Purton Football Club

Goalpost Safety Policy

Index

1. Football Association Statement
2. Goalpost Safety

1. Making Safety the Goal

The Football Association launched a major campaign in August 2000 aimed at highlighting goalpost safety throughout grassroots football. The drive comes after the deaths of nine children in accidents involving goalposts over the last few years.

Following the launch at Watford FC's Vicarage Road by F.A. Chief Executive Adam Crozier and England National Goalkeeping Coach Ray Clemence, 100,000 leaflets and posters, produced after consultation with the Government, the British Standards Institution and goalpost manufacturers, were distributed to schools, colleges, leagues and clubs throughout the game. 

The campaign materials highlight the potential dangers of using goalposts without undertaking the necessary checks and precautions and are designed to attract as much attention as possible at local levels.

The F.A.'s campaign, which builds on guidelines circulated by the game's governing body in 1991 and 1999, identifies four easy-to-follow golden rules for the safe use of goalposts. These are: 

• Check It - make sure goalposts are in good condition and properly constructed. Home-made goalposts never be used - they do not have built-in safety features and may be particularly hazardous for younger players.
• Secure It - goalposts of any size must be securely anchored to the ground. Portable goalposts must be pinned or weighted down to prevent them toppling forward, and should be removed from the pitch when not in use and stored securely.
• Test It - adults should test the goalposts to make sure they are stable by exerting a downward force on the crossbar, backward force on both upright posts and forward force on both upright posts.
• Respect It - goalposts should only be used for their intended purpose; in particular, children should not swing on them.

As well as launching the awareness campaign, The F.A. has been working to produce a Publicly Available Standard (a form of British Standard) for mobile goalposts, which joins an existing standard for fixed posts.

"This campaign is a vital part of our commitment to make safety a top priority in football at all levels," explained Adam Crozier. "Everyone involved with playing and organising football must play their part to ensure that the tragic accidents that have so disfigured the game in the past never happen again."

The full guidelines for the safe use of goalposts can be accessed in the Football Development section of the FA's website.

For further information:

The Football Association
16 Lancaster Gate
London
W2 3LW

http://www.the-fa.org/

Telephone: 020 7402 7151
Fax: 020 7402 0486
E-Mail: info@the-fa.org

Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2 - 4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
http://www.culture.gov.uk

British Standards Institution: Steve Tyler 020 8996 9000
Health and Safety Executive: Alasdair Frew 0207 7176902

2. GOALPOST  SAFETY - Play Your Part

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. Too many serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goalposts. Safety is always of paramount importance and everyone in football must play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.

1. For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely to the ground.
   • Portable goalposts must be secured by the use of chain anchors or appropriate anchor weights to prevent them from toppling forward.
   • It is essential that under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb, swing on or play with the structures of the goalposts.
   • Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may topple over.
2. Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be dismantled.and removed to a place of secure storage. 
3. It is strongly recommended that nets should only be secured by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup hooks. Any metal cup hooks should if possible be removed and replaced. New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks which cannot be replaced.
4. Goalposts which are "home made" or which have been altered from their original size or construction should not be used. These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.
5. Guidelines to prevent toppling:

   (i) Follow manufacturer's guidelines in assembling goalposts.

   (ii) Before use, adults should:

• Ensure each goal is anchored securely in its place
• Exert a significant downward force on the cross bar 
• Exert a significant backward force on both upright posts
• Exert a significant forward force on both upright posts

These must be repeated until it is established that the structure is secure. If not, alternative goals/pitches must be used.

Let us all ensure that for the safety of the children, we carry out the inspection and testing of the equipment prior to its use on all occasions. The message must be:

Check it, Secure it, Test it & Respect it.

For reference, you should note that The F.A. And BSI have developed a standard for future purchases (PAS 36:2000), available from BSI. It is hoped this will be developed into a full British Standard in due course.

REMEMBER TO USE ALL EQUIPMENT, NOT JUST GOALPOSTS, SAFELY AT ALL TIMES.

Club Agreement with Goalpost Safety Policy

Copyright © 2003 Purton Football Club. All rights reserved.