Get Ready to Play: Your Season Starts Here!

As concerned administrators, coaches and parents, I want to remind you all of the seriousness of goal safety. As I have visited several fields throughout our association in recent months, I have seen an alarming number of unsecured or poorly secured soccer goals.

I urge you all to have a soccer goal safety strategy in place, with good reason. From 1998-2008, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received reports of at least eight deaths and an estimated 2,000 emergency room visits by children under 16 years of age that were related to soccer goal tip-overs and structural failures. According to Anchored for Safety, a nonprofit initiative for promoting soccer goal safety awareness, five soccer goal-related deaths have occurred in the past two years.

According to US Youth Soccer, unanchored or improperly secured soccer goals account for seven of the top twenty insurance claims, nationally, in youth soccer. Three were fatalities and four resulted in injury to the players. The personal impact on players, families, teams and clubs is devastating. The combined financial losses amount to over $5 million, not including additional time or expense to defend the organizations. Playing on school or municipal fields does not absolve your organization of the responsibility or liability. Please urge those organizations that you partner with or rent space from to address this issue.

As we progress further into the new soccer season, please remind your coaches and referees to inspect, BEFORE EVERY PRACTICE, TRAINING ACTIVITY, AND GAME:

(1) All goal posts and nets for safety, that they are properly anchored and secured

(2) The field and areas around the field that are being used

Goal Safety Policy Resources

Kwik Goal Safety

Safety Video

Click here for the US Youth Soccer presentation on Goal Post Safety.

Goal Safety Policy Statement

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer recommends use of these guidelines regarding the installation, use and storage of soccer goals by all of its members. As advocates for the healthy development of children, we need to be concerned with the soccer goal post safety. Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer urges all of its organizations to review their policies and procedures and to implement and enforce a program of goal post safety.

While these guidelines should be effective in reducing the risk of goal-related injuries, they should not be construed as the only methods to minimize injuries associated with soccer goals. Please contact us if you have questions or would like additional information on this subject.

Soccer Goal Injuries and Deaths

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most soccer goal post related deaths and injuries involved either unsecured or homemade goals. Injuries frequently occurred during horseplay such as climbing on the goal or attempting to do chin-ups, thereby tipping the goal over. All goals, whether homemade or manufactured, should be properly secured to the ground to avoid injuries or deaths associated with tip-over.

Anchoring Soccer Goals

There are several different ways to properly anchor soccer goals. The number and type of anchors used will depend on factors such as soil type and goal weight. Anchor types include:

• Auger-style anchors that are screwed into the ground.
• Semi-permanent anchors, which require a permanently secured base buried underground with the use of tethers or bolts to secure the goal.
• Peg, stake or j-hook style anchors that are driven into the ground.

Sandbags or counterweights for indoor facilities.

Goal Storage

The CPSC reports most accidents occurred when the goal was unattended. When goals are not being used always:

Remove the net

Take appropriate steps to secure goals such as:
1. Place the goal frames face to face and secure them at each goalpost with a lock and chain.
2. Lock and chain to a suitable fixed structure such as a permanent fence.
3. Lock unused portable goals in a secure storage room after each use.
4. Fully disassemble the goals for seasonal storage.

Conclusions/Safety Tips

It is suggested that soccer coaches, officials, parents and players follow these safety guidelines:

• Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times.
• Store movable soccer goals in a place where children can not access them.
• Never climb on the net or goal framework.
• Remove nets when goals are not in use.
• Check all connecting hardware before every use and replace damaged or missing anchors immediately.
• Ensure safety/warning labels are clearly visible.
• Fully disassemble goals for seasonal storage.
• Always exercise extreme caution when moving goals and allow adequate manpower to move goals of varied sizes and weights. Movable soccer goals should only be moved by authorized adults.
• Movable soccer goals should only be used on level (flat) fields
• Instruct players to avoid unsafe use of goals.

Each year, about 400 children and adults in the U.S. are struck by lightning while working outside, at sports events, on the beach, mountain climbing, mowing the lawn or during other outdoor activities. About 80 people are killed and several hundred more are left to cope with permanent disabilities. Many of these tragedies can be avoided. Finishing the game, getting a tan, or completing a work shift aren’t worth death or crippling injury.

• All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. Lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes.
• Lightning often strikes as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. Many deaths from lightning occur ahead of the storm because people try and wait to the last minute before seeking shelter.

• You are in danger from lightning if you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough that it could strike your location at any moment.
• Lightning injuries can lead to permanent disabilities or death. On average, 20% of strike victims die; 70% of survivors suffer serious long term effects.
• Look for dark cloud bases and increasing wind. Every flash of lightning is dangerous, even the first. Head to safety before that first flash. If you hear thunder, head to safety!
• Blue Skies and Lightning. Lightning can travel sideways for up to 10 miles. Even when the sky looks blue and clear, be cautious. If you hear thunder, take cover. At least 10% of lightning occurs without visible clouds in the sky.

The Single Most Dangerous Place

Outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a lightning storm. When lightning is seen or thunder is heard, or when dark clouds are observed, quickly move indoors or into a hard-topped vehicle and remain there until well after the lightning storm ends. Listen to forecasts and warnings through NOAA Weather Radio or your local TV and radio stations. If lightning is forecast, plan an alternate activity or know where you can take cover quickly.

The U.S. lightning season is summer but lightning can strike year round! The Fourth of July is historically one of the most deadly times of the year for lightning. In summer, more people are outside, on the beach, golf course, mountains or ball fields. Outdoor jobs such as construction and agriculture, and outdoor chores such as lawn mowing or house painting are at their peak, putting those involved in danger.

Safety Rules

1. Postpone activities promptly. Don’t wait for rain. Many people take shelter from the rain, but most people struck by lightning are not in the rain! Go quickly inside a completely enclosed building, not a carport, open garage or covered patio. If no enclosed building is convenient, get inside a hard-topped all-metal vehicle. A cave is a good option outside but move as far as possible from the cave entrance.
2. Be the lowest point. Lightning hits the tallest object. In the mountains if you are above tree line, you ARE the highest object around. Quickly get below tree line and get into a grove of small trees. Don’t be the second tallest object during a lightning storm! Crouch down if you are in an exposed area.
3. Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or increasing wind, which may be signs of an approaching thunderstorm.
4. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, go to a safe shelter immediately.
5. If you see or hear a thunderstorm coming or your hair stands on end, immediately suspend your game or practice and instruct everyone to go inside a sturdy building or car. Sturdy buildings are the safest place to be. Avoid sheds, picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, and bleachers. If no sturdy building is nearby, a hard-top vehicle with windows closed will offer some protection. The steel frame of the vehicle provides some protection if you are not touching metal.
6. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio. Coaches and other leaders should listen for a tone-alert feature during practice sessions and games.
7. If you can’t get to a shelter, stay away from trees. If there is no shelter, crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.
8. Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles.
9. Get out of the water. It’s a great conductor of electricity. Stay off the beach and out of small boats or canoes. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the center of the boat away from metal hardware. Swimming, wading, snorkeling and scuba diving are NOT safe. Lightning can strike the water and travel some distance beneath and away from its point of contact. Don’t stand in puddles of water, even if wearing rubber boots.
10. Avoid metal! Drop metal backpacks, stay away from clothes lines, fences, exposed sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects. Don’t hold on to metal items such golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets or tools. Large metal objects can conduct lightning. Small metal objects can cause burns.
11. Move away from a group of people. Stay several yards away from other people. Don’t share a bleacher bench or huddle in a group.

What to do if someone is struck by lightning:

• Call for help. Call 9-1-1 or your local ambulance service. Get medical attention as quickly as possible.
• Give first aid. If the victim has stopped breathing, begin rescue breathing. If the heart has stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR. If the person has a pulse and is breathing, address any other injuries.
• Check for burns in two places. The injured person has received an electric shock and may be burned. Being struck by lightning can also cause nervous system damage, broken bones, and loss of hearing or eyesight.
• People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge that can shock other people. You can examine them without risk.

Stay Informed About the Storm
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local media for the latest severe thunderstorm WATCHES and WARNINGS. Severe thunderstorms are those storms with winds in excess of 58 mph or hail larger than 3/4 inches in diameter. When conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, a severe thunderstorm WATCH is issued.

Weather Service personnel use information from weather radar, satellite, lightning detection, spotters, and other sources to issue severe thunderstorm WARNINGS for areas where severe weather is imminent. Remember, however, that ALL thunderstorms produce deadly lightning.

For more information visit the National Weather Service web site at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/sports.htm