Soccer goals prove pushovers for Star staff

The new anchors for movable soccer goals used in the Yukon prevent the nets from falling forward but the goals can still be pushed over backwards without much effort.

The new anchors for movable soccer goals used in the Yukon prevent the nets from falling forward but the goals can still be pushed over backwards without much effort.

This week, one of the nets recently returned to Vanier Catholic Secondary School fields was easily pushed backwards by two female Star staff members and without much more effort by one.

Most of the deaths and injuries that have resulted from these goals appear to have been caused by the nets unexpectedly tipping forward, which the anchors do prevent.

The issue moved to the forefront of Yukoners’ attention after a soccer goal fell onto five-year-old Jaedyn Amann July 4 in Watson Lake.

She died a short time later.

The 1995 Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which the Department of Education has adopted, recommends that the goals be anchored during use, then stored away or secured.

The anchoring method used on the Vanier goals is included as one of the recommended methods in the report.

As well, as recommended, they also carry safety stickers on the net warning people not to climb on the nets or move them dangerously.

The report goes on to say: “The majority of the incidents investigated by CPSC did not occur during a soccer match.

“Most of the incidents occurred when the goals were unattended. Therefore, it is imperative that all goals are stored properly when not being used.”

It provides five recommendations for storage.

First, after removing the net, turn the goals to face each other and lock each goal post together.

Or, turn the goals to face a secured structure such as a fence and lock each post to the fence.

The third suggestion is to lock the unused goal posts in a secure storage room after each use.

Suggestion four is to completely disassemble the goals for seasonal storage, while five is “if applicable, fold the face of the goal down and lock it to its base.”

In the report’s conclusion, it says, “Anchor or chain one goal to another, to itself in a folded down position, or to nearby dugouts, or any other similar sturdy fixture when not in use.

“If this is not practical, store movable soccer goals in a place where children cannot have access to them.”

In response to queries regarding the anchor system, and why for instance the goals aren’t turned towards the fence close behind them and locked when not in use, Chris Madden, the communications director for the Department of Education said:

“The third party safety assessor advising the Department of Education on how to ensure its soccer nets are safe has confirmed that these nets are secured in accordance with CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) guidelines.”

Suncorp Valuations was hired as the third party assessor.

“The focus of the CPSC standards is to prevent the goals from falling forward, the assessor has confirmed that the focus of anchor system testing is on scenarios where the goal would fall forward.”

Madden said the assessor assured him the way the nets are anchored, “they are essentially fixed.”

He also noted the departments new deputy minister, Valerie Royle, is the former president of the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board.

“Her knowledge and experience will be guiding our department’s work and this file is a top priority,” he said.

“We’re doing everything we can to identify actions we can take to contribute to the safety on school property,” he said.

By Ainslie Cruickshank
Star Reporter