What size football goal should I go for?
What size football goal should I go for?
The size of football goal that you choose for your football games and matches is a very important decision to make. There are several different football goal sizes to choose between so it is worth checking that your goal compiles with the Football Association (FA) rules.
The sizes of goals vary according to the age of the players and also the number of players in the game or match. There could be an unfair advantage if you have the wrong size goal for the amount of people that there are.
There are other factors that can contribute to the football goal size and that is the size of the pitch and its run-off area. If you want in depth information about this, the FA have created a document that gives a number of dimensions that are suited to the age of players and also the number of players. By following such a document each game that is played can be fair.
Goal Size Guide
We have created the following goal size guide. This will give you information about what size of goal that you may need. For each size of goal you will see that there is information regarding what age and number of players the goal is aimed for.
Senior Goals
U15 11v11 U16 11v11 U17 11v11 U18 11v11 18+ 11v11
- These goals are used for 11-a-side football.
- This is the size used for all senior matches around the whole world!
- It is therefore the most popular size of goal.
- You will find it in the majority of football stadiums in the UK.
- It is the goal post that is used on senior matches on the television.
Junior Goals
U13 11v11 U14 11v11
- These goals are used for 11-a-side football.
- These goals are used for players under the age of 13 and 14 years.
- The football goal size is shortened due to players normally being shorter in height.
- The game or match can still have 11 a-side players though!
- This goal is also known as a ‘youth’ football goal.
9 v 9 Goals
U11 9v9 U12 9v9
- These goals are used for 9-a-side football.
- The 9-a-side game is for players who are under 11 or under 12 years.
- It was introduced into football guidelines 4 years ago as a progression between the 7-a-side and 11-a-side goals.
- This goal is also known as a ‘youth’ football goal.
- 9-a-side goals are now widely used in schools and sports grounds in the UK.
7 v 7 Goals
- These goals are used for 7-a-side football.
- The smaller goal is used for players who are under 9 and under 10 years.
- The smaller goal can also be used for under 7 or 8 years games but as a 5-a-side game.
- The larger goal is often used for 7-a-side adult players playing amateur games.
- The larger goals are often used across a full sized senior pitch.
- These goals really help if your football pitch area is shared with other sports.
5 v 5 Goals
- These goals are often used for 5-a-side football.
- The FA does not endorse 5-a-side football goals but 5-a-side football is played ‘informally’ in the UK.
- There is therefore no official size for 5-a-side goals.
- They tend to appear in 3 different sizes.
- The middle size goals are the most popular.
Futsal Goals
3 x 2 m (10 x 7 feet)
- FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) has given the name Futsal to the only version of 5-a-side football that is acknowledges.
Types of goal
There are many different styles of goals on the market. The main two are socketed and freestanding goals. Socketed goals are the only types of goal that have been endorsed by the FA to be used in competitions. The FA states that freestanding goal posts are approved for training sessions only. They have not been approved for match play.
We are going to list four of the most commonly used football goals here:
Socketed Goal Posts
- Are used worldwide in a variety of areas such as parks and stadiums
- The frames are placed into ‘sockets’ in the turf/ground and are most often secured in place with concrete.
- They are built to last when cared for properly.
- They are not designed to be moved!
Freestanding Goal Posts
- These tend to be used on pitches where socketed posts are not permitted.
- They do not have built in weights and so will need to be supported or they will topple forwards.
- There are many ways that you can support them such as by using an anchor or a chain and fence.
- They are a little more flexible that the socketed goal posts when it comes to setting up your pitches layout.
- If a goal is unanchored, it can cause serious accidents and injuries. To conform to European Safety Standards and FA Guidelines, anchors must be fitted to all freestanding goals no matter what size or type they are.
Self-Weighted Goal Posts
- Are used for pitches that do no permit ‘sockets’.
- They are freestanding.
- They are often found on Astroturf and 3G pitches.
- The whole of the goal sits on top of the pitch.
- They have built in weights, which prevent them from toppling over.
- They often have wheels so that they can be moved for ease, particularly if you are sharing a pitch with another sport.
(Fence)Folding Goal Posts
- These goals are used on artificial pitches that do not have much space.
- It is a goal frame joined to ‘arms’ that can be connected to a fence/posts.
- The ‘arms’ let the goal fold out for use and can be folded back in after the game.
- They are normally fixed to fence or wall and can be folded out when needed.
- When these posts are not needed they can be pushed back in line with the fence or wall.
Storing Goal Posts
To ensure a great long life of your goal posts, it is important to store them correctly. Here are a few tips!
- They should not be left upright, unstable (i.e. leaning) or accessible.
- They should be locked securely and safely or left lying on the ground so that they cannot fall over.
- Goal posts should not be dragged.
- Full-sized goals should be moved by a minimum of four capable adults.
- When goal posts are moved they are often detached from anchors, ‘sockets’, weights etc. and are therefore unstable. Caution is advised.
Goalpost safety
Injuries can occur if goal posts are not handled carefully. Here are a few tips!
- Any sized goal post must be anchored securely to the ground or be weighted.
- Goal posts should be checked over regularly.
- Goal posts should not be climbed on or played with as they could topple over, especially if not properly secured.
- Compliant materials for the goal posts should be used (UPVC, aluminium, steel).
- Portable goal posts should be secured by the manufacturer instructions. They should be dismantled/removed appropriately when not in use.
- Nets for goal posts should be secured by plastic fixings and not by metal cup hooks.
Why not have a look online and see what goal suits you and your team?