From: New Ref AYSO 43 [newref@ayso43.org]
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 1:10 PM
To: newref@ayso43.org
Cc: Ray Cooper
Subject: Securing of goals and other safety issues

"In the midwest yesterday, a 6 year old soccer player [acting as the goal keeper] was killed when the goal fell and hit him in the head.  See
http://www.nbc5.com/news/2529130/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=2265994&dppid=65172 for details. [It was not clear how it fell; possibly from wind. It happened BEFORE A PRACTICE; not during a game. See http://www.glsa.org/]

This serves as a reminder to all Referees to check the safety of the field and the goals before each and every game,  the first game of the day, the last game of the day and all in between.

If the goals are broken or not secure to the ground, they must be fixed or not used.  It is far better to terminate the match than allow an serious accident to happen." (from Bob Henderson, Region 45 Safety Director and Referee)

Our U8 goals at Rosita are light and small enough to not really pose a "falling" problem, I feel.  Most other goals are permanent but still need to be checked as they are heavy, high, and a potential for danger.

Of our large, mobile goals -- the Santa Rita U12G goals are usually staked and should be checked before every game.  There is a hammer and more stakes in the field box if needed.  Also make sure to check the "buttons" where the pipes join.  They should be protruding out if properly locked in place.

We will be using this accident to do what we should have been doing all along -- making sure we get stakes and use them on the Almond goals. The Almond goals are likely a similar situation to what was faced in the accident above (although the goal was not depicted in the video news report).

And obviously, please arrive early enough (especially if the first game of the day) to check all conditions on the field for safety.  This was hopefully a freak accident that will remain rare.  But to prevent a similar occurrence here, we need you referees helping check and double check everything.

Randy Harr
Asst RRA, U8/U10 Referee Coordinator