Incidents

Goalposts Report

SOCCER GOAL Deaths and Injuries 1979 2012

38 Deaths, 56 Injuries

IDI# Date	Age and Sex of Victim	City, State, Venue	Death or Serious Injury	Scenario
#1 790924HIA0380 09/19/79	9 year old female	Dunwoody, GA Municipal Park	Death	Victim was kneeling and tying her shoe when other students, swinging from the goal, caused it to topple over and fatally strike the victim.
#2 920113CCC3175 09/30/79	9 year old male	Vallejo, CA Municipal Park	Death	Victim swinging on soccer goal when it fell on him. He died as a result of internal injuries to his spleen, lungs, and liver.
#3 831019DAL4010 10/02/83	4 year old male	Fort Bliss, TX Military Base Sports Field	Death	Victim was fatally struck on the head by a goal post while other children were climbing on it, causing it to tip over.
#4 891006CBB1004 10/28/85	20 year old male	Keene, NH College Soccer Field	Death	Victim died from massive head trauma when he pulled a goal post down on himself while attempting to do chin-ups.
#5 891117CCC3060 10/13/86	9 year old male	Loveland, CO City Park	Death	Soccer goal post tipped over and fatally struck victim on the head when it was being moved after a game.
#6 891117CCC3061 05/16/87	7 year old female	Pullman, WA Municipal Park	Death	An adult hanging from the crossbar, caused the goal post to tip onto the victim, causing her death.
#7 891117CCC1062 09/14/88	10 year old male	Virginia Beach, VA School Sports Field	Death	Victim was killed when the goal post, on which he was climbing, fell over and hit him on the head.
#8 920113CCC3173 05/09/89	5 year old male	San Antonio, TX Municipal Park	Death	Crossbar of soccer goal fell on victim causing craniocerebral injuries and death.
#9 891006CAA1003 05/25/89	16 year old male	Bolton, MA School Soccer Field	Death	The victim was struck on the head by a steel header of a soccer goal post while he and two friends climbed and played on it. The accident was fatal.
#10 891006CAA1005 09/27/89	7 year old male	Plastow, NH School Playground	Death	The victim was struck and killed by a goal post tipped over by a fellow schoolmate lifting the rear of the frame.
#11 910806CCC1669 09/30/89	19 year old male	Binghampton, NY School Soccer Field	Serious Injury	Goalie had soccer goal blown on top of her by a gust of wind. She suffered stress fractures to both legs.
#12 891023CWE5006 10/14/89	3 year old male	Orinda, CA Local Sports Field	Death	While attempting to remove a net from its goal post, the victim's father lifted the back base causing the goal post to tip over and strike the victim on the head, causing a fatal injury.
#13 910719CCC1621 06/02/90	8 year old male	Fayetteville, NC Municipal Field	Death	Victim was fatally injured when the portable soccer goal he was climbing tipped over and struck him in the head.
#14 920630CCC1475 10/08/90	9 year old male	Wilburham, MA Municipal Field	Serious Injury	A young boy broke his femur when a portable goal fell on him.
#15 910729CCC1641 11/06/90	9 year old male	Lakewood, NJ Public Soccer Field	Death	Victim was fatally injured when standing next to a soccer goal that was toppled over by a strong gust of wind.
#16 901204CWE5003 11/10/90	22 year old male	McFarland, CA Public Park	Death	While doing chin-ups, goal post top bar became loose and fell onto victim's head causing his death.
#17 910509HCC1242 04/20/91	8 year old male	Aiken, SC Public Park & Fields	Death	Victim was struck and killed by a soccer goal that was being set up for a game.
#18 910528CEP9002 05/15/91	11 year old male	Rockingham, NC Municipal Park	Serious Injury	While swinging on goal, it fell on top of the victim causing severe internal injuries and subsequent removal of part of her liver.
#19 921130CWE4018 07/18/92	5 year old male	Mililani, HI School Field	Serious Injury	Group of children playing and climbing on a soccer goal, tipped it onto the child sitting nearby, breaking his femur.
#20 930104CWE5004 08/05/90	5 year old female	Ephrata, WA Municipal Park	Death	Attempting to lift a mobile soccer goal, it fell and struck victim on the head, killing her.
#21 920910CCC3621 09/15/89	9 year old male	Santa Rosa, CA Municipal Park & Field	Serious Injury	Victim sustained a fractured pelvis when other children pushed a metal soccer goal onto him.
#22 921030CCC3039 09/07/89	9 year old female	Guerneville, CA Municipal Park	Serious Injury	Victim was sitting on the soccer goal structure, when it toppled and fell, fracturing her right forearm.
#23 930917CCN2507 09/23/91	10 year old male	Kennesaw, GA Private Soccer Field	Serious Injury	The victim was playing goalie during a practice game, when some other children ran into the net, pulling the goal over and on top of the victim. The victim suffered a fractured skull and facial injuries.
#24 930505CCN1550 02/09/92	15 year old male	Columbus, GA Public School Field	Serious Injury	The victim was doing chin-ups on the cross bar attempting to flip over the goal, when the goal tipped over and landed on the left side of victim's head causing injuries. The victim has fully recovered.
#25 930405CCN1307 03/19/93	12 year old male	Warner Robbins, GA School Field	Serious Injury	The victim has permanent brain damage due to a soccer goal falling onto him when other children ran against the net pushing the goal on top of him.
#26 930608CCN1816 06/06/93	9 year old male	Atlanta, GA Municipal Recreation Area	Death	The deceased and a friend were shooting soccer goals when the goal tipped over and onto the victim's chest pinning him to the ground.
#27 931027CAA3053 09/04/93	10 year old male	Humble, TX Private Park	Death	The boy and his two friends were playing around the goal when the boy's foot became caught in the netting, toppling the goal onto the boy killing him.
#28 940418CCC3433 04/00/81	11 year old male	Burnsville, MN Municipal Park	Serious Injury	The boy and his friend were using the soccer goal for a football goal post and the victim, in an attempt to tackle his friend who was hanging from the vertical cross beam, caused the goal to fall onto him, causing a head injury.
#29 940607CAA2525 10/04/88	11 year old male	Bay City, MI Intermediate School Field	Serious Injury	The accident occurred on a dare when two boys and two girls tried to lift the 320 lb goal, tipping it over onto the victim causing head, leg and hip injuries.
#30 940425CEP9001 04/09/94	8 year old female	Haverford, PA Municipal Park	Serious Injury	The victim sustained an injury to her abdomen when a goal she was hanging on fell on her.
#31 940411CWE4006 03/1/94	15 year old male	Phoenix, AZ Moon Valley High School Field	Serious Injury	A track team member was swinging from the crossbar of a 400 lb metal soccer goal, when the crossbar came loose and was about to strike the coach beneath it; the victim broke his arm trying to stop the incident and the goal pinned him to the ground.
#32 940525CAA3492 09/12/93	5 year old female	Woodenville, WA Lake Sammammish State Park	Serious Injury	Someone climbing on the net of the goal caused the top bar to fall onto the victim breaking her tibia.
#33 940613CAA3542 11/27/90	10 year old male	Phoenix, AZ Public School Playing Field	Serious Injury	Four boys were playing around the soccer goal; two were hanging from the crossbar (24' section) causing it to tip over onto the victim, striking him in the head causing brain damage.
#34 940614CEP9001 06/01/94	8 year old male	Tucson, AZ Municipal Park	Serious Injury	The victim sustained a fractured right forearm, when the goal he was swinging from tipped over and the crossbar struck him.
#35 940928CAA1888 9/21/94	7 year old female	Frederick, MD Whittier Soccer Field	Serious Injury	Another child was hanging or climbing the soccer goal crossbar, when the goal tipped over, the victim, who was in front of the goal was struck on the face, suffering bruises and contusions. The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.
#36 940928CAA1889 9/4/94	8 year old male	Sebring, FL Mary Holland Park	Death	The victim sustained a fatal head injury, when he and other children were moving a soccer goal, end over end, in preparation for a game.
#37 941005CAA2001 10/3/94	12 year old male	Waterford Township, MI Municipal Park & Fields	Death	The victim and two friends were playing soccer on an auxiliary field. The victim climbed to the top crossbar and then, from the center of the bar, asked his friends to push the goal forward so he could jump off. His foot became caught and he was crushed at the head and chest by the heavy goal, when it toppled onto him.
#38 941129CAA3121 8/14/93	14 year old male	Midland, TX Municipal Park	Death	Soccer goal over-turned in late afternoon (4:15pm) trapping the victim underneath. Victim died from thoracic injuries.
#39 950125CAA1283 10/08/94	12 year old male	Burlington, NC Municipal Park	Serious Injury	The victim rode his bike under the soccer goal and grabbed the crossbar, tipping the goal over and hitting the victim in back of the neck and lacerating his trachea. Surgery and hospitalization were required.
#40 950202CAA3312 5/25/93	7 year old male	Salt Lake City, UT Cottonwood Jr. H.S. Field	Serious Injury	Movable soccer goal was tipped over onto the child causing a broken jaw, teeth and facial injuries.
#41 950314CAA3476 8/19/94	9 year old male	Cleveland, OK Elementary School Playground	Serious Injury	Victim was sitting under an unanchored soccer goal, when another child climbed on the goal causing it to topple onto the victim breaking his thigh bone.
#42 950329CEP9001 3/13/95	13 year old male	Tucson, AZ School Playground	Serious Injury	Victim sustained a concussion and laceration to the back of his head, when a soccer goal, which children were swinging on fell over and struck him from behind.
#43 950620CCC1807 11/13/88	13 year old male	Newark, NJ Municipal Park near St. Benedict's School	Serious Injury	The boy was chinning himself on the crossbar of the goal [doing a pull-up]. When the goal began to tip over and he let go and fell. The goal came down on his side fracturing 2 ribs and damaging his spleen and liver. He was hospitalized.
#44 960131CAA3348 9/23/93	13 year old male	Red Bluff, CA Public School Playground	Serious Injury	The victim was playing in the area of the goal when it tipped over and struck him from behind, breaking his neck and causing paralysis.
#45 960522CBB5185 8/27/95	31 year old male	Athens, TN Athens Regional Park	Death	The victim was playing soccer and somehow he pulled the crossbar onto his abdomen. He died from liver damage and internal hemorrhage.
#46 960403CEP9005 3/27/96	15 year old female	Pittsburg, PA High School Soccer Field	Serious Injury	The victim was moving a mobile soccer goal from the baseball field after practice, when the goal fell onto the her foot. She was treated and released at a local hospital.
#47 960611CAA5242 5/28/96	13 year old male	Houston, TX Public Park	Serious Injury	The victim was helping to hang the net on the mobile goal. It was not anchored and the goal toppled onto the victim causing both external and internal injuries. The victim was admitted to the hospital.
#48 960614CAA5253 3/30/94	16 year old female	Yakima, WA East Valley HS Playing Field	Serious Injury	The victim was playing goalie, she took off her petty-jersey and hung it on the crossbar of the goal. When she went to retrieve it, she pulled the goal over onto her, striking her in the head.
#49 960821CAA5542 5/31/92	9 year old male	Oak Park, IL Public Park	Serious Injury	The victim and his sister were righting a mobile soccer goal, which weighed over 200 lbs, when it toppled and struck the victim.
#50 960823CAA5552 04/15/93	12 year old male	Columbia, SC Public Elementary School	Serious Injury	The victim and playmates were trying to dunk a basketball over the crossbar of the unanchored steel soccer goal, when it toppled onto the victims chest. The victim was hospitalized for 6 days and has suffered permanent injuries.
#51 960927HEP0721 9/24/96	7 year old male	Greencastle, PA Public Recreation Facility	Serious Injury	A soccer goal toppled onto the victim when another child ran into the net. The victim was cut in the forehead by the crossbar and received stitches at a local hospital and was released.
#52 961002HEP9020 9/12/96	7 year old male	Elon College, NC Municipal Sports Field	Serious Injury	A soccer goal toppled onto the victim, causing injury to his chest and ribs, when he was hanging from the crossbar during a game. The victim's mother said if the goal had been anchored properly the incident wouldn't have happened.
#53 961125HEP9003 11/20/96	9 year old male	Cathey's Valley, CA Public Field	Serious Injury	The victim fractured his elbow when the mobile soccer goal he and some teammates were moving in preparation for a game fell on him.
#54 970716CCC1371 6/15/97	6 year old male	Wallaceburg, CANADA	Death	Tip-over of a home made, unanchored soccer goal caused the death of this 6 year old male.
#55 980518CAA5568 10/7/97	7 year old male	Private School Field Stockbridge, GA	Injury	The victim sustained minor head injuries when classmates pulled the metal goal over and on to him. There were no anchoring devices.
#56 971125CCC1698 4/29/97	9 year old male	Municipal Park Joliette, Montreal, CANADA	Serious Injury	The victim sustained serious head trauma and permanent physical and mental incapacity after a 100 Kilogram soccer, fell on him. He was hanging from the crossbar. Anchors and a chain had been removed by vandals prior to the incident.
#57 971125CCC1699 3/1/97	11 year old male	Indoor Sports Arena Riviore des Prairies CANADA	Serious Injury	The victim - a soccer goalie - was struck by a falling goal, suffering severe head trauma and residual brain injury.
#58 980513CCN0279 5/8/98	10 year old male	Champion City Park, Oconomowoc, WI	Serious Injury	The victim was standing in front of a goal being moved by pushing by his team mates. The goal toppled onto the victim severing his spine. He is paralyzed from the neck down and cannot speak.
#59 980902CEP9001 8/27/98	22 year old male	Bellvue, WA Municipal Park	Death	Goal post fell onto victims head causing massive head injury and death.
#60 981019CEP9001 10/01/98	10 year old male	Chillicothe, OH City Park	Serious Facial Injury	This 'homemade' soccer goal was being hung on by the victim and 2 friends. The goal was not anchored. When the friends ran away as the goal began to fall, it struck the victim in the face and hand. Victim suffered a broken jaw.
#61 970403CEP9054 3/27/97	8 year old female	Dublin, OH School Playing Field	Serious Head Injury	The victim was playing goalie on the soccer team when a strong wind blew the unanchored goal post onto here head and then into the ground causing a serious concussion and hospitalization.
#62 981013HWE5008 9/24/98	11 year old male	Sacremento, CA Public School Playing Field	Serious Head Injury	The victim was hit on the head by the metal soccer goal while other team members were moving it on the field. The goal was not anchored prior to its being moved. The victim was treated and admitted to the hospital.
#63 980601CBB3845 1/31/97	26 year old male	Carson, CA Public Sports & Recreation Park	Serious Facial Injury	The victim was playing goalie on the soccer team when his hand hit the top bar in a save attempt. The bar fell striking him on the face breaking his nose. The goal was not anchored nor was the crossbar fastened securely.
#64 981022CAA2027 9/30/98	9 year old male	Deerfield, IL City Park	Serious Facial Injury	The victim was doing pull-ups on the crossbar when it came loose the struck him in the face and mouth. The goal wasn't anchored, yet labels were on the Kwik Goal to "secure/anchor/do not climb" goals.
#65 990608HEP2401 6/4/99	8 year old male	Pigeon, MI Public Park	Death	The victim and some other children where hanging from crossbar, when goal tipped over crushing victims head.
#66 991118CCC2072 9/1/92	11 year old male	Bardstown, KY Public elementary school field	Serious head injury	A home made goal toppled onto the victim while practicing soccer with some teammates.
#67 000707CEP9001 12/05/99	7 year old female	Tucson, AZ Himmel Public Park	Serious Injury	Three girls were playing around a metal soccer goal which was not set up, in an attempt to raise the posts, the 7 year old was left hanging from the crossbar, when she let go and fell to the ground she broke her left wrist.
#68 000711CEP9011 5/20/00	10 year old male	Greensboro, NC Public soccer field	Serious head injury	During a soccer match, the victim left the field and went to an area near an unused soccer goal, which toppled over and struck him in the back of the head. The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.
#69 001026CAA2053 4/14/99	14 year old female	Midland, MI School soccer field	Serious Injury	The victim had very serious leg and hip fractures when the wind blew the unsecured or inadequately secured soccer goal on top of her.
#70 001102CAA2074 3/17/00	9 year old male	Fort Madison, IO Elementary School Field	Serious facial injury	The victim was standing near the inadequately anchored soccer when other children played on it and hung from it, the anchor did not prevent the homemade steel goal from fall to the ground and striking the victim in the head and face, shattering his teeth.
#71 001127CAA2110 10/5/00	17 year old male	Chicago, IL Brother Rice H.S. Soccer Field	Head injury	The victim was playing goalie on the soccer team when a gust of wind blew the unanchored soccer goal off the ground, the crossbar struck the victim in the forehead. He was treated and released.
#72 000711CEP9012 3/25/00	8 year old female	Coatesville, PA Elementrary Public School Field	Arm and elbow injury	During a schedule soccer practice the victim was climbing a soccer goal and sliding down, when she suffered contusions and abrasions to her elbow. She was treated and released at a local hospital.
#73 010130CCC3153 8/20/98	33 year old male	Albuquerque, NM High School Field	Serious neck and shoulder injuries	While walking to his car, during his daughters soccer match, a mobile style goal fell over striking and pinning the victim beneath it, injuring his neck and shoulder.
#74 011017CAA3024 10/5/01	9 year old female	Nampa, ID Public Park	Serious facial injuries	While playing on and around an unanchored mobile soccer goal, the victim and 3 friends toppled the heavy goal onto the victim, striking her in the face, breaking her nose and requiring facial surgery.
#75 021001CAA1001 9/30/02	17 year old male	Charles County, MD Public School	Death	The victim and some classmates were moving a large heavy soccer goal; to set it up right when it fell, striking the victim on the head, killing him.
#76 031003HCN0003 10/01/03	6 year old male	Vernon Hills, IL Public Park	Death	Player was at soccer practice in the goal area and for unknown reason, the goal fell over and onto him. The goal was NOT anchored.
#77 04/22/04	12 year old male	San Jose, CA Public School Field	Death	The victim were moving a large heavy soccer goal; to set it up right when it fell, striking the victim on the head, killing him. Goal was NOT anchored. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2004/04/22/goalpost1.DTL
#78 08/27/04	8 Year old male	Lafayette, IN Public Park	Serious head & back injury	We were having a water break and there was a group of kids standing in the goal. I turned to say something to the other coach, hear a scream, and the goalpost (a huge f***ing iron thing) is down and I've got a kid crawling around with blood spurting from his head. Pouring out like he's in a horror movie or something. Long story short, he's in the hospital, his head is fine but he's got a cracked vertebrae. The hell of it is, after getting those emails from you I always check the posts, and the damn things were staked down. But it had rained really hard, the ground was soft, and when the post started over it just popped the stakes out like they were staples or something. We put the other goalpost down and the stakes for it came out easier than most dandelions I've pulled.
#79 02/20/05	15 year old male	Owasso, OK Public Park	Death	The victim and some classmates where moving a large heavy soccer goal when it fell striking the victim on the head, killing him. http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=78258
#80 06/14/05	11 year old male	Houston, TX Public Park	Death	Police said the victim was evidently playing in the park with some friends when he pulled on a soccer goal and it fell on him. The top bar struck him in the head. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3226514
#81 05/18/05	8 year old male	Piper, KS Public School	Serious Injury, Broken femur	Four children, all second graders, were playing at recess. One boy ran into an unanchored goal and it toppled over on to the boy who was standing to the side of it.
#82 01/30/07	18 year old male	Lake Wales, FL City Park	Death	18 Year old Corey Hawk jumped up to fix the net and the pole came down on top of his head killing him. http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/BREAKING/70131008
#83 05/07/07	10 year old male	Winchester, Va Public School	Death	10-year-old Hayden Barnes Ellias was playing goalkeeper for the Winchester United under-11 team. They said he was positioned in the goal on a Millbrook High School soccer field. Coaches said action was taking place on the other side of the field when they heard a loud crash.
#84 11/19/07	19 year old male	St. Louis, MO Public Park	Death	Karrar Abudarb, a 19-year-old, was killed on November 19th playing soccer in a park with 11 of his friends. The bizarre accident that ended his life occurred in the city's Wilmore Park, at Hampton and Jamieson avenues, near his home. About 7:45 p.m., Abudarb grabbed the metal crossbar of a soccer goal and did some pull-ups, according to friends who saw him do it. The goal tipped over and the bar crushed his skull.
#85 05/01/08	8 year old male	Phoenix, AZ YMCA	Death	An 8-year-old boy has died of injuries suffered while playing soccer with some kids at the South Mountain YMCA in Phoenix. Gabriel Mendoza died at St. Joseph's Hospital within hours of the accident Thursday. Phoenix police officers said Mendoza was playing on the soccer goal crossbar when the bar fell on him causing a very serious injury. http://www.kpho.com/news/16136449/detail.html#
#86 & #87 09/11/08	10 year old males	San Luis, AZ YMCA	Death Head Injury	A 10-year-old student (Leonardo Herrera) was killed Thursday morning when a soccer goalpost at Rio Colorado Elementary School in San Luis, Ariz., fell on him and another student. The second student, also a 10-year-old boy, was being treated Thursday at Yuma Regional Medical Center for what police called a non-life-threatening head injury. The boys, both fourth-grade students, were playing in the area of the goalpost during recess about 7:30 a.m. when it toppled, Police Capt. Javier Nuño said. From: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/125576
#88 04/23/07	24 year old male	Piscataway, NJ Rutgers University Busch Campus	Leg Injury	The victim and friends were warming up to participate in a pick-up game and each were taking turns in goal. Unfortunately, when it was the victims turn, there was a strong gust of wind that blew the post over on to his leg. He received displaced fractures of his tibia and fibula that required surgical intervention with plates and screws. There were no anchors or sandbags available.
#89 04/21/09	16 year old female	Durango, CO Bayfield High School	Spine Injury, Paralysis	Durango High School sophomore Alyssa Shelton was severely injured when a soccer goal fell on her as she stretched on the ground with three other girls at a Bayfield High School track meet. http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/05/23/Unanchored_goals_injure_people_yearly/
#90 04/21/09	18-22 year old female	Durango, CO Fort Lewis College	Head Injury	During a Fort Lewis College women's soccer team practice. Winds blew a poorly-secured goal onto a goalkeeper's head. http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/05/23/Unanchored_goals_injure_people_yearly/
#91 04/08/10	5 year old male	Lake Dallas, TX	Undisclosed Injury, overnight hospital stay	A kindergarten student injured on the Shady Shores Elementary School play ground during recess when a soccer goal to topple onto the student. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Soccer_goal_mishap_0408.228e25458.html
#92 01/26/11	9 year old male	Bentonville, AR Elm Tree Elementary School	Death	A fourth-grade student died after an unsecure soccer goal fell on him at school. Bentonville Police say Jonathan Nelson, 9, was playing outside at Elm Tree Elementary Wednesday afternoon when the soccer goal fell on top of him. http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/jan/27/child-dies-playground-accident/
#93 01/15/12	9 year old male	Newton Grove, NC Local field	Death	A nine-year-old North Carolina boy died after a heavy, movable soccer goal fell onto his head. Juan Escalera was hit by the metal goal after church Sunday morning on a field in Newton Grove in Harnett County, east of Fayetteville. WTVD reported Juan was transported to the hospital, where he died. The family said Juan, a third grader, was playing with relatives and friends when the goal fell. The goal was not secured to the ground, but it is not exactly known what caused the goal to fall.
#94 07/04/12	5 year old female	Watson Lake, YT CANADA Local field	Death	A group of children were playing on the field Wednesday night when a soccer goal tipped and struck the young girl. There are preliminary reports indicating a soccer goal tipped over striking the young child on the back of the head

IDI#

Date

Age and Sex of Victim

City, State, Venue

Death or

Serious Injury

Scenario

790924HIA0380
09/19/79

9 year old female

Dunwoody, GA

Municipal Park

Death

Victim was kneeling and tying her shoe when other students, swinging from the goal, caused it to topple over and fatally strike the victim.

920113CCC3175

09/30/79

9 year old male

Vallejo, CA

Municipal Park

Death

Victim swinging on soccer goal when it fell on him. He died as a result of internal injuries to his spleen, lungs, and liver.

831019DAL4010

10/02/83

4 year old male

Fort Bliss, TX

Military Base

Sports Field

Death

Victim was fatally struck on the head by a goal post while other children were climbing on it, causing it to tip over.

891006CBB1004

10/28/85

20 year old male

Keene, NH

College Soccer Field

Death

Victim died from massive head trauma when he pulled a goal post down on himself while attempting to do chin-ups.

891117CCC3060

10/13/86

9 year old male

Loveland, CO

City Park

Death

Soccer goal post tipped over and fatally struck victim on the head when it was being moved after a game.

891117CCC3061

05/16/87

7 year old female

Pullman, WA

Municipal Park

Death

An adult hanging from the crossbar, caused the goal post to tip onto the victim, causing her death.

891117CCC1062

09/14/88

10 year old male

Virginia Beach, VA

School Sports Field

Death

Victim was killed when the goal post, on which he was climbing, fell over and hit him on the head.

920113CCC3173

05/09/89

5 year old male

San Antonio, TX

Municipal Park

Death

Crossbar of soccer goal fell on victim causing craniocerebral injuries and death.

891006CAA1003

05/25/89

16 year old male

Bolton, MA

School Soccer Field

Death

The victim was struck on the head by a steel header of a soccer goal post while he and two friends climbed and played on it. The accident was fatal.

#10

891006CAA1005

09/27/89

7 year old male

Plastow, NH School Playground

Death

The victim was struck and killed by a goal post tipped over by a fellow schoolmate lifting the rear of the frame.

#11

910806CCC1669

09/30/89

19 year old male

Binghampton, NY

School Soccer Field

Serious Injury

Goalie had soccer goal blown on top of her by a gust of wind. She suffered stress fractures to both legs.

#12

891023CWE5006

10/14/89

3 year old male

Orinda, CA

Local Sports Field

Death

While attempting to remove a net from its goal post, the victim's father lifted the back base causing the goal post to tip over and strike the victim on the head, causing a fatal injury.

#13

910719CCC1621

06/02/90

8 year old male

Fayetteville, NC

Municipal Field

Death

Victim was fatally injured when the portable soccer goal he was climbing tipped over and struck him in the head.

#14

920630CCC1475

10/08/90

9 year old male

Wilburham, MA

Municipal Field

Serious Injury

A young boy broke his femur when a portable goal fell on him.

#15

910729CCC1641

11/06/90

9 year old male

Lakewood, NJ

Public Soccer Field

Death

Victim was fatally injured when standing next to a soccer goal that was toppled over by a strong gust of wind.

#16

901204CWE5003

11/10/90

22 year old male

McFarland, CA

Public Park

Death

While doing chin-ups, goal post top bar became loose and fell onto victim's head causing his death.

#17

910509HCC1242

04/20/91

8 year old male

Aiken, SC

Public Park & Fields

Death

Victim was struck and killed by a soccer goal that was being set up for a game.

#18

910528CEP9002

05/15/91

11 year old male

Rockingham, NC

Municipal Park

Serious Injury

While swinging on goal, it fell on top of the victim causing severe internal injuries and subsequent removal of part of her liver.

#19

921130CWE4018

07/18/92

5 year old male

Mililani, HI

School Field

Serious Injury

Group of children playing and climbing on a soccer goal, tipped it onto the child sitting nearby, breaking his femur.

#20

930104CWE5004

08/05/90

5 year old female

Ephrata, WA

Municipal Park

Death

Attempting to lift a mobile soccer goal, it fell and struck victim on the head, killing her.

#21

920910CCC3621

09/15/89

9 year old male

Santa Rosa, CA

Municipal Park & Field

Serious Injury

Victim sustained a fractured pelvis when other children pushed a metal soccer goal onto him.

#22

921030CCC3039

09/07/89

9 year old female

Guerneville, CA

Municipal Park

Serious Injury

Victim was sitting on the soccer goal structure, when it toppled and fell, fracturing her right forearm.

#23

930917CCN2507

09/23/91

10 year old male

Kennesaw, GA

Private Soccer

Field

Serious Injury

The victim was playing goalie during a practice game, when some other children ran into the net, pulling the goal over and on top of the victim. The victim suffered a fractured skull and facial injuries.

#24

930505CCN1550

02/09/92

15 year old male

Columbus, GA

Public School Field

Serious Injury

The victim was doing chin-ups on the cross bar attempting to flip over the goal, when the goal tipped over and landed on the left side of victim's head causing injuries. The victim has fully recovered.

#25

930405CCN1307

03/19/93

12 year old male

Warner Robbins, GA

School Field

Serious Injury

The victim has permanent brain damage due to a soccer goal falling onto him when other children ran against the net pushing the goal on top of him.

#26

930608CCN1816

06/06/93

9 year old male

Atlanta, GA

Municipal Recreation Area

Death

The deceased and a friend were shooting soccer goals when the goal tipped over and onto the victim's chest pinning him to the ground.

#27

931027CAA3053

09/04/93

10 year old male

Humble, TX

Private Park

Death

The boy and his two friends were playing around the goal when the boy's foot became caught in the netting, toppling the goal onto the boy killing him.

#28

940418CCC3433

04/00/81

11 year old male

Burnsville, MN

Municipal Park

Serious Injury

The boy and his friend were using the soccer goal for a football goal post and the victim, in an attempt to tackle his friend who was hanging from the vertical cross beam, caused the goal to fall onto him, causing a head injury.

#29

940607CAA2525

10/04/88

11 year old male

Bay City, MI

Intermediate School Field

Serious Injury

The accident occurred on a dare when two boys and two girls tried to lift the 320 lb goal, tipping it over onto the victim causing head, leg and hip injuries.

#30

940425CEP9001

04/09/94

8 year old female

Haverford, PA

Municipal Park

Serious Injury

The victim sustained an injury to her abdomen when a goal she was hanging on fell on her.

#31

940411CWE4006

03/1/94

15 year old male

Phoenix, AZ

Moon Valley High School Field

Serious Injury

A track team member was swinging from the crossbar of a 400 lb metal soccer goal, when the crossbar came loose and was about to strike the coach beneath it; the victim broke his arm trying to stop the incident and the goal pinned him to the ground.

#32

940525CAA3492

09/12/93

5 year old female

Woodenville, WA

Lake Sammammish State Park

Serious Injury

Someone climbing on the net of the goal caused the top bar to fall onto the victim breaking her tibia.

#33

940613CAA3542

11/27/90

10 year old male

Phoenix, AZ

Public School Playing Field

Serious Injury

Four boys were playing around the soccer goal; two were hanging from the crossbar (24' section) causing it to tip over onto the victim, striking him in the head causing brain damage.

#34

940614CEP9001

06/01/94

8 year old male

Tucson, AZ

Municipal Park

Serious Injury

The victim sustained a fractured right forearm, when the goal he was swinging from tipped over and the crossbar struck him.

#35

940928CAA1888

9/21/94

7 year old female

Frederick, MD

Whittier Soccer Field

Serious Injury

Another child was hanging or climbing the soccer goal crossbar, when the goal tipped over, the victim, who was in front of the goal was struck on the face, suffering bruises and contusions. The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.

#36

940928CAA1889

9/4/94

8 year old male

Sebring, FL

Mary Holland Park

Death

The victim sustained a fatal head injury, when he and other children were moving a soccer goal, end over end, in preparation for a game.

#37

941005CAA2001

10/3/94

12 year old male

Waterford Township, MI

Municipal Park & Fields

Death

The victim and two friends were playing soccer on an auxiliary field. The victim climbed to the top crossbar and then, from the center of the bar, asked his friends to push the goal forward so he could jump off. His foot became caught and he was crushed at the head and chest by the heavy goal, when it toppled onto him.

#38

941129CAA3121

8/14/93

14 year old male

Midland, TX

Municipal Park

Death

Soccer goal over-turned in late afternoon (4:15pm) trapping the victim underneath. Victim died from thoracic injuries.

#39

950125CAA1283

10/08/94

12 year old male

Burlington, NC

Municipal Park

Serious Injury

The victim rode his bike under the soccer goal and grabbed the crossbar, tipping the goal over and hitting the victim in back of the neck and lacerating his trachea. Surgery and hospitalization were required.

#40

950202CAA3312

5/25/93

7 year old male

Salt Lake City, UT

Cottonwood Jr. H.S. Field

Serious Injury

Movable soccer goal was tipped over onto the child causing a broken jaw, teeth and facial injuries.

#41

950314CAA3476

8/19/94

9 year old male

Cleveland, OK

Elementary School Playground

Serious Injury

Victim was sitting under an unanchored soccer goal, when another child climbed on the goal causing it to topple onto the victim breaking his thigh bone.

#42

950329CEP9001

3/13/95

13 year old male

Tucson, AZ

School Playground

Serious Injury

Victim sustained a concussion and laceration to the back of his head, when a soccer goal, which children were swinging on fell over and struck him from behind.

#43

950620CCC1807

11/13/88

13 year old male

Newark, NJ

Municipal Park near St. Benedict's School

Serious Injury

The boy was chinning himself on the crossbar of the goal [doing a pull-up]. When the goal began to tip over and he let go and fell. The goal came down on his side fracturing 2 ribs and damaging his spleen and liver. He was hospitalized.

#44

960131CAA3348

9/23/93

13 year old male

Red Bluff, CA

Public School Playground

Serious Injury

The victim was playing in the area of the goal when it tipped over and struck him from behind, breaking his neck and causing paralysis.

#45

960522CBB5185

8/27/95

31 year old male

Athens, TN

Athens Regional Park

Death

The victim was playing soccer and somehow he pulled the crossbar onto his abdomen. He died from liver damage and internal hemorrhage.

#46

960403CEP9005

3/27/96

15 year old female

Pittsburg, PA

High School Soccer Field

Serious Injury

The victim was moving a mobile soccer goal from the baseball field after practice, when the goal fell onto the her foot. She was treated and released at a local hospital.

#47

960611CAA5242

5/28/96

13 year old male

Houston, TX

Public Park

Serious Injury

The victim was helping to hang the net on the mobile goal. It was not anchored and the goal toppled onto the victim causing both external and internal injuries. The victim was admitted to the hospital.

#48

960614CAA5253

3/30/94

16 year old female

Yakima, WA East Valley HS

Playing Field

Serious Injury

The victim was playing goalie, she took off her petty-jersey and hung it on the crossbar of the goal. When she went to retrieve it, she pulled the goal over onto her, striking her in the head.

#49

960821CAA5542

5/31/92

9 year old male

Oak Park, IL

Public Park

Serious Injury

The victim and his sister were righting a mobile soccer goal, which weighed over 200 lbs, when it toppled and struck the victim.

#50

960823CAA5552

04/15/93

12 year old male

Columbia, SC

Public Elementary School

Serious Injury

The victim and playmates were trying to dunk a basketball over the crossbar of the unanchored steel soccer goal, when it toppled onto the victims chest. The victim was hospitalized for 6 days and has suffered permanent injuries.

#51

960927HEP0721

9/24/96

7 year old male

Greencastle, PA

Public Recreation

Facility

Serious Injury

A soccer goal toppled onto the victim when another child ran into the net. The victim was cut in the forehead by the crossbar and received stitches at a local hospital and was released.

#52

961002HEP9020

9/12/96

7 year old male

Elon College, NC

Municipal Sports Field

Serious Injury

A soccer goal toppled onto the victim, causing injury to his chest and ribs, when he was hanging from the crossbar during a game. The victim's mother said if the goal had been anchored properly the incident wouldn't have happened.

#53

961125HEP9003

11/20/96

9 year old male

Cathey's Valley, CA

Public Field

Serious Injury

The victim fractured his elbow when the mobile soccer goal he and some teammates were moving in preparation for a game fell on him.

#54

970716CCC1371

6/15/97

6 year old male

Wallaceburg, CANADA

Death

Tip-over of a home made, unanchored soccer goal caused the death of this 6 year old male.

#55

980518CAA5568

10/7/97

7 year old male

Private School Field

Stockbridge, GA

Injury

The victim sustained minor head injuries when classmates pulled the metal goal over and on to him. There were no anchoring devices.

#56

971125CCC1698

4/29/97

9 year old male

Municipal Park Joliette, Montreal, CANADA

Serious Injury

The victim sustained serious head trauma and permanent physical and mental incapacity after a 100 Kilogram soccer, fell on him. He was hanging from the crossbar. Anchors and a chain had been removed by vandals prior to the incident.

#57

971125CCC1699

3/1/97

11 year old male

Indoor Sports Arena

Riviore des Prairies

CANADA

Serious Injury

The victim - a soccer goalie - was struck by a falling goal, suffering severe head trauma and residual brain injury.

#58

980513CCN0279

5/8/98

10 year old male

Champion City Park, Oconomowoc, WI

Serious Injury

The victim was standing in front of a goal being moved by pushing by his team mates. The goal toppled onto the victim severing his spine. He is paralyzed from the neck down and cannot speak.

#59

980902CEP9001

8/27/98

22 year old male

Bellvue, WA

Municipal Park

Death

Goal post fell onto victims head causing massive head injury and death.

#60

981019CEP9001

10/01/98

10 year old male

Chillicothe, OH

City Park

Serious Facial Injury

This 'homemade' soccer goal was being hung on by the victim and 2 friends. The goal was not anchored. When the friends ran away as the goal began to fall, it struck the victim in the face and hand. Victim suffered a broken jaw.

#61

970403CEP9054

3/27/97

8 year old female

Dublin, OH

School Playing Field

Serious Head Injury

The victim was playing goalie on the soccer team when a strong wind blew the unanchored goal post onto here head and then into the ground causing a serious concussion and hospitalization.

#62

981013HWE5008

9/24/98

11 year old male

Sacremento, CA

Public School Playing Field

Serious Head Injury

The victim was hit on the head by the metal soccer goal while other team members were moving it on the field. The goal was not anchored prior to its being moved. The victim was treated and admitted to the hospital.

#63

980601CBB3845

1/31/97

26 year old male

Carson, CA

Public Sports & Recreation Park

Serious Facial Injury

The victim was playing goalie on the soccer team when his hand hit the top bar in a save attempt. The bar fell striking him on the face breaking his nose. The goal was not anchored nor was the crossbar fastened securely.

#64

981022CAA2027

9/30/98

9 year old male

Deerfield, IL

City Park

Serious Facial Injury

The victim was doing pull-ups on the crossbar when it came loose the struck him in the face and mouth. The goal wasn't anchored, yet labels were on the Kwik Goal to "secure/anchor/do not climb" goals.

#65

990608HEP2401

6/4/99

8 year old male

Pigeon, MI

Public Park

Death

The victim and some other children where hanging from crossbar, when goal tipped over crushing victims head.

#66

991118CCC2072

9/1/92

11 year old male

Bardstown, KY

Public elementary school field

Serious head injury

A home made goal toppled onto the victim while practicing soccer with some teammates.

#67

000707CEP9001

12/05/99

7 year old female

Tucson, AZ

Himmel Public Park

Serious Injury

Three girls were playing around a metal soccer goal which was not set up, in an attempt to raise the posts, the 7 year old was left hanging from the crossbar, when she let go and fell to the ground she broke her left wrist.

#68

000711CEP9011

5/20/00

10 year old male

Greensboro, NC

Public soccer field

Serious head injury

During a soccer match, the victim left the field and went to an area near an unused soccer goal, which toppled over and struck him in the back of the head. The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.

#69

001026CAA2053

4/14/99

14 year old female

Midland, MI

School soccer field

Serious Injury

The victim had very serious leg and hip fractures when the wind blew the unsecured or inadequately secured soccer goal on top of her.

#70

001102CAA2074

3/17/00

9 year old male

Fort Madison, IO

Elementary School Field

Serious facial injury

The victim was standing near the inadequately anchored soccer when other children played on it and hung from it, the anchor did not prevent the homemade steel goal from fall to the ground and striking the victim in the head and face, shattering his teeth.

#71

001127CAA2110

10/5/00

17 year old male

Chicago, IL

Brother Rice H.S. Soccer Field

Head injury

The victim was playing goalie on the soccer team when a gust of wind blew the unanchored soccer goal off the ground, the crossbar struck the victim in the forehead. He was treated and released.

#72

000711CEP9012

3/25/00

8 year old female

Coatesville, PA

Elementrary Public School Field

Arm and elbow injury

During a schedule soccer practice the victim was climbing a soccer goal and sliding down, when she suffered contusions and abrasions to her elbow. She was treated and released at a local hospital.

#73

010130CCC3153

8/20/98

33 year old male

Albuquerque, NM

High School Field

Serious neck and shoulder injuries

While walking to his car, during his daughters soccer match, a mobile style goal fell over striking and pinning the victim beneath it, injuring his neck and shoulder.

#74

011017CAA3024

10/5/01

9 year old female

Nampa, ID

Public Park

Serious facial injuries

While playing on and around an unanchored mobile soccer goal, the victim and 3 friends toppled the heavy goal onto the victim, striking her in the face, breaking her nose and requiring facial surgery.

#75

021001CAA1001

9/30/02

17 year old male

Charles County, MD

Public School

Death

The victim and some classmates were moving a large heavy soccer goal; to set it up right when it fell, striking the victim on the head, killing him.

#76

031003HCN0003

10/01/03

6 year old male

Vernon Hills, IL

Public Park

Death

Player was at soccer practice in the goal area and for unknown reason, the goal fell over and onto him. The goal was NOT anchored.

#77

04/22/04

12 year old male

San Jose, CA

Public School Field

Death

The victim were moving a large heavy soccer goal; to set it up right when it fell, striking the victim on the head, killing him. Goal was NOT anchored.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2004/04/22/goalpost1.DTL

#78

08/27/04

8 Year old male

Lafayette, IN

Public Park

Serious head & back injury

We were having a water break and there was a group of kids standing in the goal. I turned to say something to the other coach, hear a scream, and the goalpost (a huge f***ing iron thing) is down and I've got a kid crawling around with blood spurting from his head. Pouring out like he's in a horror movie or something. Long story short, he's in the hospital, his head is fine but he's got a cracked vertebrae.

The hell of it is, after getting those emails from you I always check the posts, and the damn things were staked down. But it had rained really hard, the ground was soft, and when the post started over it just popped the stakes out like they were staples or something. We put the other goalpost down and the stakes for it came out easier than most dandelions I've pulled.

#79

02/20/05

15 year old male

Owasso, OK

Public Park

Death

The victim and some classmates where moving a large heavy soccer goal when it fell striking the victim on the head, killing him.

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=78258

#80

06/14/05

11 year old male

Houston, TX

Public Park

Death

Police said the victim was evidently playing in the park with some friends when he pulled on a soccer goal and it fell on him. The top bar struck him in the head. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3226514

#81

05/18/05

8 year old male

Piper, KS

Public School

Serious Injury, Broken femur

Four children, all second graders, were playing at recess. One boy ran into an unanchored goal and it toppled over on to the boy who was standing to the side of it.

#82

01/30/07

18 year old male

Lake Wales, FL

City Park

Death

18 Year old Corey Hawk jumped up to fix the net and the pole came down on top of his head killing him. http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/BREAKING/70131008

#83

05/07/07

10 year old male

Winchester, Va

Public School

Death

10-year-old Hayden Barnes Ellias was playing goalkeeper for the Winchester United under-11 team. They said he was positioned in the goal on a Millbrook High School soccer field. Coaches said action was taking place on the other side of the field when they heard a loud crash.

#84

11/19/07

19 year old male

St. Louis, MO

Public Park

Death

Karrar Abudarb, a 19-year-old, was killed on November 19th playing soccer in a park with 11 of his friends. The bizarre accident that ended his life occurred in the city's Wilmore Park, at Hampton and Jamieson avenues, near his home.

About 7:45 p.m., Abudarb grabbed the metal crossbar of a soccer goal and did some pull-ups, according to friends who saw him do it. The goal tipped over and the bar crushed his skull.

#85

05/01/08

8 year old male

Phoenix, AZ

YMCA

Death

An 8-year-old boy has died of injuries suffered while playing soccer with some kids at the South Mountain YMCA in Phoenix.

Gabriel Mendoza died at St. Joseph's Hospital within hours of the accident Thursday.

Phoenix police officers said Mendoza was playing on the soccer goal crossbar when the bar fell on him causing a very serious injury.

http://www.kpho.com/news/16136449/detail.html#

#86 & #87

09/11/08

10 year old males

San Luis, AZ

YMCA

Death

Head Injury

A 10-year-old student (Leonardo Herrera) was killed Thursday morning when a soccer goalpost at Rio Colorado Elementary School in San Luis, Ariz., fell on him and another student.

The second student, also a 10-year-old boy, was being treated Thursday at Yuma Regional Medical Center for what police called a non-life-threatening head injury.

The boys, both fourth-grade students, were playing in the area of the goalpost during recess about 7:30 a.m. when it toppled, Police Capt. Javier Nuño said.

From: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/125576

#88

04/23/07

24 year old male

Piscataway, NJ

Rutgers University Busch Campus

Leg Injury

The victim and friends were warming up to participate in a pick-up game and each were taking turns in goal. Unfortunately, when it was the victims turn, there was a strong gust of wind that blew the post over on to his leg. He received displaced fractures of his tibia and fibula that required surgical intervention with plates and screws. There were no anchors or sandbags available.

#89

04/21/09

16 year old female

Durango, CO

Bayfield High School

Spine Injury, Paralysis

Durango High School sophomore Alyssa Shelton was severely injured when a soccer goal fell on her as she stretched on the ground with three other girls at a Bayfield High School track meet.

http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/05/23/Unanchored_goals_injure_people_yearly/

#90

04/21/09

18-22 year old female

Durango, CO

Fort Lewis College

Head Injury

During a Fort Lewis College women's soccer team practice. Winds blew a poorly-secured goal onto a goalkeeper's head.

http://www.durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/05/23/Unanchored_goals_injure_people_yearly/

#91

04/08/10

5 year old male

Lake Dallas, TX

Undisclosed Injury, overnight hospital stay

A kindergarten student injured on the Shady Shores Elementary School play ground during recess when a soccer goal to topple onto the student.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Soccer_goal_mishap_0408.228e25458.html

#92

01/26/11

9 year old male

Bentonville, AR

Elm Tree Elementary School

Death

A fourth-grade student died after an unsecure soccer goal fell on him at school. Bentonville Police say Jonathan Nelson, 9, was playing outside at Elm Tree Elementary Wednesday afternoon when the soccer goal fell on top of him.

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/jan/27/child-dies-playground-accident/

#93

01/15/12

9 year old male

Newton Grove, NC

Local field

Death

A nine-year-old North Carolina boy died after a heavy, movable soccer goal fell onto his head. Juan Escalera was hit by the metal goal after church Sunday morning on a field in Newton Grove in Harnett County, east of Fayetteville.
WTVD reported Juan was transported to the hospital, where he died.
The family said Juan, a third grader, was playing with relatives and friends when the goal fell. The goal was not secured to the ground, but it is not exactly known what caused the goal to fall.

#94

07/04/12

5 year old female

Watson Lake, YT CANADA

Local field

Death

A group of children were playing on the field Wednesday night when a soccer goal tipped and struck the young girl. There are preliminary reports indicating a soccer goal tipped over striking the young child on the back of the head

#1-#76 Source: CPSC In-Depth Investigation File (from http://members.tripod.com/goalsafety/incidents.htm)

#77- #94 Source: News reports, personal stories

LAST REVISED: July 09, 2012

38 Deaths/56 Injuries

This document is NOT a statistical sample but a list of known and reported incidents. There are potentially hundreds of other unreported incidents.