Home
Buyers’ Guides
Football Goal Buying Guide & Size Guide

Football Goal Buying Guide

What is the best football goal for me?

With so many different sizes and options available, it might seem a bit daunting choosing the best football goal for you. That’s why we’ve delved into the football catalogues to bring you the definitive guide when it comes to buying football goals. Including details such as sizes and material, you’ll find the perfect football goal to suit your needs right here, whether it’s for professional pitches or the back garden.

Football goal sizes

The following section focuses on football goal dimensions, so you’ll be able to find the best football goal post size to meet your requirements. All of these are in line with the FA’s recommendations to ensure development and competitiveness is maintained across all ages.

11-a-side football goal sizes

11-a-side goals are usually referred to as full size football goals and are commonly used for senior 11-a-side games standing at 24ft wide x 8ft high. These goalposts are the most popular size of goal used and can be seen at any professional football event or even at the park. The FA recommends that players aged 15 and over use 24ft x 8ft goals, whilst those aged 13 and 14 playing in youth and junior 11-a-side games use 21ft wide x 7ft high goals.

9-a-side football goal sizes

9-a-side football goals are used for players in Under 11 and Under 12 teams. The FA recommend using 16ft wide x 7ft high goals for 9-a-side football games and they can usually be found at artificial, 3G pitches across the country for both junior and youth football games.

7-a-side football goal sizes

7-a-side goals are popular in mini-soccer and are used by various age levels. The most popular mini soccer goal is 12ft wide x 6ft high and is used by Under 9’s and Under 10’s for training and competitive matches in line with the FA guidelines. 12ft x 6ft goals can also be used at artificial pitches when seniors are playing 7-a-side matches.

5-a-side football goal sizes

The FA recommends that for 5-a-side games 12ft wide x 6ft high goals should be used for Under 7 and Under 8 football games and mini soccer. For 5-a-side futsal matches, the official futsal goal size is 3m wide x 2m high and that applies to all age groups playing the game. ‘Traditional’ 5-a-side goals that are typically used on 3G and AstroTurf pitches as well as indoor pitches around the country are usually either 12ft wide x 4ft high or 16ft wide x 4 ft high.

FA recommended goal post sizes by age

AGE	GAME	GOAL SIZE
UNDER 7/8	5-A-SIDE	12FT X 6FT (3.7M X 1.8M)
UNDER 9/10	7-A-SIDE	12FT X 6FT (3.7M X 1.8M)
UNDER 11/12	9-A-SIDE	16FT X 7FT (4.9M X 2.1M)
UNDER 13/14	11-A-SIDE	21FT X 7FT (6.4M X 2.1M)
UNDER 15/16	11-A-SIDE	24FT X 8FT (7.3M X 2.4M)
16+ & SENIOR	11-A-SIDE	24FT X 8FT (7.3M X 2.4M)

Recommended Garden Goal Sizes By Age

Whilst competitive games have specific FA regulation goal sizes depending on the players age, any size goal can be used for casual play in the garden.

The graphic below shows the recommended ages for each size garden goal. However, other factors such as the space available to you and your budget will also affect which size goal you should buy. For example, if you have limited space available in your garden a 6 x 4 goal could be used by older players with no issues. The same is true for other goal sizes/ages - this graphic is designed to give you a rough idea of what goal size could be suitable rather than dictating which size goal you should buy.

Target Goal Sizes

Target football goals are crucial for teams and players who are focused on improving their shooting and passing accuracy. Suitable for use by players of all ages, and ideal for training drills and small-sided games with no goalkeepers, these goals are intentionally made smaller to increase the difficulty of scoring. Despite their size, they are sturdy and heavy enough to ensure they can withstand the impact of powerful shots.

Aluminium Target Goals

Our FORZA Aluminium Pod Goals are an extremely popular choice when it comes to target goals. It’s sleek design and affordability makes it a general favourite for most teams and players. The goal is simple to assemble, available in 3 sizes: 4ft x 2.5ft, 5ft x 3ft and 6ft x4ft and can be supplied in 10 different colours.

Our Alu80 Pro Football Target goals are also a popular choice with football clubs including the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United. This is down to their strength, durability, and frames. They can be supplied as fixed or folding goals, with 3 available sizes including: 5ft x 3.2ft, 10ft x 3.2ft and 6.5ft x 3.2ft.

Flash Pop Up and Square Target Goals

Alternative target goals include our FORZA Flash goals which come in pop-up and square options. These goals are a great option in terms of affordability, and they are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 2.5ft to 6ft. Flash pop-up goals are ideal for children who are starting out in football, with their vibrant design making them visible and easy to shoot at. Our Flash square football goals are bigger and stronger, making them more capable of withstanding high impact shots. These goals are the perfect gift or training asset for a young player who wants to improve their shooting and/or passing.

PVC Mini Target Goals

Our PVC range of target goals includes our renowned World’s Smallest Target Goal and our Mini Target Goal. The FORZA World’s Smallest goal is a true test of accuracy, as the goal measures 41cm high x 41cm wide. This goal has been tried and tested by football influencers including the F2 freestylers and has posed a challenge to everyone who has faced it. The Mini Target Goal is bigger but still offers a good test of accuracy. The Mini Target Goal is also a great starter goal, with many parents buying one as a toddler’s first football goal.

Football goal post materials

Football goals are usually made using one of three different materials; PVC, Steel or Aluminium. Each material has its own benefits and we’ve given you a rundown of these below so you can decide which one is right for you.

uPVC football goals

PVC goals are extremely popular, particularly when it comes to using them at home. Whilst some youth coaches may use them when they’re training away from their ground, they are predominantly used as garden football goals for kids. PVC goals are extremely lightweight and can be assembled and taken down in minutes. The goals are freestanding and can be secured to the ground using U-pegs provided. The use of a carry bag makes it easy to transport and store PVC football goals. However, with this popularity and easy accessibility, comes an ever-growing selection on the market; from supermarket and toy store goals which come at a ‘bargain’ price, to specialist goals by Samba and FORZA.

When it comes to FORZA PVC Football Goals, the 68mm extra thick, high impact UPVC is completely shatterproof, withstanding the toughest of shots. FORZA’s PVC goals are also 100% weatherproof, meaning they can be left outside all year round. A cutting-edge essential locking system can be found in all of our PVC football goals, keeping each component of the goal locked firmly in place throughout use and enhancing the goals’ overall stability, not to mention durability – a key feature supermarket and Samba counterparts fail to provide.

Steel football goals

Steel football goals are the ultimate durable football goal. Robust, heavy duty and suitable for all surfaces, these goals are available in two varieties: Steel42 and Steel76. Steel42 goals are available in six different sizes: 6ft x 4ft, 8ft x 4ft, 8ft x 6ft, 12 x 6ft, 3m x 2m and 16ft x 7ft, whilst Steel76 goals are available in: 12ft x 6ft, 16ft x 7ft, 18.5ft x 6.5ft, 21ft x 7ft and full-size 24ft x 8ft.

There are two main differences between these two goals. Steel42 goals have 42mm steel posts and are freestanding, meaning they are perfect for back gardens and temporary training sessions. Steel76 goals are socketed meaning they are fixed into the ground. Made with a 76mm post and available in bigger sizes than Steel42 goals, the Steel76 goals are more suited to parks, schools, and football pitches.

Steel42 goals are weather resistant, durable and able to withstand high impact shots. They are supplied with a strong HDPE net and can be assembled withing minutes.

Our socketed Steel76 are also strong, durable and can be left out in all weather conditions. These steel goal posts come with a variety of options and packages, meaning you can choose whether to include a net or not. You can also choose whether you want a goal with a D-shape net support or not.

Aluminium football goals

Aluminium goals are the elite choice for groundsmen and coaches worldwide. Viewed as the king of metal football goals, aluminium goals are the models you see at stadiums, training grounds or on 3G pitches. Available in both freestanding / self-weighted and socketed types, aluminium goals are lighter than steel goals, whilst still having fantastic strength capabilities.

Aluminium goals are commonly used by professional clubs and it’s easy to understand why. As a material, aluminium is low in weight, high in strength and extremely malleable, offering much more scope for FORZA to plan and test designs to ensure they’re truly innovative. Real ingenuity, incredible skill and advanced manufacturing have all played their part in creating FORZA’s Alu60’s and Alu110’s, goals that are designed for the highest level of play

We supply 110mm diameter posts for 7-a-side, 9-a-side and 11-a-side games in freestanding and socketed variations which are FA, MLS, A-League, UEFA and FIFA match regulated. The FORZA Alu110 Freestanding Football Goals are available in a range of sizes, from 3m x 2m all the way up to 24ft x 8ft. For football clubs looking for a more permanent fixture socketed goals are also an option, taking the hassle out of match day preparation. Our elite FORZA stadium goals are used by the likes of Manchester United at Old Trafford and Newcastle United at St James' Park.

We also offer 60mm diameter posts for mini soccer up to senior football. The goals can be folded away to ease transportation and used on grass, concrete, 3G, 4G, artificial and wooden football pitches.

Types of football goals

Now you understand which size football goal and material is best for your club, school or garden, you’ll now need to know which football goal type is best to keep it in place on the pitch during play.

Freestanding goals

Freestanding goals are incredibly popular and can stand upright on the ground without any support. Freestanding goals have stanchions which connect to the runback and backbar, creating the goal frame. These goals are found on any surface including; grass, concrete and artificial surfaces.

Our FORZA PVC and Steel42 Football Goals can be built in minutes and are easily secured with U-pegs to keep them place, whilst FORZA Alu60 goals are self-weighted and can stand upright without additional support.

Net World Sports has also developed a freestanding system with our FORZA Alu110 Football Goals which can come with optional FORZA Alu110 360˚ Wheels to facilitate hassle-free movement in all directions, offering unmatched goal manoeuvrability.

Socketed goals

Socketed goals are football goals that slot into sockets or sleeves that have been concreted into place below ground level. Once slotted in socketed footballs goals will be held in an upright position and can be easily removed when not in use. Socketed goals are found on grass pitches in areas such as football stadiums, parks or schools, especially when the goals are left in place for a prolonged period.

Now that you know all there is to know about football goals, you should hopefully have a better idea of what football goal is best suited to you and your requirements!