ASTM F1938-98(2004)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation:F1938–98(Reapproved 2004)
Guide for
Safer Use of Movable Soccer Goals
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1938; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
There are approximately 225 000 to 500 000 soccer goals in the United States. Many of these soccer
goals are unsafe because they are improperly designed, manufactured, or installed (unstable and are
either unanchored or not properly anchored or counter-balanced). These soccer goals pose an
unnecessary risk of tipover to children who climb on goals (or nets) or hang from the crossbar.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) knows of four deaths in 1990 alone and
at least 21 deaths during the past 16 years (1979–1994) associated with movable soccer goals. In
addition, an estimated 120 injuries involving falling goals were treated each year in U.S. hospital
emergency rooms during the period 1989 through 1993. Many of the serious incidents occurred when
the soccer goals tipped over onto the victim. Almost all of the goals involved in these tipovers
appeared to be “homemade” by high school shop classes, custodial members, or local welders, not
professionally manufactured. These “homemade” goals often are very heavy and unstable.
Themajorityofmovablesoccergoalsareconstructedofmetal,typicallyweighing150–500lbs.The
serious injuries and deaths are a result of blunt force trauma to the head, neck, chest, and limbs of the
victims. In most cases injuries or death occurred when the goal tipped or was accidentally tipped onto
the victim. In one case, an 8-year-old child was fatally injured when the movable soccer goal he was
climbing tipped over and struck him on the head. In another case, a 20-year-old male died from a
massive head trauma when he pulled a goal down on himself while attempting to do chin-ups. In a
third case, while attempting to tighten a net to its goal post, the victim’s father lifted the back base of
the goal, causing it to tip over, striking his 3-year-old child on the head, causing a fatal injury.
High winds also can cause movable soccer goals to fall over. For example, a 9-year-old was fatally
injured when a goal was tipped over by a gust of wind. In another incident, a 19-year-old goalie
suffered stress fractures to both legs when the soccer goal was blown on top of her.
1. Scope 1.3 These guidelines are intended to address the risk of
movable soccer goal tipover.
1.1 This guide presents directions for the installation, use,
and storage of full-size or nearly full-size movable soccer
2. Design and Construction
goals. It is expected that these guidelines can help prevent
2.1 While a movable soccer goal appears to be a simple
deaths and serious injuries resulting from soccer goal tipover.
structure, a correctly-designed goal is constructed carefully
1.2 These guidelines are intended for use by parks and
with counterbalancing measures incorporated into the product.
recreation personnel, school officials, sports equipment pur-
2.2 The common dimensions of a full-size goal are approxi-
chasers, parents, coaches, and any other members of the
mately 24 ft (7.3 m) in width by 8 ft (2.4 m) in height, and
general public concerned with soccer goal safety.
depth equal to or exceeding the height of the goal (see Fig. 1).
2.3 The stability of a soccer goal depends on several factors.
This provisional standard is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F15 on
2.3.1 One effective design alternative uses a counterbalanc-
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.43 on
ing strategy by lengthening the overall depth of the goal to
Soccer Goal Safety.
effectively place more mass further from the goal’s front posts
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2004. Published January 2004. Originally
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as F1938–98. DOI: (more mass at the back of the goal).
10.1520/F1938-98R04.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1938–98 (2004)
2.3.2 A second design selects light materials for the goal’s 3.4.6.2 The main support requires a permanently secured
front posts and crossbar and provides much heavier materials base that is buried underground.
for the rear ground bar and frame members. This design tends 3.4.6.3 One type (see Fig. 5) of semipermanent anchor
to counterbalance the forces working to tip the goal forward. connects the underground base to the soccer goal by means of
2.3.3 Another design uses a heavy rear framework and folds two tethers.
flat when not in use, making the goal much less likely to tip 3.4.6.4 Another design (see Fig. 6) utilizes a buried anchor
over. tube with a threaded opening at ground level.
2.3.4 No matter what counterbalancing strategy is used, it is 3.4.6.5 The goal is positioned over the buried tube and the
imperative that all movable soccer goals be anchored firmly in bolt is passed through the goal ground shoes (bar) and rear
place at all times (see Section 3). ground shoe (bar) and screwed into the threaded hole of the
buried tube.
3. Anchoring, Securing, and Counterweighting 3.5 Net Pegs—These tapered, metal or plastic stakes, or
both, should only be used to secure the net to the ground (see
3.1 Secure the goal in place (preferably at the rear of the
Fig. 7). Net pegs must not be used to anchor the movable
g
...