Fifteen Deaths Prompt Warning: Movable Soccer Goals Can Tip Over On Children

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that movable soccer goals can tip over and kill children who climb on them or pull up on the crossbar. CPSC knows of 15 deaths and several serious injuries since 1979 resulting from soccer goal tipovers. (See attached page for locations and dates of deaths.)

With the 1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament games being played in Washington, DC, soccer will become an even more popular sport. Coaches, parents, and players need to know that soccer goals can tip over and kill people who climb on them or pull up on the crossbar.

The victims in the tip-over incidents ranged in age from three years to 22 years and generally were not involved in the game of soccer when the incident occurred. The typical tip-over incident happened when a child or young adult climbed on or hung from the crossbar of a soccer goal which was not anchored. The heavy goal toppled onto and crushed the individual. In one case, the unanchored goal was blown onto the victim by a gust of wind. The goals were constructed of wood, metal, or plastic and were either homemade, un-branded, or manufactured by soccer goal companies. Mobile style soccer goals are used by private and public elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and municipal playgrounds and recreation areas.

The Commission is working with the manufacturers' "Coalition for Safer Soccer Goals" and others to address risks presented by these soccer goals and to make movable soccer goals more stable. The Commission also suggests that soccer coaches, school officials, parents, and players follow these safety guidelines:

-Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times (see illustration).

-Never climb on the net or goal framework.

-Remove nets when goals are not in use.

-Tip unused goals onto their goal face or chain goals to nearby fence posts, dug-outs, or any other similar sturdy fixture.

-Check all connecting hardware before every use. Replace

-damaged or missing anchors immediately.

-Ensure safety labels are clearly visible.

-Fully disassemble goals for seasonal storage.

To get free safety labels, write to SAFE GOALS c/o SICA, 200 Castlewood Drive, North Palm Beach, FL 33408, or call any of the Coalition members: BSN Sports (1-800-527-7510); Jayfro Corp. (1-800-243-0533); Goal! Sporting Goods Inc. (1-800-334-4625); or Kwik Goal Ltd. (1-800-531-4252).

The CPSC's mission is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products within CPSC's jurisdiction.