Aluminium Goalpost Installation – Fixed Position Goalposts
Elliptical Socketed Lockable aluminium Goals
Crossbar corners are welded both internally and externally to ensure they will stand up to the most rigorous conditions. The corners will not expand apart as with other goals as expansion is carried through the corner to lift the crossbar slightly and then when contracting gravity takes over.
Twist and lock industrial nylon net fixings enable nets to be attached quickly and easily. The net can be secured under the net fixings inside the extrusion groove or they can be hung over the hook section of the fixing. We recommend that in the top corners where the crossbar meets the upright and in the centre of the crossbar that the net be secured underneath the net fixing. If you require the goalpost net fixings to be left in position then the fixing allows a 4mm rod to be slotted down inside the hole on the fitting to connect through them all to prevent them being removed.(slide rod out from top to remove fixings)
To maintain the goals we recommend grease be applied inside the lock housing to facilitate easy removal of the lock case. Oil and clean the lock to ensure the key is working well at all times. If a key breaks inside the lock a local locksmith will be able to remove it with a special pick. Spare keys are locks are always available.
The goal can be lifted out of the ground sockets with the uprights attached if you prefer or the locks can be removed and the crossbar lifted off the uprights. Which ever way you install or take down your goals they should never be stored intact but should always be unlocked and stored flat.
The crossbars are heavy and care should be taken when lifting onto or off the uprights. Never stand under the crossbar always stand to the side. If the crossbar is lifted by mechanical means then it must be lifted equally from the centre and not one end at a time as this will bend and damage the end not being lifted. Use protective materials around posts like rubber if lifting with mechanical arms otherwise you may damage the paintwork. If the crossbars are to be lifted out from the ground sockets with the uprights intact or unlocked and lifted from the uprights manually then they must be lifted at each end simultaneously.
At the end of the season when the goals are not in use check all welds to ensure they have not become damaged. Check periodically through the season that the goals have not been damaged especially if they are left up in areas prone to vandalism.
When installing your goals take your time and do a good job to ensure the best results and performance. The installation guides need to be thoroughly read prior to fixing the ground sockets in place. Any competent local builder should be able to help install the goal posts if you feel you need more help. I can also be contacted at any time on 07974745768 if you need any advice or help.
To install the goals you first need to check that your pitch is square as if not you will end up with one touchline longer than the other. The builders rule 3-4-5 (three metres along goal line, 4meters down touchline and 5metres between both points Pythagoras ) will ensure your corner is at ninety degrees.
Once your playing area is square and marked out find the middle of each goal line and mark it. Work out from this marker, which will be the centre of the goal posts, the position of the uprights to enable you to dig your holes in the right places to take the ground sockets that are to be concreted in place. (12 foot on adult goals 10’6” on 21 foot wide goals, 8 foot on 16′ wide goals and 6 foot on 12 foot wide goals.- measured to insides of uprights ) Check for any underground services, gas electric etc. or if you have any overhead cables that might interfere and catch any of the posts.
At the foot of the hole inlay pea gravel or grit sand to level the base plate of the ground socket. Push a smaller drain hole down through the centre of you new hole to help allow water to soak away. Lower the ground socket into the new hole at one end of the goal post upright position. Insert the upright into the ground socket and position the upright with the lock housing to the rear (not facing the pitch) and start to drop a dry mix of concrete around the base of the socket to hold the post and the socket upright. The oval socket has a front and a back and the front needs to face the pitch and this can be determined if you feel inside the socket as the front is flush to the front of the upright post whereas the back has a small space that your fingers can feel. This is for when box nets are to be used and tension is applied to the top of the goal corners by the net being pulled back. In this instance the base of the post will not lean back if they are installed as stated.(a common fault in other similar stadium goal posts) The design of these sockets also allows for any debris to be easily removed.
Double check the position is the correct distance from the centre mark on the goal line and plumb up. With a large level check it is not leaning inwards, forwards, backwards or sideways and that the base is the correct depth.
The upright post should be eight foot ground level to underneath the crossbar. Too deep and you will need to lower the pitch around the posts too high and you will need to higher your area around the posts. You need to install one upright at both ends of the pitch and concrete in as per the diagram supplied .when you have two of the upright posts standing vertical and in the right position on both ends of the pitch they can be back filled and compacted. These ,when secure and set ,will help support the rest of the goal as you concrete in the other ground sockets.
The other ground socket needs to be positioned into the hole prepared at the other side of the goal and then the upright dropped into the hole in the same way as before on to a base of grit sand with a prepared drainage hole. Lift the crossbar onto both the fixed and the unfixed uprights and insert the locks. The crossbar is heavy so ensure you have enough helping hands or suitable lifting gear to lift the crossbar on and off the uprights. Make sure no children are near whilst fitting or removing the crossbars. Never at any time stand underneath the crossbar.
Once the crossbar is lifted into place the locks should be fitted and then the upright that still needs to be concreted in place can be moved left or right and lined up along the line of the goal line marked out. Plumb the other upright in the same way as before and concrete in place checking that the upright is not leaning in , forward back or sideways and that the base is at the correct depth.
Compact the concrete and soil and leave the goal with the crossbar attached until it is totally secure and set. DO not leave the goal until you are happy that the concrete has set fully and that the goal is secure. The goal crossbar can then be unlocked and removed at any time after the concrete bases have set.
Once the goal is erected and locked in place check with a long spirit level in the centre of the crossbar that the goal is level. To get perfect just put in a little grit sand in the base of the socket to lift which ever upright is too low.(if you do this make sure the duct tape is covering all the aluminium that is touching the sand.)
When the goal is not in the sockets we recommend that an old pair of tights is filled with old rags and pushed inside socket to collect debris and grass growth. before the lockable cap is fitted. If lids become damaged or vandalised a quick solution is to make a wooden plug to drop into the socket which needs to be 2mm above the top of the steel rim to allow for grass cutting machinery to pass over the submerged socket. If you have your ground verti drained indicate to the grounds man the position of the sockets to prevent damage.
The net supports positioned on the crossbar ( if supplied) enable the net head support cord to be as tight as you require it to be. These net supports are easily fitted on match days and we recommend that they be removed and stored with the nets especially if the goals are used in areas prone to vandalism or areas that have active young children and teenagers about. They can be left in position on the crossbar in supervised or secure areas. The net supports are designed with safety in mind and will give if miss used prior to any goal post corner welds being weakened.
To protect the life of your paintwork we suggest that 50mm wide plastic stretch (electricians) tape be wrapped around the base of the posts about 600mm up from the ground to protect the paintwork from goal keepers kicking the foot of the posts to clean boots. This can be taken into the rear groove and then cut neatly before net fixings are fixed in place. This tape can be purchased from our web site or any local DIY store and should be renewed as and when required. It is much better however if you can ask all visiting and home goal keepers not to kick the posts.
At the base of the upright below ground we recommend that duct tape be wrapped around the post .These areas of the uprights are lifted in and out and are more prone to the paintwork being chipped and by applying tape it will prevent this from happening.
A thorough inspection each year and when goals are installed should be carried out and recorded. A goal post maintenance sheet is available to be down loaded from our web site www.itsagoal.net . Problems should be recorded, noted down and acted upon straight away. NEVER USE DAMAGED GOAL POSTS. These aluminium posts however are designed in such a way that even if the corner insert comes away the goal crossbar they can still be lifted on an off the uprights and used safely.
Goals need to be treated and handled with care and they will then last longer and will perform better. Any paint chips need to be repaired as soon as possible. Rub down with emery paper to form a smooth surface down to bear metal and apply a good quality aluminium primer undercoat and then a top coat to seal the affected area. Any areas left untreated will allow water to penetrate between the powder coat finish and the base metal and if left un checked the paint work will start to peel away. Any local DIY store will supply what you need.
You should never allow your players to play, (home or away) with socketed goal posts that are unstable, have nuts and bolts missing or do not have nets properly supported away from the posts. If corners have expanded apart ask the match officials to check the size of the goal and ask that the corner be closed up if it makes the goal bigger than the size tolerance allowed on the safety standard which is twenty four foot plus or minus 8mm.
Once the cap has been locked in position on the socket it is a good idea to place a small off cut of a green carpet tile or artificial grass over the top and screw down on each corner. This will prevent tampering with the lockable lid and will also protect the lock housing from grass cutting equipment.
If you look after these goal posts they will perform year after year.
Fitting instruction & spare parts are available on line at www.itsagoal.net
Copyright J R Wilson ITSA GOAL 2012
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