These procedures were co-developed by the equipment managers of the RSA and the Maroons Soccer Club (MSC) and approved by the RSA Board of Trustees during the August 2000 Board Meeting. With an emphasis on both safety and security, the following procedures must be followed when using small, mid, and large goals at all Ridgewood fields

A3.1 General Information

    Goals will be counterweighted and adequately secured during practices and games to prevent them from falling over and potentially causing injury to a RSA or MSC program participant.

    When not being used by the RSA or the MSC, goals will be positioned off of the fields and will be locked together, face-to-face along the vertical posts with a chain (or other similar device) and combination lock.  This procedure is intended to protect the general public from potential accidental injury. 

    The RSA and MSC equipment managers will obtain adequate materials to properly secure goals.  Included in the materials will be combination locks, preferably of the type that permits us to set the combination.  The equipment coordinators will make the combinations available to the Boards of both organizations.

A3.2  On-field storage of goals

Do not use children to help move the goals.  Recruit coaches instead.

Goals must be stored in the following locations and locked together, face-to-face along their vertical posts after the last game or practices of each day.  

• Veterans Field (2 sets medium and 1 set of large goals):  Store and lock all goals face-to-face in the area just north of the restrooms.

• Ben Franklin small field (2 sets of small goals):  Store and lock goals face-to-face under the trees near the parking lot.

• Ben Franklin main field (3 sets small and 2 sets large goals): Store 

• Maple Field (1 set large goals):  Store and lock face-to-face along the north side near trees.

• Citizens Field (1 set mid size goals):  Store and lock face-to-face on north side next to fence

• George Washington Field (1 set mid size goals):  Store and lock face-to-face next to fence

• Travell Field (1 set mid size goals):  Store and lock face-to-face between trees

• Brookside Field (1 set large goals):  Store and lock face-to-face on the west side near trees

• Somerville Field (2 or 3 sets of large goals):  Store and lock face-to-face on the south end outside of the track, against the fence near the hospital parking lot.

• Glen and Hawes Fields:  These goals are set into a sleeve in the ground. Storing and locking are not required.

A3.3  When using goals during practices and and games

Do not use children to help move the goals.  Recruit coaches instead.

When unlocking goals, leave the chains wrapped around one of the rear bars of the goals (so it isn't lost or misplaced) 

    Positioning:  When positioning goals for practice, do not place them in the lined goal areas. This will reduce wear and tear in front of the goal and will allow your players to have a better goal area for the games.

    Anchoring:   All goals must be anchored with tent pegs.  A minimum of four pegs on a large goal and three on smaller or mid-sized goals should be attached at the bottom of the net, at the back of the goal.  If you have a responsibility to move goals, make sure tent pegs and a hammer are carried in your coach's bag.  If you don't have pegs then use some weighted objects on the bottom of the back of the net to counterbalance the goals.