ASTM_F_1938_-_98_2009.pdf

Designation:F193898(Reapproved 2009)Standard Guide forSafer Use of Movable Soccer Goals1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1938;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThere are approximately 225 000 to 500 000 soccer goals in the United States.Many of these soccergoals are unsafe because they are improperly designed,manufactured,or installed(unstable and areeither unanchored or not properly anchored or counter-balanced).These soccer goals pose anunnecessary 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 andat least 21 deaths during the past 16 years(19791994)associated with movable soccer goals.Inaddition,an estimated 120 injuries involving falling goals were treated each year in U.S.hospitalemergency rooms during the period 1989 through 1993.Many of the serious incidents occurred whenthe soccer goals tipped over onto the victim.Almost all of the goals involved in these tipoversappeared to be“homemade”by high school shop classes,custodial members,or local welders,notprofessionally manufactured.These“homemade”goals often are very heavy and unstable.The majority of movable soccer goals are constructed of metal,typically weighing 150500 lbs.Theserious injuries and deaths are a result of blunt force trauma to the head,neck,chest,and limbs of thevictims.In most cases injuries or death occurred when the goal tipped or was accidentally tipped ontothe victim.In one case,an 8-year-old child was fatally injured when the movable soccer goal he wasclimbing tipped over and struck him on the head.In another case,a 20-year-old male died from amassive head trauma when he pulled a goal down on himself while attempting to do chin-ups.In athird case,while attempting to tighten a net to its goal post,the victims father lifted the back base ofthe 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 fatallyinjured when a goal was tipped over by a gust of wind.In another incident,a 19-year-old goaliesuffered stress fractures to both legs when the soccer goal was blown on top of her.1.Scope1.1 This guide presents directions for the installation,use,and storage of full-size or nearly full-size movable soccergoals.It is expected that these guidelines can help preventdeaths and serious injuries resulting from soccer goal tipover.1.2 These guidelines are intended for use by parks andrecreation personnel,school officials,sports equipmentpurchasers,parents,coaches,and any other members of thegeneral public concerned with soccer goal safety.1.3 These guidelines are intended to address the risk ofmovable soccer goal tipover.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.2.Design and Construction2.1 While a movable soccer goal appears to be a simplestructure,a correctly-designed goal is constructed carefullywith counterbalancing measures incorporated into the product.2.2 The common dimensions of a full-size goal are approxi-mately 24 ft(7.3 m)in width by 8 ft(2.4 m)in height,anddepth equal to or exceeding the height of the goal(see Fig.1).2.3 The stability of a soccer goal depends on several factors.2.3.1 One effective design alternative uses a counterbalanc-ing strategy by lengthening the overall depth of the goal toeffectively place more mass further from the goals front posts(more mass at the back of the goal).2.3.2 A second design selects light materials for the goalsfront posts and crossbar and provides much heavier materials1This provisional standard is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F15 onConsumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.43 onSoccer Goal Safety.Current edition approved Dec.15,2009.Published April 2010.Originallyapproved in 1998.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as F1938 98(2004).DOI:10.1520/F1938-98R09.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 for the rear ground bar and frame members.This design tendsto counterbalance the forces working to tip the goal forward.2.3.3 Another design uses a heavy rear framework and foldsflat when not in use,making the goal much less likely to tipover.2.3.4 No matter what counterbalancing strategy is used,it isimperative that all movable soccer goals be anchored firmly inplace at all times(see Section 3).3.Anchoring,Securing,and Counterweighting3.1 Secure the goal in place(preferably at the rear of th