Soccer is a popular sport for kids to participate in. The sport is a great way for children to learn about teamwork, stay healthy, and make friends. But if certain precautions are not taken, kids can sustain injuries that can affect them greatly. Soccer is only second to football for the amount of injuries that kids experience.
The most common injuries are cuts and bruises, dehydration, and head injuries. In particular, head injuries on goalposts are raising concerns that possible safety interventions and equipment changes might need to happen to protect a child’s well-being. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has noted that goalposts have caused youth fatalities because of the severe impacts soccer players experience when the moveable posts fall over.
Earlier this year, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn passed a law that bans the manufacture of movable soccer goals in the state that are not tip resistant. The Moveable Soccer Goal Safety Act, H.B. 1130, came about after a six year old was struck in the head by a 184-pound metal soccer goal that was not properly secured and fell on him. The child died later from the injuries. Also known as “Zach’s Law”, after the child, it makes groups that use moveable soccer goals follow federal safety guidelines and have soccer goal education and safety programs and guidelines.
“Improperly secured soccer goals present a serious threat to our athletes, especially children,” said Governor Quinn. “Illinois is leading the nation in recognizing and preventing these types of safety concerns.”
In Illinois, any group that has a moveable soccer goal with inside measurements of 6.5 to 8-feet high and 18 to 24-feet wide must meet tip-resistant standards according to the American Society for Testing and Materials guidelines. Illinois will ban the sale or manufacture of any goals that do not have these tip-resistant standards in their products beginning August 2, 2012.
Zach’s family has started the Zachary Tran Memorial Fund and an “Anchored for Safety” initiative so that other parents and groups can learn about how to properly anchor a movable soccer goal.
Individuals and their loved ones who are dealing with serious injuries or a wrongful death do have steps they can take to recover compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other costs. Guilty individuals, groups, and product manufacturers should be held accountable by a qualified attorney and law firm.
Paul Greenberg is a Chicago personal injury lawyer and Chicago personal injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
