Soccer Goals Safety Alert
Updated March 05, 2015.
It shouldn't be surprising that kids sometimes get hurt playing soccer.
Like many other youth sports, such as basketball, football, baseball, and hockey, no matter how careful you are, there will likely be some sports injuries when you play contact sports.
For that matter, many people are aware that there are many injuries from non-contact sports, such as cheerleading and gymnastics.
You wouldn't expect that a lot of kids would get hurt from soccer goals though.
Soccer goals are a hidden danger that parents should be aware of. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there have been at least seven deaths since 1998 involving movable soccer goals. Another 1800 kids were treated in emergency rooms because of injuries from movable soccer goals in that time.
What's the danger from movable soccer goals?
If they aren't secured properly to the ground, movable soccer goals can fall over, injuring a child who is hanging on the netting or on the crossbar. Unfortunately, some of these injuries can be fatal.
To keep your kids safe around movable soccer goals, be sure that:
Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert. Movable Soccer Goals Can Fall Over On Children
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert. CPSC Offers Tips for Back to School Safety. Release #08-366
It shouldn't be surprising that kids sometimes get hurt playing soccer.
Like many other youth sports, such as basketball, football, baseball, and hockey, no matter how careful you are, there will likely be some sports injuries when you play contact sports.
For that matter, many people are aware that there are many injuries from non-contact sports, such as cheerleading and gymnastics.
You wouldn't expect that a lot of kids would get hurt from soccer goals though.
Soccer Goal Safety Alert
Soccer goals are a hidden danger that parents should be aware of. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there have been at least seven deaths since 1998 involving movable soccer goals. Another 1800 kids were treated in emergency rooms because of injuries from movable soccer goals in that time.
What's the danger from movable soccer goals?
If they aren't secured properly to the ground, movable soccer goals can fall over, injuring a child who is hanging on the netting or on the crossbar. Unfortunately, some of these injuries can be fatal.
To keep your kids safe around movable soccer goals, be sure that:
- you teach your kids never to climb on the netting or crossbar of a soccer goal
- the soccer goal is securely anchored to the ground with stakes, an auger anchor, or counterweights, such as sandbags, and that they are regularly checked before games and practice
- the soccer goal is placed on a flat surface, which may make it less likely to tip over
- when not in use, soccer goal nets are removed and the goals are anchored or chained to fence post, dugout, or other sturdy fixture, so kids can't move and play on them without supervision
- goals are taken apart and stored at the end of the season, again so that kids can't play on them without supervision
Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert. Movable Soccer Goals Can Fall Over On Children
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert. CPSC Offers Tips for Back to School Safety. Release #08-366
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