There are several factors to consider when shopping for a soccer goal. The first that comes to mind is how big of a soccer goal do you need? Is the goal for your backyard or for a team? If the goal is for your backyard, the size is completely up to you. Although it would be awesome to put an 8x24 stadium grade goal in your backyard, a smaller goal would be more feasible. As for regulation sizes, the following sizes are recommended for the below age groups:
U6-U8 - 4'x6' Goal
U9-U10 - 6' 1/2x18' 1/2 Goal
U11-U12 - 7'x21' Goal
U13-Adult - 8'x24' Goal
Also consider the size of the goalposts. Posts usually come in 3-inch or 4-inch. Standard youth soccer goals usually come with 3-inch posts. An example of this would be our Pevo Park Series Soccer Goal. Full size soccer goals you would see in stadiums usually come with 4-inch posts. Examples of this would be our Stadium Series, Supreme Series, and Channel Series Soccer Goals.
The next consideration is what materials the goal is made out of. The most common material types are PVC, Fiberglass, Steel, and Aluminum. PVC goals will most likely be one of the cheaper options. Although the price point may be attractive, PVC goals are more prone to breaking, cracking, and warping. I personally have broken many PVC goals as a kid (along with my neighbor's vinyl fencing).
The next material commonly used is fiberglass. These goals are commonly associated with pop-up soccer goals. These goals are usually durable and have some flexibility to them. Fiberglass / pop-up goals are great for your backyard soccer games, small-sided soccer games, or even some youth soccer games. Fiberglass goals will not give you the experience of a metal soccer goal though, as there is nothing like smashing the ball in off of the goalpost!
Steel is a popular material for soccer goals. You can find steel goals in all shapes and sizes, but they have one big down fall. Over time, they are prone to rusting. To combat this, some manufacturers will use galvanized steel, but this is not a guarantee that it will not rust. When it comes to weight, steel goals will be the heaviest.
Aluminum soccer goals could be considered the best. Aluminum soccer goals can be found in all shapes and sizes and will not rust like steel will. Aluminum is also lighter than steel. The downfall? Aluminum goals will almost always be more expensive than steel goals.
Portability is not a problem for small pop-up or PVC goals, but what about moving a metal 8x24 full sized goal? Some 8x24 goals are 200 pounds! Although you could employ your players to move your goals around, you could also have wheels installed to making moving the goals easier.
And to our last point, how much do the goals cost? PVC and Fiberglass / pop-up soccer goals will usually be the cheaper bet. Goals made of metal will cost more. Aluminum will be the most expensive but will be the best quality goal that will most likely last the longest.
Looking for a goal for the backyard? We would recommend one of our Forza Flex Soccer Goals or a small Aluminum goal if it is in your budget. Looking for a soccer goal for a local club or youth soccer? We would recommend our Park Series Soccer Goal that is all Aluminum with 3-inch posts. Looking for a goal for competitive or professional matches? We would recommend our Pevo Stadium Series or Supreme Series Soccer goals that are all Aluminum and come with 4-inch posts. For more recommendations and a more in depth look into our products, please visit the recommendations page on our site.
Need more help or advice in picking a goal? Reach out to us at contact@premiersoccergoals.com or visit us here. We hope this helped!