One cold, raw and blustery late
autumn afternoon a few years back, I was running a soccer practice for a group
of nine and ten year olds. A game was being played on an adjacent field.
Suddenly, a snow squall struck. A gust of wind sent one of the goals crashing
to the ground. We all looked to see what caused the loud noise and were shocked
when we saw what had happened. Fortunately, no one was injured. But, to this
day, I still remember the sound of that goal toppling over and I shudder each
time I think what might have happened had it fallen over on a child.
Many Goals Are Unsafe
There are between 450,000 and 600,000
soccer goals in the United
States. Many are unsafe because they
are unstable and either unanchored or not correctly anchored or
counterbalanced.
According to the Consumer Product
Safety Commission and the National
Center for Catastrophic
Sports Injury Research:
At least 34
fatalities between 1979 and 2008 have been linked to unanchored, portable
or movable soccer goals; another 51 have suffered catastrophic or serious
injuries.
An estimated 120
people per year were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries
stemming from soccer goal posts during the period 1989 to 1993.
The serious
injuries and deaths have been the result of blunt force trauma to the
head, neck, chest and limbs.
Many of the
serious injuries or deaths occurred when the soccer goal tipped over
onto the victim. In one case, a nine year old was killed when a gust of wind
tipped over the goal. In another case, a nineteen-year old goalie suffered
stress fractures to both legs when a soccer goal blew down on top of her.
Most of the
goals involved in the tip over accidents were of the homemade variety,
fabricated by high school shop classes, custodial staff or local welders, not
professionally manufactured. Such homemade goals are often very heavy and unstable.
In
their current design, soccer goals can weigh up to 400 pounds and are
top-heavy because the bars are made of metal. While anchoring unsafe goals
goes a long way to prevent incidents, the ultimate answer is to revamp
soccer goals, using lighter materials and tip-resistant design. A new ASTM
standard for tip-resistant soccer goal (F2673-08) has recently been
released and can be found at astm.org[1]. One such design that meets
this standard is described here: New
Stable Goal Design[2].
The CPSC recommends
that all movable soccer goals be anchored firmly in place at all
times. The proper techniques for doing so are outlined in a 1995 pamphlet
entitled, "Guidelines For Movable Soccer Goal Safety."
In 1995, the Committee For Security Matters And Fair Play of
FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, issued mandatory instructions
to all associations to securely anchor goals to the ground.
Never permit hanging or climbing on a soccer goal.
Always stand to the rear or side of the goal when
moving it - NEVER to the front
Stabilize the goal as best suits the playing
surface, but in a manner that does not create other hazards to players.
Develop and follow a plan for periodic inspection
and maintenance (e.g., dry rot, joints hooks)
Advise all field maintenance persons to re-anchor
the goal if moved for mowing the grass or other purposes.
Remove goals from field no longer in use for the
soccer program as the season progresses.
Secure goals
well from unauthorized access when stored.
Educate and
remind all players and adult supervisors about the past tragedies of soccer
goal fatalities.
Is your town, club or league following
these mandates?
Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission; National Center
for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research; K & K Insurance Group, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN
Teaser title:
Soccer Goals Need To Be Anchored
Teaser text:
There are between 450,000 and 600,000 soccer goals in the United States. Many are unsafe because they are unstable and either unanchored or not correctly anchored or counterbalanced.