AusLeisure

With the winter football season underway, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is reminding sports administrators, ground managers, coaches, parents, teachers and players about the deadly dangers of moveable goalposts.

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard explained “deaths and injuries associated with moveable soccer goals are caused by blunt force injuries and trauma to the head, neck, chest and limbs when the goalposts fall over.

“If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, referee or volunteer involved in kids’ soccer, there are simple steps you can take to help keep kids safe around moveable soccer goalposts – before, during and after games.

“Identify the type of goalposts on the field – if they’re freestanding and not the lightweight plastic kind, you’re dealing with potentially dangerous goals that need to be anchored and checked properly before use and then stored away safely immediately afterwards.

“Incidents can happen during normal game play or from inappropriate use of goalposts outside the game so ensure that nobody swings on the goalposts or plays on them at any time.”

The ACCC, in partnership with Football Federation Australia, released the Anchor, Check, Respect: The Game Plan for Moveable Soccer Goal Safety YouTube video in 2012. The video features Melbourne Victory player Adrian Leijer.

A step-by-step guide and the video demonstrating how to anchor, check and respect soccer goals are also available at www.productsafety.gov.au/soccergoals

Anchor

Anchor the moveable Football goalposts securely into the ground. It takes 200 kilograms, which equals:
• 10 stakes
• 12 bags of sand, or
• 10 bags of cement mix.

Check

• Check the goalposts. Before every game or training session, test that the moveable Football goals are properly secured and safe to use.
• Ensure there are no children around the goalpost.
• Shake the goalpost using both hands and push it from behind.
• If the goal post falls, don't use it until it has been properly secured.
• Don't use it if it's not safe.

Respect

• Ensure that no one climbs, swings or plays on a moveable goalpost.
• Store the moveable goalposts safely when not in use.

Click here to view the Anchor, Check, Respect: The Game Plan for Moveable Soccer Goal Safety YouTube video.

29th June 2012 - FFA AND ACCC URGE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY TO ‘ANCHOR, CHECK, RESPECT’ THEIR GOALPOSTS 

10th November 2010 - COUNCILS AND CLUBS NEED TO BE READY FOR NEW MANDATORY MOVEABLE OUTDOOR FOOTBALL GOAL POST STANDARD

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