Changing the goalposts

 

The popular 12-year-old was fatally injured when he was struck by a falling goalpost while playing with friends on the village’s recreation ground, prompting the game’s governing body in Wales to carry out a health and safety investigation into the thousands of unsupervised goalposts scattered across the country.

 

The strict new measures, which have been distributed this week to every football league, prohibit the use of ‘home-made’ goalposts which have been altered from their original size and construction.

 

“Following the recent tragic event at the beginning of this season involving the use of portable goalposts, The Football Association of Wales (FAW) considers it appropriate that all football clubs in Wales are provided with guidelines to ensure the safe and correct use of goalposts at all times,” said Jonathan Ford, Chief Executive.

 

“Safety must always be of paramount importance both when goalposts are being used for a match or training purposes, and when not in use and are stored away.”

The new guidelines for clubs:

1. “Home-made” goalposts have been the cause of a number of injuries and deaths. Goalposts that have been altered from their original size and construction must not be used.

2. Portable goalposts not in use should be properly stored. They should either be dismantled or removed to a place of secure storage, or placed together and suitable fixings applied to prevent unauthorised use at any time. Portable goalposts should only be left in place, properly secured, if no method of safe storage is available.

3. 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 as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This is also a requirement of the Laws of the Game (Law 1). If not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may overturn.

4. Under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb on, swing or play with the structure of the goalposts.

5. All goalposts must be regularly inspected to ensure they are properly maintained and continue to remain safe to be used.

6. Nets should not be secured by metal cup hooks. They may be secured by plastic fixings, arrow head shaped plastic hooks or tape. Any metal cup hooks should be removed and replaced. New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks.

7. It is unlikely that wooden goalposts will pass a load or stability test. It is recommended that wooden goalposts should be replaced when necessary with compliant metal, aluminium or plastic goalposts.