FORZA Goals, a leading brand in sports equipment from Net World Sports, proudly announce that their football goals have achieved highly-regarded BS EN & ASTM safety certification standards.
This follows rigorous independent testing by Sports Labs, a globally recognized authority in sports equipment performance. FORZA’s Steel76, Alu60 & Alu110 Freestanding & Socketed Goals all meet these rigorous international safety benchmarks.
Additionally, the FORZA Stadium Goals have earned prestigious FIFA accreditation, ensuring their suitability for the highest levels of competitive play. This comprehensive validation provides coaches, players, and parents with absolute confidence in FORZA goals’ safety and durability.
The safety testing of FORZA goals, also reflects Net World Sports’ key commitment to active memberships with industry bodies such as SAPCA, ASBA, and SAPIA.
About Sports Labs
Sports Labs is a world-renowned independent testing and certification authority specialising in sports equipment performance and safety. As a FIFA-accredited test institute and a leading body for various international standards, Sports Labs conducts rigorous evaluations to ensure sports products meet stringent global benchmarks for quality, durability, and most importantly, player safety. Their impartial assessment provides verifiable assurance of product compliance.
Understanding the Global Safety Standards
FORZA Goals’ adherence to BS EN (British & European Safety Standards) and ASTM (American Society for Testing & Materials) signifies compliance with the highest benchmarks for sports equipment safety.
These certifications confirm the goals’ durability, functionality, and safety through rigorous mechanical and environmental tests.
Common Safety Themes Across All Standards (BS EN 748, BS EN 16579, ASTM F2950-14):
Stability Test (Anti-Topple): Goals are rigorously tested to prevent them from falling over, even if someone hangs on them or any other significant force is applied. This test often involves applying a horizontal force to the crossbar, with proper anchoring (weights, stakes) being essential for freestanding goals to pass.
Strength Test (Crossbar & Frame): The goal’s structure, especially the crossbar, is tested to withstand substantial weight or force without breaking, collapsing, or deforming. This ensures that it handles ball impacts and general use.
Entrapment & Injury Prevention:
Finger/Head Entrapment: Gaps, openings, and channels (including those on wheels) are meticulously checked to ensure no body parts, particularly fingers, heads, or necks, can get trapped.
Sharp Edges/Protrusions: All goal parts are inspected for sharp edges, points, or anything that could cause cuts or other injuries.
Net Safety: Net mesh size is controlled to prevent head entrapment, and net material/fixings are checked for strength and to ensure they pose no risk (e.g., old metal cup hooks are explicitly banned).
Durability/Material Integrity: Materials are assessed to ensure they can withstand outdoor use and maintain their strength and safety over time.
Assembly & Instructions: Manufacturer’s instructions for assembly, installation, anchoring, and maintenance are reviewed for clarity and completeness, as proper setup is vital for safety.
Labelling & Warnings: Goals must carry clear labels with critical safety warnings, manufacturer information, and conformity to standards.
Specific Points for Each Standard
BS EN 748:2013+A1:2018 – Safety Standard for Full-Size Goals
Applicable only to full-size (24ft×8ft) goals. Specific checks include:
Measurement Checks: Ensuring goal size is within ±8mm tolerance and nets conform to safety requirements.
Material Strength: Verifying mesh and rope breaking strengths (as per EN ISO 1806 & EN ISO 2307).
Crossbar Strength: A force of 1800 Newtons (184kg) is applied to the crossbar; it must not break or permanently bend more than 10mm.
Stability: A horizontal force of 1100 Newtons (112kg) is applied, and the goal must not tip over.
Net Fixing Strength: A force of 1100 Newtons (112kg) is applied to prevent net disconnection or breakage.
Shear & Crush Point: Identification of hazardous moving parts to minimize entrapment risk.
BS EN 16579:2018 – Safety Standard for Portable & Socketed Goals
This standard covers all other football goals (smaller sizes, junior, futsal) not covered by EN 748. Key specific points:
Measurement Checks: Ensuring goal size is within ±8mm tolerance and net conforms to safety requirements.
Mesh Breaking Strengths: As per EN ISO 1806.
Crossbar Strength: A vertical force up to 2000 Newtons (204kg) is applied; the goal must show no damage after testing.
Stability: A 1250 Newton (128kg) horizontal force is applied to maintain balance.
Entrapment Prevention: Checks for potential entrapment of head, limbs, and fingers.
Net Attachment: An 800 Newton (82kg) horizontal force is applied to ensure nets remain in place.
Net Mesh Size: Maximum 100mm×100mm to minimize head entrapment risk.
ASTM F2950-14 – Safety and Performance Specification for Soccer Goals
This standard applies to goals weighing 40 lbs (18kg) or more. Key specific points:
Anchoring Requirements: Ensuring systems prevent tipping and instability during play or adverse weather.
Tip-Resistance: Simulating player impacts and extreme weather to confirm goal stability.
Crossbar Load: Checking resistance to high impacts and weighted loads without bending or breaking.
Entrapment Prevention: Tests for head, limb, and finger entrapment.
Weather Resistance: Testing materials for moisture, temperature, and UV exposure.
Structural Integrity: Assessment of joints and welds for durability under heavy loads.
ASTM F1938-98 – Safety Specification for Tip-Resistant Movable Soccer Goals
This test focuses on quality assurance programmes for soccer goalposts, particularly portable goals. It involves:
Tip Resistance Design: Evaluation of design features like weighted back-bars or counterweights to ensure inherent tip resistance.
Anchoring System: Verification that anchoring methods are effective and stabilize the goal.
Structural Integrity: Testing the quality and load resistance of the goal frame construction and materials.
FIFA Accreditation: Elite Performance & Safety for Stadium Goals
FORZA’s Stadium Goals have achieved FIFA accreditation under the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Goals. This global standard, developed by FIFA, signifies suitability for the highest levels of football, from professional training to international matches. FIFA accreditation tests go beyond standard requirements, focusing on:
Precision Dimensional Conformity: Ensuring goals meet precise FIFA regulations for professional play.
Enhanced Strength & Stability: Robust testing of crossbar strength, overall goal stability, and resistance to deformation under extreme conditions.
Optimal Performance: Confirming consistent ball rebound and interaction with the goal.
Net Quality & Safety: Ensuring net durability & secure attachment, preventing interference with the goalkeeper or player safety.
Material Quality & Durability: Comprehensive assessment of materials for longevity & resistance to wear & tear in demanding settings.
Ethical Manufacturing: Compliance with ethical business practices including child labour, working hours, and environmental responsibility. Net World Sports Ltd has confirmed its manufacturing plant’s verified compliance with the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) Code of Conduct (Pledge valid from June 3, 2025, to June 3, 2026).
What This Means For Our Customers
Whether you run a grassroots club, a school team, a professional academy, or an elite senior organization, you can rely on FORZA goals, backed by their extensive portfolio of certifications including FIFA accreditation for Stadium Goals, for:
Uncompromising Safety: Absolute peace of mind that FORZA goals are independently verified to meet, and often exceed, the highest national and international safety benchmarks, significantly reducing injury risk.
Regulatory Compliance & Global Industry Standards: Ensures full compliance with stringent safety regulations and provides confidence that the football goals meet the highest global industry standards, demonstrating a strong commitment to player welfare and responsible equipment provision.
Exceptional Durability: Rigorous testing for strength and structural integrity confirms exceptional durability, ensuring FORZA goals withstand consistent, demanding use for many years and last for many seasons.
At Net World Sports our commitment to innovation and performance is unwavering. However, safety has and always will be, at the forefront of everything that we do. This is demonstrated by our football goals achieving the most robust global safety standards, and underlines our dedication and commitment to supplying world class football equipment to all of our customers.
By: Andrew Griffiths