Goalpost Installation
Goalpost Installation Help
ITSA Goal provides detailed information regarding the maintenance of all types of goal posts. Specific care and maintenance of goalposts can be downloaded as a PDF file below. Should you require any further information please contact the technical director john@itsagoal.net Tel: 0797 474 5768
All ITSA GOAL post fitting instructions are available in this section of the website – to view or download additional copies for your club members click on the relevant section to find instructions. Care & maintenance information is also available in each category of goal post that will help extend the life of your product.
Plastic goal instructions
Footiegoals.com garden goals
Metal flat pack goal posts
Anti-vandal steel goal posts
Freestanding moveable aluminum goals
Folding football goals
Please find detailed installation help for the Steel Anti Vandal goalposts below with downloadable files. We also cover Socketed aluminium installation help further down the page and other helpful goalpost download files.
The anti-vandal goalpost is the latest innovation in permanently positioned steel football goal posts. The uprights are laser cut and are precise and can be used in any ground socket on any pitch at any location. Lockable anti-vandal goal posts cannot be removed from the ground with crossbar and uprights intact. This is one of the key safety features of this new patented design. Crossbar corners on these goals are welded both internally and externally to ensure they will stand up to the most rigorous conditions. Electroplated corner brackets and ground sockets give extra life to metal work and unseen internal welds. When installing your goals take your time and get it right first time and you will have optimum performance. Once the initial positioning of the sockets have been done the Goals can be installed in less than thirty seconds which is why these are the most cost-effective type when multiple pitches are in use.
Please read the fitting instructions carefully before proceeding. If you feel in any way unsure about installation a competent local builder may be able to help or you can contact our technical director on 07974745768 who will talk you through it.
Before installing the ground sockets you need to check that your pitch is square as if not your playing area will have one touchline longer than the other. The builders rule 3-4-5 which is 3M along the goal line, 4M down touchline and 5M between both points. A good way to check the corners are at ninety degrees (Pythagoras). We suggest marking the length of the pitch out then mark a parallel line at the
other side and then put your ninety-degree corner in place. Also, check goal lines are also parallel before inserting sockets.
Once your playing area is square and marked out check measurements before you start excavating your holes. Once you are sure the pitch is square mark the middle of each goal line. Work out from this marker (the center of the goal posts) the position of the uprights to enable you to dig your holes for the ground sockets.(12 foot on adult goals 10’6” on 21 foot wide goals, 8 foot on 16foot wide goals and 6 foot on 12 foot wide goals.- measured to the inside of uprights )
Excavate your holes for the ground sockets and put in a small amount of pea gravel or grit sand to level the bottom of the hole. The sockets are designed to be below the surface by 20mm to ensure no grass cutting blades hit the top of the sockets. Make a drain hole down through the centre of the excavated hole to help allow water to soak away. Lower the ground socket into the hole at one side. Insert the upright twist and lock 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. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT DROP ANY CONCRETE INSIDE THE SOCKET. If you take the post out to throw concrete around socket make sure you tape or cover the top of the socket to prevent egress of concrete. Double check the position is the correct distance from the centre mark on the goal line and plumb up. With a large level check that the upright is not leaning inwards, forwards, backwards or sideways and the base is the correct depth. Fill in around the sides of the ground socket with concrete as per the diagram on the fitting instructions. The upright post should be eight foot less the distance under the corner (15mm) from the ground level. 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. Adjust to the correct height with stones or pea gravel under the base plate before filling with concrete. (do not forget we have allowed 20mm to go below ground level)
You need to do this on both goals at both ends of the pitch until you have one of the upright posts standing vertical and in the right position on both ends of the pitch. Fill these in and compact the soil around the foot of the posts to ensure they are secure. These can then be used to support the rest of the goal as you concrete in the second uprights.
The second uprights need to be positioned into the remaining excavated holes prepared at the other side of the goal post position and then the upright dropped into the hole in the same way as before. Level to the correct height and then use a small amount of concrete to support the socket with the post inside in the approximate finished position. 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 goal posts. Never at any time stand underneath the crossbar.
Once the crossbar is positioned on both uprights and the locks are fitted the second upright can be moved and lined up along the goal line and positioned vertically ensuring 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. DO not leave the goal until you are happy that the concrete has set fully and that the goal is secure. Once the ground sockets are securely fixed in place the uprights can be twisted ninety degrees and removed without the ground socket moving. NEVER AT ANY TIME USE THE GOAL OR LEAVE THE
GOAL ERECTED WITHOUT LOCKS IN PLACE.
If you have arrowhead net fixings please insert the locking pins down the centre of the fixing To remove just knock the securing pin right through. The net supports positioned on the crossbar 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 they be removed with the nets in locations 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. Although they are very strong the electroplated net supports are designed with safety in mind and will give prior to any goal post corner welds being weakened.
At the close season to remove the goalposts simply turn the key and remove the locks before lifting the crossbar from the uprights. Make sure no one is standing underneath the crossbar and that no children are around whilst the crossbars and uprights are being removed. CHECK all the paintwork and make any remedial repairs. CHECK all welds to make sure no fractures or hairline cracks have
appeared and make any remedial repairs prior to re-use. NEVER USE WITH DAMAGED WELDS. CHECK locks are working and replace if damaged or lost. NEVER USE WITHOUT LOCKS. Spare parts for the goals are readily available.
Ground sockets should be protected when the uprights are not fitted especially in open areas. It is advisable if you have just ordered the basic plastic cap cover to screw a timber block to the underside to drop onto the bottom post support bar before fitting into the top of the socket. This should then take the weight of any machinery passing over it. CHECK at regular intervals that these have not been
removed.
The best way to ensure safety when the ground sockets are not in use is to fit our twist & lock steel ground socket plugs. ( available separately) .You will notice the ground socket has a small stainless steel screw just below the surface and this is used in conjunction with our twist & lock plug to secure it in place. We suggest a knob of grease be pushed into the threaded hole to prevent it from rusting as this is located underground and out of sight.
NEVER STORE GOAL POSTS WITH CROSSBARS & UPRIGHTS ATTACHED TOGETHER AND LEANT AGAINST A WALL OR CHANGING ROOM. ALWAYS DISMANTLE FULLY AND STORE FLAT. IF THE STEEL GOALPOSTS SECTIONS ARE TO BE STORED ON SHELVING MAKE SURE THEY’RE PLACED AS LOW AS POSSIBLE TO THE GROUND AND THEY ARE SECURED AND CAN’T FALL.
We have made our own risk assessments with regard to the proper installation and use of the products we sell however we strongly recommend that as an Individual, a club or other organization Insurance be taken out to cover all eventualities with regard the use of sports equipment including goalposts.
Fitting instruction & spare parts are available on line at www.itsagoal.net
Copyright J R Wilson ITSA GOAL POSTS 2012
To view the full range of Steel Anti-Vandal goalposts click here.
Click on the image below to download a copy of Steel goalposts installation help
installation help steel socketed goals
Standard – Socketed installation BSEN748
Click here for Helpful installation information for Socketed Aluminium Goalposts
Click here for Helpful installation, Care & maintenance information for Folding Aluminium Goalposts.
FOOTBALL GOALPOST ASSEMBLY – IMPORTANT
To ensure alignment of goal post sections it is important to assemble the goal post on level ground. The corners of the crossbars are marked inside the insert and should be matched up with the same markings inside the top of the welded side frames that the insert slides into. Each goal is individually made by craftsmen and assembled in the workshop before despatch with the order number and corner identification. The crossbars and side frames will need matching up before the assembly especially if you have numerous goals. The numbering is the final quality control check before goal posts are despatched. This is why our football goal posts are accepted as the Rolls Royce in goalpost engineering design. We recommend if freestanding goals are to be moved any distance at your site that our wheel transporters are used which are placed under the uprights and make transporting of the goals safer & easier. By using these wheels they will also extend the life of your freestanding goal posts.