Soccer

Choosing a Soccer Goal

There are tons of options to choose from when looking for the right soccer goal to buy. A lot of your selection process depends on where you are located, how old the players are that will be using it, how big your yard is, and how much you want to spend. Ultimately, there is no perfect answer and some people without a yard become amazing soccer players just kicking a ball into a brick wall...but that is not nearly as much fun as having an Open Goaaal! Soccer parents are always looking for new ways to help their kids improve their skill level without having to drain the budget...especially when competitive soccer dues are already expensive enough. When searching for the best soccer goal, you should ask yourself these questions:

What Are the Dimensions of Soccer Goals?

Soccer goals come in various sizes for different ages. Goals can range from mini goals only 3-4 ft wide to enormous full size goals 24 ft wide. Most soccer parents either get the goal size that their kids are currently playing on or a regulation sized goal so they can grow into it over the years. You may have decided that you want to get a regulation soccer goal to grow into, but then you run into a problem...your yard isn't big enough to fit the goal in it. This is one of the most common issues and ultimately the most restrictive deciding factor when choosing a goal. In that case, just get the largest goal that can fit in your yard. Check out our soccer net buying guide for more details or learn about soccer goal size regulations.

What Type of Soccer Goal Should I Get?

If you look online, there are several different types of soccer goals to choose from, including mini soccer nets, full size soccer nets, goals with metal goal posts, goals with plastic goal posts, goals without goal frames at all, etc. A big part of your decision process is going to depend on how you are planning on using it. Are you looking for a full size soccer goal to play pickup games neighborhood kids or are you looking for a small training soccer goal just to practice shooting on? In the end, as you move towards a full size goal with metal posts, the cost and weight of the goal is going to increase. If you choose to just get a smaller pop up soccer goal that uses "tent poles" for the frame, it's going to be super affordable but it's probably going to break fairly quickly. We recommend watching videos of people using the goal before purchasing so you can see how hard they are kicking it and how the goal responds to the training.

How to Build a Soccer Goal?

Are you the DIY type that would rather build a soccer goal instead of buying one? You can find plans online for tons of soccer goal designs using wood, pvc, and even metal! You may be able to save a few bucks building your own but ultimately, especially if you can purchase a goal with a warranty, we recommend getting one backed by a strong warranty and with a built-in rebounding backstop...because it's way cooler and more effective than an ordinary goal...and it doesn't attract termites. :)

Where Should I Set Up My Soccer Goal?

Ideally, you would place your soccer net on relatively dry flat ground. That's not always an easy task if your entire yard is sloped, so we recommend the following tips:

• If you don't have a flat surface, make sure you place the goal on a surface that is at least "evenly" sloped. This will prevent wobbling and instability.
• If you can, place the goal closer to the top of the surface, that way you will be kicking uphill. This reduces the number of missed shots from sailing into the neighbor's yard. Also, this will help keep balls coming back to you rather than rolling farther away.
• Avoid placing the goal or playing area in swampy areas of the yard.
• Avoid placing the goal in front of gardens or "breakable" stuff. This needs no further explanation.

What Is Different About a Training Goal?

Some goals are designed for gameplay use and others are designed for training. An Open Goaaal is an example of a training goal, which means it is meant to be used for training and skills development, rather than for a formal soccer game. Most of the time, players do not have a backyard large enough to handle a full size soccer goal with metal bars that weighs 400 lbs, nor would they want to pay $3500 for a competition-grade soccer goal. A training goal may not have the euphoric "ping" sound when you hit the post but it's a more appropriate backyard addition to be able to practice effectively at home and get better at soccer!

So... What's Special About an Open Goaaal?

Open Goaaal is unique in that it combines 3 different pieces of soccer training equipment into 1:

1. Soccer Goal
2. Soccer Rebounder
3. Soccer Backstop

This is important because for a lot of players, the backyard isn't the "most ideal" place for playing soccer. What good is a fancy soccer goal if you can't keep the soccer ball in your own yard? Not to mention, if you have nearby neighbors, you don't want to deal with having to jump the fence or calling them to get the soccer balls back. On top of solving that issue, the backstop net is also a rebounder, which allows you to incorporate more advanced drills into your at-home practice. You can practice passing the ball off the rebounder to yourself to practice one-touches, as well as more advanced drills involving headers, bicycle kicks, etc.

In conclusion, Open Goaaal is just a really fun addition for your yard, we have multiple sizes for multiple ages, it's backed by our Open Goaaal Guarantee, and we are proud to be helping create the next generation of soccer superstars!