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Backyard Soccer Goal Guide: Sizes, Frames and Safety

How to choose a backyard soccer goal: regulation and youth goal sizes, pop-up vs steel frames, nets and rebounders, and how to anchor goals safely.

Quick answer

A full-size goal is 8 feet high and 24 feet wide (2.44 by 7.32 meters). Youth leagues use smaller goals set by age, and backyard goals range from pop-up nets to steel frames. Whatever you buy, anchor it: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that unanchored movable goals can tip over. Never let children climb or hang on a goal.

A goal makes backyard practice real. Pick a size for the space and anchor it.

Sizes

Goal Size
Regulation 8 x 24 ft (2.44 x 7.32 m)
Youth Smaller; set by league and age
Backyard From small pop-ups to youth sizes

Frame types

Type Pros Cons
Pop-up Light, packs flat Less durable
Plastic or PVC Affordable Can crack in cold
Steel or aluminum Durable Heavier, needs anchoring

Safety

Anchor every movable goal as the maker instructs, store it securely, and never allow climbing.

Related: shin guard sizing.

Common questions

What size is a regulation soccer goal?

8 feet high by 24 feet wide (2.44 m by 7.32 m), as set by the Laws of the Game.

How do I anchor a soccer goal?

Use the anchors the maker supplies, such as ground stakes, sandbags or weights, and check them before every use.

What size goal for a backyard?

Match the goal to the space and the player's age. Pop-up and small steel goals suit most yards.