Goal Safety

Every coach knows that effective practices sometimes require that goals must be moved in order to achieve the desired objective for the practice. This means that goals must be portable. Unfortunately a child can be severely injured or even killed by a goal that has not been properly anchored during a game or practice session. Therefore, the following procedures are being defined by the Sentinels as a precaution to do everything in its power to eliminate the risk a player or coach might be injured by an unanchored goal.

• Every goal will have a minimum of (1) 50lb sandbag on the back brace of each goal after a goal has been moved;
• Each coach is accountable for insuring that each goal is properly anchored at each practice and match session by sandbag(s);
• Each Sentinels sponsored referee will check to insure that both goals are anchored by the sandbags prior to start of the match;
• After each practice and match session, the goals will be rotated such that the base uprights are on the ground or braced against a physical barrier (such as a wall or fence)
• In the Parent // Coach Charter, the club will communicate to parents and players the need to confirm the safety of the goals prior to the start of practice or competition and the importance of leaving the goals in safe position as participants leave the field
• At the start of each season, the coaches will demonstrate to the player the appropriate methodology of moving goals on the field and reinforce this during the season
• Under no circumstances are children to climb on the goals or hang on the nets