respect: The Game Plan for Moveable Soccer Goal Safety.

Click here to view this document.