Goalpost Safety – 9 v 9 Football
The FA’s mini-soccer handbook outlines the Laws of the Game for the 9v9 game and recommends the use of pitches sized 80m x 50m and goals sized 21 x 7 feet.
From phone conversations, exchanges of e-mails and letters with interested parties, including Clubs, Leagues, County FAs, goalpost manufacturers and Insurance companies, The Football Association has become aware of different sized goals being used in youth leagues playing 9v9 football, which are not recommended by The FA, nor are they included within the British Standards for use either in competitive matches or for training purposes.
These goals include the sizes 16 x 6 feet and 16 x 7 feet, both of UPVC material.
The matter has been referred to The FA’s Football Development Committee and two main areas were considered: 1) how to ensure football is played safety for the remainder of this season and 2) how to move the game forward into subsequent seasons.
For the remainder of season 2006/07, variances to the FA recommendation of 21 x 7 feet will be permitted.
The goals that can be used may include:
· Mini-Soccer goals 12 x 6 feet,
· Youth goals 21 x 7 feet and
· Youth goals 16 x 6 feet goals, so long as they are either steel or aluminium and are either of the socketed type or are with wheels and weighted back bar.
· These goals conform to the British Standard 8462 (October 2005), but anyone purchasing new goals should check with the manufacturer that theirs are independently tested and certified against the standard.
Goals sized 16 x 6 feet (UPVC) and 16 x 7 feet of any material are not covered by the latest BS8462 standard and as such leagues or clubs should not use these sizes in training or for competition.
Looking ahead, The FA is to commission a study into the 9 v 9 game to undertake research from players, clubs, leagues, referees and County FAs to understand the issues and requirements needed to standardise the Laws of the Game, goal and pitch sizes, amongst other matters.
The FA’s Goalpost Safety Campaign remains pertinent and safety cannot be compromised. The FA will continue to work with the British Standards Institute, goal manufacturers and test houses to understand whether the goal sizes not currently included in the standard can achieve certification in the future and if so, what test should be applied to ensure safety across the game.
For clarification, any goal of any size must be independently tested and pass its own test requirements, which are broadly agreed by the industry and the test houses together with the FA and BSi. If a manufacturer makes a goal size with differing materials, i.e. UPVC, metal, aluminium, etc, each goals type must be tested separately.
To reconfirm, the advice to Clubs and Leagues when purchasing goalposts is to request a copy of the BS8462 standard certificate from the manufacturer, in relation to the relevant goal size and material.