Deal Expires at 8:00pm EDT
Chaco Gimenez, Scores a Volley
Cruz Azul vs Pumas – Christian “El Chaco” Giménez
This one is a little late as it actually occurred about two weeks ago, but it somehow missed our searching fingers. Special thanks to Fernando for finding this one. Today’s top goal is an amazing soccer goal volley from Chaco during the Mexican Primera Division Quarter Finals. This goal was part of what ended up being a 2-1 playoff victory for Cruz Azul.
Today’s profile covers the portable, transforming soccer goal series, from goal manufacturer, Duralite.
Duralite Portable Soccer Goal (Transformable)
The first question that comes to mind when someone reads the word, “transformable” is, what do you mean by transformable? Thankfully the answer is fairly simple, the goal can be adjusted so that it will function in up to three different sizes. For instance, if you bought one of the full size, 8’ x 24’ soccer goals, that same goal could also be adjusted to 8’ x 16’ and 8’ x 8’.
This transformability function works because the goal is portable. It comes in a package of 7 major parts and 6 joiner parts. The 7 major posts are all of equal size so when you remove one or two of those posts, the entire goal changes size. This same fact makes for a low profile package when the goal is disassembled and it also means that an entire league quality, 8’ x 24’ portable soccer goal can be shipped for less than $60.00.
This goal series comes in the eight standard sizes used by soccer leagues internationally. 8’ x 24’, 7’ x 21’, 6.5’ x 18.5’, 6’ x 18’, 6.5 x 12’, 6’ x 12’, 5’ x 10’ and 4.5 x 9’. The heaviest of these goals is only 60lbs and they are constructed of 2” round aluminum tube.
2" Duralite Portable Soccer Goal Post
Two factors make these the most durable portable soccer goals on the market. The first is that they are constructed of thick, yet lightweight, 1/8” wall aluminum. The second is that they have only two parts that require welding. These are important points because the only things that will kill a goal are damage from overuse or transportation, and damage from worn out welds, so quality welds and as few of them as possible, make for a long lasting goal. Also, metal that thick can withstand cracks from a baseball bat.
The goal is also designed so that it must be anchored in order to work. Quite literally, it will not stay up unless it is assembled with its anchoring system in place. Once the anchor is in place, the goal does not move. This is done to ensure the safety of the people using the soccer goals. The anchor system works by driving four separate 10” stakes at 20 degree angles in the back of the goal. The stakes then cross to make an underground X on either side of the goal, making it immovable. For turf fields, the goal requires a separate back bottom bar to give counter weight on the back.
The goal is surprisingly affordable, ranging from $99.00 for the smallest version to an even $300.00 for a full sized portable. Just as a heads up, as is common with league goal manufacturers, nets are sold separately.
Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic – Patrice Evra
In what was a parade of header goals from Man U, Patrice Evra opens up the scoring in classy fashion.
Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic – Javier Hernandez Chicharito
Some headers are just better than others. This soccer goal off of the head of Chicharito was completely undefendable.
Argentina vs. Brazil (Friendly) – Lionel Messi
The goal that he barely missed earlier in the game might have been better, but this game winner was rather Maradona-esque.
Portugal vs. Spain (Euro Cup Qualifier) – Helder Postiga
The second goal of what would end up being Spain’s worst loss in 47 years.
France vs England (Euro Cup Qualifier) – Karim Benzema
Great play leads up to the opening goal of what would eventually be a 2:1 victory for France.
This is the third and final part of a three part shopping guide for soccer goals. If you happened to find this page first, you can look at part one, choosing a class, by clicking here, and part two, picking a size, by clicking here. This portion of our soccer goal shopping guide will go over choosing the correct model. There are basically two different models that most soccer goal companies will offer, they are traditional and lightweight. As with everything else, each company has different names for each of these models, but in order to keep it simple we will use and define these terms for the purposes of this shopping guide.
Shooting on Goal
A traditional model soccer goal has a top depth of one foot or more. Because of that little feature, most of these goals have a framework that runs down the back of the goal and that framework makes the goal both heavier and safer than lightweight model goals.
Traditional Soccer Goal Model
A traditional soccer goal looks cool, it has the classic frame that you see in pro games. The extra framework means that it is unlikely to tip over.
Traditional soccer goals are heavy, they have more material involved in their construction and so they are tougher to move and in the unlikely event that they do fall, there is more weight to cause injury, always anchor your soccer goals and this won’t be a problem.
This type of goal is a great choice for leagues and for families who are planning to set a goal up and then leave it up, or move it only a short distance. If there is a field in place that is used solely for soccer, the traditional model is the way to go.
A lightweight model soccer goal has no top depth. Thanks to that little feature, these goals don’t need a lot of framework to keep shape. This also makes them less expensive and as the name states, much much lighter than traditional models.
Lightweight Soccer Model
Due to the fact that there is less framework involved, these goals last longer. While this sounds counter intuitive, it is true, the more welding that you do with a soccer goal, the shorter the lifespan of that goal. Lightweight goals often need little to no welding at all to work. They are also easier to move and cost less.
Anchoring is more important with these goals than with traditional goals as these goals have less weight pushing them down. They don’t have that cool traditional look.
This type of goal is a great choice for leagues and for families who may not be leaving the goal up all year round. They are meant to be moved. They are also great for families and leagues on a budget as they cost less and last much longer.
That is all that we will be covering in this year’s shopping guide, we hope that the guide was helpful and that it enabled you to narrow down which goal would be ideal for your home, league or school. We will end this guide with a list of soccer goals that we recommend you take a look at.
Kickback Rebounder
Kwik Goal Rebounder
Kwik Goal
Tournament Soccer Goal
Barcelona vs Villarreal – Lionel Messi
Messi, you’ve got skills.
Sunderland AFC vs Chelsea FC – Nedum Onuoha
A surprising goal from Nedum Onuoha opens up the weekends biggest upset as Chelsea falls to Sunderland in the EPL this weekend.
Real Madrid vs Real Murcia – Esteban Granero
In a Copa del Rey game is Spain, Esteban Granero opens the scoring for Real Madrid in what would eventually be a 5-1 floor wiping. The goal may be one of the best of the year.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid – Mesut Ozil
Welcome to part two of our soccer goal buyers guide. If you missed part one of this guide, choosing a class, then you can go back and start with that one by clicking here. If you have already read part one then get ready for more great hints and ideas as to how to shop for the right soccer goal for your soccer player at home. This part covers size. When it comes to soccer goal size there are two factors to go over, the first is, how old is the child for whom you are buying the soccer goal? The second is, how much space do you have?
Young Soccer Player - Image courtesy of heraldpost
In order to determine which goal size is right for your child it is important to know which common sizes are available and for what ages they were intended, from smallest to largest the common sizes are:
3′ H x 4′W, intended for training and for use by toddler and nursery school ages.
4′H x 6′W, intended for training all ages, or for games with 5 and 6 year olds.
4′H x 8′W, intended for games with 5 and 6 year olds.
4.5′H x 9′W, intended for games with 6 and 7 year olds.
5′H x 10′W, intended for games with 6 and 7 year olds.
6′H x 12′W, intended for games with 8 and 9 year olds. Common backyard goal size.
6.5′H x 12′, intended for games with 8 and 9 year olds.
6.5′ H x 18′W, intended for games with 10 and 11 year olds.
7′H x 21′W intended for games with 12 and 13 year olds.
8′H x 24′W regulation size soccer goal, intended for ages 14 and up.
Obviously, the size and ages shown here are based on guidelines set out by soccer organizations and soccer governing bodies across the globe, but when it comes to the size of goal that will suit your child you do not have to follow this list. If you buy the most common backyard goal size (6′ x 12′) your child will enjoy it whether they are 6 or 19 years old. But the list above might help you narrow down which size is ideal.
Two Deers Visit a Soccer Yard - Courtesy of billhd
When setting up a soccer goal at home, the most important factor is distance from the goal. The amount of space that is free on either side of the goal is also a factor, but in the end, if your yard is wide enough to fit 21 feet, then you can have a 7′H x 21′ goal provided that the shooting distance in your backyard is worthwhile. So we will share a different list here that covers a recommended distance to goal size ratio for your yard in order to determine an ideal size for you. Note that you will need to add 2 yards to each of the numbers below just to give running room for the soccer shot approach.
3′ H x 4′W, generally used by kids just learning to kick, distance can be as little as 2 yards.
4′H x 6′W, stronger kids need more space, but with a small goal not too much distance is needed in order to have a challenging and fun experience, distance can be as little as 5 yards.
4′H x 8′W, slightly bigger goal for the same age group needs more space to make it fun, distance can be as little as 7 yards.
4.5′H x 9′W, kids using this size goal may have some pop, and the goal is starting to approach a more realistic game size, distance should be at least 10 yards.
5′H x 10′W, slightly larger goal for the same age group, also needs at least 10 yards of shooting distance.
6′H x 12′W, a fair sized soccer goal meant for kids who might be able to use it. There should be a distance of at least 12 yards to make this goal size worthwhile.
6.5′H x 12′, distance of about 12 to 15 yards.
6.5′ H x 18′W, once the goal starts to get to about this size or bigger, the fun comes in finding difficult angles, playing against someone else, or trying to score from a distance. So you should have a solid distance of about 20 yards or more and if possible, there should be 5 or more yards of clearance on either side of the goal.
7′H x 21′W, very similar to what was just described previously, only the kids will probably be bigger and stronger and will therefore need a little bit more space. Keep a distance of at least 25 yards and if possible, 5 yards of clearance on either side of the goal.
8′H x 24′W, as this is a regulation sized goal, it could be used by players with the potential to be very strong, so the distance should be 30 yards and if possible, keep 7 yards of clearance on either side of the goal.
As stated earlier, these are just guidelines to help narrow down your search for a properly sized soccer goal, in the end factors like growth of the child, moving your home and so on can make it necessary to fudge these numbers a bit. Either way, we hope this portion of the guide was helpful. The next part of this gift shopping guide will go over choosing the right model of soccer goal.
Every year it becomes increasingly obvious that soccer is America’s youth sport of choice. So, with the holiday season approaching, we thought it would be a good time to go over what may be this season’s top gift for America’s youngest athletes, the soccer goal.
A Full Sized Tournament Soccer Goal
Increased competition and reduced supply costs in this market have made what was once an expensive and unlikely choice for a soccer gift into an ideal one. But with so much competition in the soccer goal market, choosing the right goal for your needs had become more difficult than ever. With that in mind we are publishing this three part blog about finding and choosing the perfect soccer goal for your soccer player. This first part will go over choosing the correct class of soccer goal. The second part covers choosing the correct size for your needs and the final part will go over picking an ideal model. So without further ado, we bring you part one.
The first thing to know when choosing a soccer goal style is what classes there are to choose from. While each manufacturer and some distributors of soccer goals have their own names for these soccer goal types, there are actually only five soccer goal classes; tent/pop-up goals, PVC/training goals, flat/rebounder goals, portable goals and permanent goals. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and prices vary significantly, even within class.
Bownet 7 x 18 Tent Style Soccer Goal
With the advent of the PUGG Soccer Goal a whole new concept for soccer goal training came into view. Basically the idea that PUGG brought to market was that a practice goal did not need to have a traditional frame, it just needed to catch the balls that were shot at it. Since then several other companies have run with the idea of making a goal out of a tent, the most popular (aside from the PUGG) at present is probably the Bownet Soccer Goal.
Since they are basically tents with a net, they are very light and therefore the safest soccer goals on the market. They also fold and/or disassemble to a very tiny size making them easy to move around and store. This also makes them relatively inexpensive.
Again, since they are basically tents with a net, they do not give an honest soccer game bounce off of the frame and they do not last very long. Certainly not as long as a traditional portable or permanent goal. Also, these goals do not give off the same soccer field impression as a more traditional metal goal.
This is the goal to choose if you do not have space at home to play, but you have a park nearby. It is also a great choice for a soccer coach or trainer, or for the dad who wants to coach his kids between practices.
PVC Soccer Goal that Changes Size
Before the pop-up and tent goals, there were training goals. Most of them are made of PVC, though some of the larger manufacturers offer these goals in steel or aluminum models. These goals have a more classic square frame than the PUGG, and most can fold and/or be disassembled for portability. This can be a dangerous class to shop in, because it includes a lot of cheap and breakable models. A safe rule for this class is, if it costs less than $75.00 there is probably a reason.
Because these goals have an actual frame, they can give a real game bounce and feel off of the post. They are never larger than 8′ Wide and 4′ High so they are lightweight, safe and easy to store. Many of them fold and a few models even change sizes, which can make for a lot of fun at practice or when playing. The good ones will generally last longer than tent/pop-ups.
While these goals are portable and light, they take up a lot more space than a tent/pop-up goal. They also don’t assemble or “Pop-Up” as fast. The inexpensive ones will break very quickly.
This type of goal is great for the coach who wants a goal that changes size, or for a young player with a smaller backyard who wants to leave the goal outside all summer long.
Rebounder Soccer Goal
Rebounder soccer goals were created for coaches who wanted to have players shoot on both sides of a goal. They are flat, with tight nets that bounce the ball back to the player. They are generally made with steel or aluminum frames and aside from the fact that they are flat, they react and create “off the post” bounces that are similar to that of a traditional soccer goal.
Rebounder goals take up very little space (in terms of depth) on a soccer field or backyard, so they can fit in more back yards than a traditional soccer goal. The bounce back action that a ball takes off of a rebounder goal can also be very useful when practicing and honing skills. Both sides can take soccer shots at the same time.
They are not quite as safe as any of the other goals as they generally require stakes or anchors just to stand up. The ball always bounces back, so it is not a traditional goal.
If you have a soccer player who is constantly beating a soccer ball against the house wall, this is a nice replacement to save that wall. Great for coaches who train many teams or teams with lots of players.
Full Size Portable Soccer Goal
Portable soccer goals were created for soccer leagues that did not have their own soccer field (which is most leagues). They are traditional soccer goals with traditional frames. The only basic difference between these goals and the permanent ones are that they can be moved. Within the class of portable soccer goals there are many sub-classes, but those will be discussed in another article as they would only add confusion to this topic. What is important to note here is that prices vary in regards to these goals greatly, though price is not always an indication of quality. That being stated, if a portable soccer goal is greater than 5′ high by 10′ wide and costs less than $100.00, it is probably not going to last you very long.
Aside from that rule, the important points to note when picking a worthy portable soccer goal are safety, and quality of materials. As a general rule, you want materials to be thicker than 1/8th of an inch or .125 wall as that gives enough metal for lasting welds. Materials should also be 2″ in width or greater as that prevents bowing in the crossbar and gives a more accurate bounce.
These goals are used by both amateur and professional leagues and teams, so they look and act just as a soccer goal should. They are much sturdier than any of the previously mentioned soccer goals so they will last closer to 10 years as opposed to one or so.
These goals are made of aluminum or steel and will therefore weigh more than a pop-up or PVC goal. This aspect also makes them more dangerous if un-anchored, especially the steel options.
This class of goal is meant for leagues, but individuals can and should choose these goals if they are looking for an option that can be left up in their fair sized yard all year round. Also, for the player or coach who wants to play on an actual soccer goal and get the bounce and feel of a real game, this is an ideal option. Basically, for a sturdy, lasting realistic soccer feel on the go, choose a portable goal, for a less expensive, quick and light goal, choose a tent/pop-up.
Full Size Permanent Soccer Goal
The original soccer goals were put in place and left there, hence the name, permanent soccer goals. They are what you see on TV and at competitive high school, college and pro level matches. Most are painted white, look gorgeous and are built to last for a long, long time.
They look great, last a long time and can weather the weather. Most have 4″ Round metal tube which is perfect if you are looking for a professional quality bounce off of the posts, they are generally built so that they are very difficult to move or pull over, so that makes them a safe option.
They are expensive. For a full sized 8′ x 24′ permanent goal expect to pay $1000.00 or more. They don’t move, you can often drag or roll them around the field, but if you want to move them to a completely different location, they will need to be uninstalled and reinstalled.
If you have plenty of space, available cash and don’t plan on moving in the next five or so years, do not buy anything else. These goals are the top of the heap, the best of the best. You can feel like Messi while you take shots at a pro style goal from 30 yards out. This is the goal style that everyone wants, but for the reasons described earlier, cannot have.
Kickback Rebounder
Kwik Goal Rebounder