FOOTBALL GOALPOSTS FOR SCHOOLS 2024 & GOALPOST SAFETY
Goalpost Safety is paramount and the goalpost supplied by Soccertackle are manufactured by ITSA Goal Post Limited – Sheffield. The company has been the leader in safer goalpost design since the introduction of the first lightweight uPVC portable goals for Mini Soccer sponsored by Coca Cola and supplied into schools circa 1989. This led to the growth in children’s mini soccer in the UK and for children to be playing in lighter safer goalposts. At the time new goalpost safety standards were introduced – BS8462. The company worked hard to highlight the problems in this standard that allowed heavy freestanding goals for children and at the time excluded lighter safer goals as the materials stipulated made the goals too heavy. Subsequently, the company continued to work to introduce lighter safer goals for all youth goal sizes, not just smaller 12×6 uPVC mini soccer goals. BS 8462 has now been withdrawn and the new standard BS EN 16579:2018 has replaced it. The momentum and drive towards safer lightweight football Goals by our company has gone a long way towards reducing serious injuries to children around the world. Sadly fatalities continue with heavier goalpost frames that are still in use, and that is why we are fighting to remove all heavy freestanding steel goalposts used by children. Our company has been involved more than most to try and introduce safer football goals. When considering goalposts for your school we recommend checking the goalposts conform to BS EN 16579:2018 not the out of date BS 8462 standard, we also suggest using lightweight goals especially if they are movable goals. Should you wish to read more detailed information about school football goalpost safety please follow this link.
FOOTBALL GOALPOSTS FOR SCHOOLS – WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE OF THE PLAYERS AND ARE THE GOALS THE RIGHT SIZE.
Age range is a factor to consider when buying Football Goalposts for Schools. The goal post height is relevant to to the child’s height. Children are growing taller these days but when a child grows into an adult they will only ever play in a full size regulation goal in adult matches, which is size 24′ x 8′ (7.3×2.4m). So with this in mind if the goal is for an outfield player the target ideally should be proportional to 24’x8′ . This is so that the practice of shooting is into a goal that is a similar proportion length to height to a regulation adult goal. For example, a 12’x6′ (3.6mx1.8m) mini soccer goal or an 8’x4′ (2.4×1.2m) goal; these goals are proportionally accurate so provide a more realistic goal size for a child. However, if you goal is for budding goalkeeper the goal width and height would be better to be a little larger to enable practicing diving. ITSA Goal Posts Ltd (John Wilson M.D.) created the first ever uPVC portable goal in a bag, way back in 1989 which was approved by the FA & FIFA and the goal size created, which is now recognized as the official size played by all children under the age of 11 in official mini soccer leagues is the size 12’x6′ (3.6mx1.8m). You can see by the size chart below this is an approximate proportional goal so children have a more realistic goalpost for their size.
THE RIGHT SIZE FOOTBALL GOALS FOR SCHOOLS
There are various goal sizes to choose from, so it’s important to make sure your purchase complies with F.A. and league rules and playing on pitches that are appropriate to the age range of players. There are standard sizes of football goal based on the FA’s regulations:
UNDER-8 YRS FOOTBALL
Under-7s and under-8s football should focus on fun and developing technical ability, so it’s recommend the FA’s regulations on goal size are followed. Children should be playing 5-a-side matches at this age, which requires a size 3 ball and a pitch of 40 yards by 30 yards. You will need to purchase goals that are 12 feet wide and 6 feet high in order to comply with FA rules.
UNDER-10 YRS FOOTBALL- Football Goalposts for Schools
Under-9yrs and under-10yrs should be playing 7-a-side matches with mini soccer goals measuring 12 ‘x 6’. However, under-9yrs should be playing with a size 3 ball, and under-10yrs should be using a size 4 football.
UNDER-12 YRS FOOTBALL – Football Goalposts for Schools
When kids reach the under-11 yrs there is a step up in dimensions. Football Pitches should be 80 yards by 50 yards, and goalposts should be 16’x7′. The same dimensions apply to under-12 yrs football
UNDER-14 YRS FOOTBALL – Football Goalposts for Schools
Children normally start playing 11-v11 games at this stage however, they will still play on smaller pitches. A pitch used for under-13yrs and under-14yrs football should be 90 yards by 55 yards, and the goalposts should measure 21’x7′.
UNDER-16 YRS FOOTBALL – Football Goalposts for Schools
Under-15 yrs and under-16 yrs football is played with the same ball used in the professional game, and with goalposts measuring 24’x8′ – the regulation professional standard. The pitch is slightly smaller at 100 yards by 60 yards.
UNDER-17S FOOTBALL – Football Goalposts for Schools
This is the age group at which players make the final transition to full size. The FA states the games should be played on a pitch of 110 yards by 70 yards, within the rules the pitch can reduce the size of the pitch to as low as 90 yards by 50 yards this is to cater for different areas available. Goalposts must be 24’x8′ regardless of the size of the pitch.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN UPVC, STEEL AND ALUMINIUM GOALS
uPVC: Our ITSA GOAL range of freestanding PVC goals are made from high impact uPVC which makes them extremely strong yet lightweight and portable. They are also weatherproof and will last many years. uPVC is lightweight and so is safe particularly for the very young. The goal can also have a very long lifespan.
Steel: We do not recommend steel goals for young children. Freestanding steel goals are heavy and dangerous when the anchors not be used properly. The only exception is socketed steel lockable anti- theft goals that are patented and only available from itsagoal and soccertackle.
Aluminium: The advantage of weighing less enables freestanding goal to move easily. Aluminium goals are more expensive but do not rust. The goals have a proper rebound and you will not get a dip on the larger plastic goal crossbars. ITSA GOAL is an FA suitable football goal supplier and our aluminium goal range has passed strict independent BS safety standards tests.
Do not be fooled by companies using sandbags or water weights on freestanding goals – a litre of water weighs approximately 1 Kilo, therefore weights along a full size goalpost can only weigh around 8 kilos which is not sufficient in line with the goalpost safety standards. The current advice is 112 kilos for full size freestanding goals to prevent toppling. Please note law one if the game requires elliptical goals to have the longest length of the oval post to cross the goal line and not along it. some companies are still selling goals that do not conform to this basic rule. We advise checking this as the current standards state that goals must conform to the laws of the game . contact john@itsagoal.net for any technical queries
BUY FROM AN ESTABLISHED football goalposts manufacturer in the UK – IF YOU BUY AN IMPORTED PRODUCT from the far east you may not be able TO BUY SPARE PARTS and that is why these end up in a landfill ….”Made in the far east buried in Britain” Buy sports equipment, not a flimsy toy and they will last you years especially if the goals have extended warranty.
FOOTBALL GOALS FOR SCHOOLS REVIEWS
MICHAEL A STYLES – SCHOOL GOVENOR – PUTNEY LONDON
This is a brilliant product, I am writing both as a parent and a school governor, I wish you every success
PHILIP CLAYTON- MILLOM FC UK
A grass roots opinion “After using your new style goals for three seasons now, I thought I would write to you to say how well they have performed. The rebound off the posts is phenomenal if it hits at speed. The welded corners and crossbar is an excellent attribute to these goal posts. As for craftsmanship, rigidity and finish, they are of the highest order. After attending Anfield for a day as part of my prize for winning the National Groundsman of the Year Award 2006, I thought to myself that we have got better goal posts than Liverpool F.C.! Ours look so much stronger, they are better made and even more professional” Shaun Hanna – Millom FC The Football Association National Groundsman of the Year 2006 (Step 7 and below)
RICHARD ABBOT
An excellent company offering great quality products and fantastic customer service. Bought my son a 5 a side goal 6 years ago and it’s still like new after a lot of use and some very hard knocks. I had previously bought a cheaper goal from another company and it didn’t last the year. These goals are very strong and well made in Sheffield,
so great to support British products. Very highly recommended.
DENNIS HICKFORD
FOLDING ALUMINIUM GOALPOSTS I would just like to say how pleased we are with the lockable fold-in Mini-Soccer goals we recently purchased. We have fastened the netting permanently onto to frame because they can be easily stored and carried with the netting fixed. Once carried to the pitch the goalposts can be erected and secured to the ground within 60 seconds which is absolutely fantastic. As well as being easy to erect they are also the best and most professional looking goals in the league. Every team that comes to play us comments on the football goals. We have tried several types of goals over the years. Plastic, fully erected aluminum, solid D-side bracket types and these are by far the best we have ever had. Well done to its-a-goal for a fantastic, innovative design.
PHILIP CLAYTON
We purchased five sets of aluminum goals from Itsagoal and are really pleased with their performance. Safety was our main concern and ease of use a close second and after a lot of research and advice we were introduced to Itsagoal and have not regretted the decision. Each time our teams play now we get admiring glances from the opposition teams and many have commented on how professional they look.They are robustly constructed and yet still light weight and satisfy a higher level of safety than the usual statutory requirements and when we are responsible for up to 500 children we can not compromise on safety. I feel sure that they will last for many years because they have been crafted so well in the beginning and we would recommend any other club to use the same.
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