54 potentially unsafe soccer goals at Valley schools, parks

Read statements from Phoenix, Peoria, Chandler and Scottsdale

STATEMENTS

City of Phoenix
For the past several months, staff throughout the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department has been inspecting the 258 soccer goals we have in 45 parks throughout the city. Providing safe parks is one of our core missions and we are revisiting our efforts for soccer goal safety. While it is standard practice for department staff to always properly anchor moveable goals, park patrons will occasionally move goals to accommodate a particular practice, drill or activity, and on some occasions park equipment is damaged by vandals.

Organizations that receive field allocations from the department are already charged with the responsibility of using their best judgment when faced with any unusual field conditions and to report any concerns to us so we can take appropriate corrective action. We’re looking at ways to further involve our main athletic field users as active partners in ensuring facilities and equipment are inspected before and after their use to confirm they are in acceptable condition.

We also are in the process of checking the condition of the manufacturer’s warning stickers that come with all moveable goals, and expanding their use to all of our goals so that park patrons will get visible reminders of goal safety – the need for proper anchoring and the prohibition against hanging on or climbing onto the goals.

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will continue to use every available tool to keep our playing fields safe. Park visitors can play an equally important role by being additional eyes and ears at city parks. Active participation from our park visitors can not only ensure safety but also can discourage vandalism and graffiti. Together, we’ll continue to enjoy safe, clean and accessible parks and recreation facilities.


City of Peoria
In order to maintain safety during soccer league activity the following anchoring procedures are to be strictly adhered to:

SITE INSPECTION: Before placing the goal inspect the ground in the goal area to be certain no hazards or obstructions exits. The area should be flat and free of debris so the goal may sit flush to the ground.

PLACEMENT OF THE GOAL: Retrieve the goal from its secured storage area and transport the goal to its designated spot. For adult sized goals this job must be performed by at least 2 persons.

ANCHORING THE GOAL: Once the goal is positioned in its final spot secure the goal using the pigtail anchors, securing the back bottom bar to the ground. When applicable, use a hammer to secure the side pieces to the ground using the supplied stakes in the holes in the side rails. IF THE PIGTAIL SCREWS CANNOT BE FOUND DO NOT SETUP THE GOALS – SUSPEND PLAY UNTIL THE SCREWS ARE LOCATED AND THE GOAL SECURED. DO NOT LEAVE THE GOAL UNATTENDED WHILE IT IS NOT ANCHORED. Once the goal is ---properly anchored indicate on your Facility Check Sheet that this procedure was followed (date and time).

DURING PLAY: Staff should check the goal for stability throughout the course of the day, repositioning the pigtails in the event they become loose or dislodged.

AFTER PLAY HAS CONCLUDED: Check the area to be sure all participants are a safe distance away, then remove the anchors from the goal. Return the goals to the secured storage area and lock them in the fashion they were when you arrived. Inspect the pigtails anchors and any stakes used for proper alignment and report any replacement needs. Return the anchors to the storage area. Inspect the goal area for hazards or obstructions created by the day’s use and report any findings to your immediate supervisor. Once the procedure is complete indicate on your Facility Check Sheet that this procedure was followed (date and time).


City of Chandler
The soccer goals used at the Snedigar Sportsplex belong to a local youth sports organization San Tan Soccer. The goals that are currently on the fields were securely anchored by our Parks Maintenance staff. The unsecured goal in question is leaning against a storage area used by San Tan Soccer, and our staff was not aware that it was there. We have contacted San Tan Soccer officials to notify them that it needs to be placed inside their secure storage area. In the meantime, Chandler Parks staff has taken steps to temporarily secure the goal.

All city-owned soccer goals at other parks are permanently secured into the ground.


City of Scottsdale
The health and safety of citizens is the city of Scottsdale’s top priority. It is the city’s policy to require soccer goals to be tied down or securely weighted.

We are aware some soccer goals in Scottsdale parks were not properly secured this summer during site visits. We are instituting steps to prevent this from happening again.

Steps include a plan to install cement anchors with padlocks on all portable city soccer goals within the next two months. The anchors would secure the soccer goals to the ground. The city will require goals to be secured at all times.

Keys to remove the padlock and detach the goals will be distributed only to city staff and leaders of sports organizations using the fields. If soccer goals are moved to accommodate different age or skill levels or different field uses, the goals will be required to be secured to an anchor at its new location.    

While the transition to concrete anchors is taking place, the city is implementing these steps:

• Daily inspection of all soccer goals at all city park sites
• Outreach through city newsletters and other means to educate the public on the potential dangers from climbing or hanging on soccer goals
• Plans to attach stickers on all city soccer goals warning of the potential dangers from climbing or hanging on them
• Outreach to youth and adult park user groups to refrain from moving soccer goals or removing soccer goal tiedowns
• Requests to user groups that they check soccer goals for appropriate tiedowns prior to leaving fields after daily use
• Incorporating the requirement for soccer tiedowns into facility rental/use agreements
• Planned education about soccer tiedowns and soccer goal safety at the city’s Youth Task Force meeting scheduled in December

No injury is acceptable. One of the keys to preventing injury on this equipment is public awareness and education.

If a member of the public is aware of an unsecured soccer goal at a Scottsdale facility, they should contact: (480) 312-2365.