One of the most important pieces of equipment in soccer is the soccer goal which is used both during training and soccer games. Soccer goals are so significant that it is virtually impossible to play the game without them.
Soccer goals are structures positioned at both ends of a soccer pitch. They are made of square metal frames on which strong nets are attached to hold the ball in place when goals are scored.
The goal post is used to determine when goals are scored, which is why in every soccer match, both teams make a deliberate effort to fire the ball into the goal to win the game.
Although soccer goals are positioned at both ends of the soccer pitch, they can be occasionally moved from one place to another either for safekeeping or to change their location.
Moving soccer goals is done with precision and care because the soccer goal may be damaged or cause injury to its carriers if mishandled. Moving a soccer goal should not be a problem as there are various methods of moving them.
If you find it difficult moving your soccer goal from one position to another, you need not be bothered any longer as we have explicitly outlined and explained in this article the different ways soccer goals can be successfully repositioned.
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How to move soccer goals?
Moving soccer goals is possible as long as they are not permanently fixed to the ground. No matter how big or small soccer goals might look, they can be successfully moved using a few tricks.
When re-positioning soccer goals, they must not cause damage or injury to either the hauler, playing surface, or the goal post itself. The process must be executed with immense caution.
In years past, goals were in the form of doorways of two forts, and goals were awarded when players shot the ball through the opponent’s doorway. Other objects such as sticks and stones with a certain distance between them were also used as goals.
In the 17th century, two vertical poles (wooden) which had nothing between them were used as goals. Goals have evolved so much from what they used to be in the past.
Modern poles are made of light steel or aluminum and they also have crossbars over them with a net attached to them. Some goals are so sophisticated that they are even foldable.
Manufacturers now incorporate counterbalancing measures into goals to keep them firm and secured to the ground, this ensures they don’t tip over.
With the materials used in making modern goals, it can easily be moved with less effort compared to the past.
Below are the different methods that can be used to move soccer goals from one position to another.
Dismantling the goal
Goals ought to be frequently checked and stored in a safe place when not in use, especially during off-seasons. If you intend to store the goal post, dismantling them may be your best option.
Movable goals can be easily dismantled provided the manufacturer’s instructions are adhered to. For your safety and protection of the goal post, don’t try dismantling a goal post if you haven’t read the manufacturer’s instructions to the latter.
When goals are taken apart according to the manufacturer’s instructions, it will make work easier as you will be dealing with goal parts that can be easily transferred to any location.
Pros of dismantling the goal
- Transferring goal parts is easier than carrying the whole thing
- Less space is occupied for storage
- It is safer and the chances of sustaining injuries are minimal
Cons of dismantling the goal
- It consumes more time compared to other methods
- Only skilled personnel are needed to dismantle the goal parts to avoid damages
- Before the goal can be used again, it must be reassembled—this makes the process tedious
- Some parts of the goal might get missing in the dismantling process
Moving the goal with the hands
The soccer goal can be wholly moved from one location to another with the hands. This process must be carried out by not less than 4 capable adults (4-10 is recommended) who can withstand the weight of the goal.
This method must be carefully carried out as it can cause injuries. Physically moving the goal entails that the people involved must focus and work together to achieve the difficult task.
When moved to a safe location, goals are rendered unstable because of the absence of sockets and anchors which were used to hold them to the ground. Therefore, to avoid the goals from tripping over and causing injury or death, they should be chained and locked to a firm structure.
Pros of moving the goal with the hands
- It consumes less time compared to the dismantling method
- Parts of the goal will stay intact and none will get missing
Cons of moving the goal with the hands
- Injuries can easily be sustained when moving the goal
- In the absence of at least 4 adults, the goal cannot be moved
- If the goals are not properly locked and chained when in storage, they can easily tip over someone leading to severe injury or death
Using goal dollies
- Includes two furniture dollies measuring in at 18 x 30 x 5 inches
- Each pair of dollies handles a 2000-pound static load and a 1320-pound dynamic load
- Four ball-bearing swivel casters make for easy rolling in any direction
Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Making use of soccer goal dollies is one of the easiest ways of moving a full-sized goal around especially on muddy and wet soccer pitches. The dollies help to evenly share the weight of the goal on the surface of the goal frame, making the movement of the goals easy.
The goal’s load is evenly spread across the 4 wheels of the dollies. This eradicates any chance of damage on the playing surface.
The goal dollies permit goals to be moved forwards, backward, and also sideways and they are durable. They offer actual value for the money used for purchasing them.
Pros of using goal dollies
- Less effort is used for moving the goal dollies
- Does not cause damage to the playing surface
- With the dollies attached, goals are easily maneuverable
- Saves cost unlike wheels
- Easily used on a muddy pitch
- One set can aid in moving every goal around, therefore there is no need for wheels on all goals
Cons of using goal dollies
- They are mostly not used on a light goal post
- Dollies easily run out of stock, making them difficult to purchase
- They can trip over easily when they are not properly secured to a fixed structure
Using removable wheels
Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Removable wheels are mostly used for lightweight aluminum goals. The wheels can easily be fixed for moving the goal and removed for match play on a freestanding goal.
With the wheel attached to the goal, the goal can be moved in any direction easily with little effort, only one or two persons can do this. Unlike dollies, wheels are less durable although they can be used even while the net is still attached to the goal.
This is good when it comes to fast installation for matches and training.
Pros of removable wheels
- They need less manpower to operate unlike moving the goal with the hands
- The wheels can easily be removed and fixed back
- With the wheels, goals can be moved to any direction or position without stress
- It is not time-consuming
Cons of removable wheels
- They are less durable compared to the dollies
- If not properly secured when in use, they can cause severe injury
Some notes
Goals should be properly secured especially when they are kept in storage. Some precautions need to be taken to prevent unforeseen circumstances. Below are some of the essential precautions that must be considered.
- All goals that are not in use should be stored in a secure room.
- Stored goals should be chained and locked properly to a fixed structure.
- The nets should be removed from stored goals.
- The face of the goal should be turned to the ground.
- The goal should not be left unstable or upright.
Conclusion
Many instances may arise in soccer when you may need to move the goals from one place or another. It may be that they need to be removed for maintenance work in the stadium or you need them fixed in another pitch.
Goals are necessary for soccer but maintenance and safekeeping matter a lot as injuries and even death may occur when they are roughly handled. We believe you learned safe ways of handling soccer goals while reading this article.
Moving goals from one position to another is possible although they must be carried out by skilled persons. Children should be restricted from climbing the soccer goals or moving them to prevent accidents that might cause severe injuries or death.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!