02 Jan 2014
January 2, 2014

Goalposts safety standards

January 2, 2014 0 Comment

Goalposts safety standards  We are Looking for support to change goalpost safety standards to make sure all children’s freestanding goalposts are made to a total mass/weight that will not kill if they ever topple onto a child. (Common sense). The current safety standard BS 8462 in the UK prevents lightweight safe freestanding goal posts that weigh just over 18Kilos from being made within the standard and only allows heavier goal posts to a weight that may kill children…… this is madness! The Football Foundation offer goalpost grants on children’s freestanding goalposts over 12’x6′ under the current standard which demand the crossbar must pass a strength test of 1800Newtons which means that to pass this test the goalposts are much heavier and most are above what we consider to be a safe weight of 45/50kilos per goal. This standard stops lighter safer goalposts being made within the standard (other than plastic goalposts under 18Kilos) and actively encourages the introduction of the heavy freestanding goalposts that may kill children if they ever topple onto them. We understand that if goalposts are anchored properly and used correctly they should be safe however the whole industry, those producing safety standards , the governing bodies of the sport, many coaches and some mums are all aware that freestanding goalposts can never be secure at all times. If goal frames are made and used that cannot kill if they do topple forward then children never returning home to their mums from a game of football due to freestanding goalposts would stop forever. Persuade we must !…Change we shall ! … However long it takes. These standards are being introduced into a new  European standard for goalposts EN 16579 and if nothing is done dangerous freestanding goalposts will continue to proliferate around Europe. We are the only company speaking out in the Industry and without support from users of goalposts we may be unable to stop this. This may well be seen as total incompetence of those recommending such dangerous freestanding goalposts and acting on safety committees knowing this but doing nothing. We are making this information as public as possible to try and prevent this from happening. . If it is not prevented from being introduced then the consequences may be tragic.

 

About the Author


The creator of Mini Soccer for children. Company Chairman of ITSA Goal posts Ltd the first goal post manufacturer of uPVC plastic goal posts in carry bags. Children's football with smaller sides, allowing more touches of the football with proportional goalposts and pitches. A Product Designer and Innovator who has been driving industry standards in goal post safety for over twenty five years. A Founder member of the European EN 748 goalpost safety committee.