Best Soccer Goals

Buying guide for best soccer goals

Soccer is a simple game that doesn’t require much in the way of equipment. It’s easy to begin playing with just a few items, like a soccer ball and soccer goals. Certainly, soccer players can make use of many other pieces of equipment, but goals and a ball are the only necessary items.

However, purchasing a goal for soccer isn’t as easy as just picking the first design you can find. Soccer goals are available in multiple materials and size options. Determining the proper materials and size to fit the planned use case you have is important so you get a good value from your purchase.

When you’re looking to play a quick game of soccer in the backyard with the neighbors, you may want a certain type of goal. However, if you’re practicing for official games and league play, you want another type of goal.

Our shopping guide and product recommendations, along with information about soccer goals, can help you find the right product for your needs.

The soccer ball doesn’t have to hit the net in the back of the goal frame to count as a goal — it simply needs to fully cross the goal line on the field and be inside the goal frame.

How to buy the best soccer goal

Proper soccer goal size

When selecting your soccer goal, you want to match the size of the frame to the ages of the players who will be using it. For official game play, the frame should be close to the following sizes:

• 10 and under: About 6.5 feet by 18.5 feet
• 12 and under: About 7 feet by 21 feet
• 13 and older: Official size of 8 feet by 24 feet

Practice nets for all ages typically are around four by six feet, although you can use larger nets that match the age groups listed. However, some of these smaller practice nets can’t stand up to rough treatment, so older kids and adults could damage them.

Portable vs. permanent goal

Portable soccer goals are smaller-than-official size, making it easier to transport the net to wherever the team is practicing. Portable goals should fold down to a smaller size for transport. Some portable frames disassemble and assemble quickly.

Permanent soccer goals should be official regulation size. They often use bolts to connect the hardware pieces that make up the frame. Installers need to anchor the frame to the ground for safety as well.

Soccer goal depth

The depth of the goal refers to the depth of the frame. An official goal has five feet of depth, creating space inside the goal for the ball to strike the net in the back, making it obvious to referees that the player scored a goal. This frame has 90-degree angles, creating five feet of depth throughout the entire frame.

Some soccer goals have less than five feet of depth at the top. This type of frame may use an angled bar in the back of the frame, creating less depth at the top of the goal and the standard five feet of depth at the bottom.

Some practice goals may have almost no depth, but these frames are more suitable for practice rather than gameplay.

Some small, practice-style goals for soccer may ship with a mini soccer ball as well.

What features are important for soccer goals?

Soccer goal frame materials

Frames for soccer goals consist of plastic, fiberglass, steel, or aluminum.

• Plastic or fiberglass: A fiberglass or plastic frame is cheaper than a metal frame, usually appearing in portable and practice soccer goals and not official goals. These frames are far less durable than metal frames. You shouldn’t leave plastic or fiberglass frames outdoors for extended periods of time.
• Metal: Official goal frames for soccer frequently consist of steel, creating a more durable frame than aluminum. However, aluminum is a popular choice for the frame in areas where the installer needs to move the soccer goals around, such as when a field hosts both football and soccer games. Steel is more susceptible to rust than an aluminum frame.

Net materials and design

Nets last longer when they have a twisted or braided fiber design. This design is most commonly found with official soccer goals. The twisted design is flexible, while also offering exceptional strength. As long as you protect the net from constant exposure to the elements, this design of the net should last a long time.

The rope diameter on the nets plays a role in the strength and durability of the net. A rope diameter of three millimeters or thicker is extremely strong, while a rope diameter of two millimeters or less appears on cheap nets for soccer goals.

The majority of nets offer polyethylene fibers, nylon fibers, or high-tenacity polypropylene fibers. All three types of fibers are durable and strong.

Safety features

If you’re seeking permanent styles of frames for soccer goals, make sure to select a strong ground anchor system. The anchor holds the frame in place, preventing it from tipping over and striking a player in the head. This is important, as a metal soccer frame can weigh anywhere from 150 to 500 pounds.

Additionally, you don’t want your soccer goals to have sharp edges on the frame. Players are going to run into the frame at some point during practices or games, and this could lead to cuts or puncture wounds. If this is a concern, look for a frame with rounded edges as opposed to squared-off edges. Inspect the frame for exposed sharp edges regularly.

How much do soccer goals cost?

Inexpensive

The least expensive soccer goals are temporary popup goals that you may carry to a park or set up in the backyard. These are likely plastic frames that measure four or five feet in width and about three feet in height. Expect to pay $20 to $60 for a pair of these goals, which come with nets attached.

Mid-range

Expect to pay $60 to $300 for a pair of portable soccer nets that are a bit smaller than regulation. These goals may measure anywhere from 6 to 12 feet in width and four to six feet in height. These may collapse down to a small size for transport. You also may be able to disassemble the frames to move them to a new location. Some consist of steel or aluminum, while others consist of plastic. Nets are part of the purchase price.

Expensive

The most expensive soccer goals are official-size frames of 24 feet in width by 8 feet in height by 5 feet in depth. These frames consist of heavy-duty materials like aluminum or steel. They may contain wheels for portability. Disassembling them requires quite a bit of time and work. Expect to pay $300 to $1,000 or more for a pair of regulation-size goals. The purchase price nearly always includes nets.

On an official soccer field, the goals go outside of the field of play on both ends, directly behind the end lines or goal lines.

Tips to care for your soccer goal

When properly cared for, you should be able to use your metal frame soccer goals for at least a decade (and often far longer) before needing to replace them. You may have to replace the net in that time frame, however. To receive the highest level of longevity out of your goal, you should perform a few different maintenance tasks.

• Install it properly. If you don’t assemble the goal correctly and anchor it to the ground properly, the goal may become out of square if someone crashes into it. This could cause cracks in the frame or a stripping of bolts that shorten the life of the frame.
• Paint or seal the frame. Use paint or a clear coat with a rust inhibitor on the metal frame on a regular basis to make sure water doesn’t penetrate the frame and shorten its life.
• Remove the net. When you aren’t using the goal, remove the net and place it in storage. The net will wear out faster when exposed to sunlight, wet weather, and varying temperatures.
• Move or disassemble the frame. During the off-season, you may want to take apart the frames for your soccer goals and store them indoors and out of the elements. Some goals have wheels, so you can roll them intact into a storage building without having to disassemble them.
• Cover the frame. Instead of moving the frame, some people choose to protect it from the elements with a vinyl cover.
• Check the frame regularly. You should inspect the frame regularly, looking for any loose bolts and nuts. Check the clips on the net for damage and inspect the net for holes.

If the net wears out but the frame of the soccer goal remains in good shape, you should be able to purchase a replacement net rather than an entire unit.

FAQ

Q. Do I have to practice soccer on a full-size goal?

A. Not necessarily. Some players prefer to practice shooting on a smaller goal than a regulation-size goal. This helps players learn to be more precise with shot-making, giving them a better chance to beat the keeper and to score in a tight space on a regulation-size goal.

Q. Is the official size of soccer goals the same for all ages of players?

A. No. The official size of a goal of 8 by 24 feet is for adults and older children playing an 11-on-11 game outdoors. Younger players may use a smaller goal and a smaller field. Teams playing nine-on-nine or seven-on-seven games or playing indoor soccer games use a smaller goal as well.

Q. How do I move an official-size goal back and forth from the soccer field?

A. If your soccer field doubles as a football field, you may need to move the goal into and out of storage to allow the use of the field for football. If the frame of the goal has wheels, a few people can work together to lift and roll the goal out of the way. You also may be able to purchase a wheel kit that you can attach to the frame of the goal to simplify moving it.

Q. Is it safer not to anchor or attach the soccer goal to the ground?

A. No. You should always affix the goal’s frame to the ground, ensuring it won’t tip over if someone runs into it. It’s a hazard if the goal tips during gameplay, as the goal frame could strike players, or players could become tangled in the net as it tips. If the weight of the frame is 40 pounds or more, ASTM F2950-14 standards require anchoring the frame.