Question Number: 14390

Law 1- The Field 11/7/2006

Fred Landau of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14349

Many clubs in our area use sandbags to anchor portable goals placing the sandbags along the back bar or in the back corners to prevent the goals from toppling forward onto the field. When inspecting goals I have always considered this satisfactory. I recently watched as two full sized goals on adjacent fields were blown over backwards. Each goal had 3 sandbags along the back which served to keep the back down while the wind lifted the front of the goal and flipped it over. The matches on these fields had been suspended about 15 minutes earlier as a storm front moved through the area so no one was close to the field when it happened. This has caused me to rethink what I will consider adequate anchoring of goals in the future.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Sandbags, as you found out, are not good anchors. If you get to a field with sandbags, tell the parents you are not starting the game until the goals are properly anchored. You'll be suprised how quickly tire irons and hammers appear that will adequately anchor the goals

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Not sufficient anchors. They pose a danger to the players and therefore should be secured better before playing.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When sandbags are used I just jump up, grab hold of the crossbar and pull the goal over. It is far easier than arguing with a coach about how secure the goal is anchored.

Regards,