GB2460439A

GB2460439A - A football goal

Info

Publication number: GB2460439A
Application number: GB0809789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Timothy Court; Paul Henry Borkowski; Stephen Lau
Original assignee: AMPHITRITE Ltd
Current assignee: AMPHITRITE Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-29
Filing date: 2008-05-29
Publication date: 2009-12-02
Also published as: GB0809789D0

Abstract

A football goal has an angled rear face 42 defined at least in part by a crossbar 26, diagonal struts 32 and a base 34,38. An elastic panel is provided at the rear face 68, and attaches to the goal along opposite sides. The first side of the panel is anchored to the goal and the second side comprises attachment means for attaching to retaining means provided on the goal, thereby allowing the elastic panel to be stretched and retained in place by the retaining means while still in a stretched state. Optionally the panel may be a net. Preferably the attachment and retaining means are provided by a tensioning bar and hooks.

Description

GOAL FOR FOOTBALL TRAINING KIT

The present invention relates to a goal for use in football training. The goal comprises a kit of parts that may be assembled and taken apart easily.

Football training involves varied exercises to develop core skills required for the game. For example, abilities in passing, shooting, control of the football (such as trapping the football and dribbling), tackling and goalkeeping are core skills that training aims to develop.

Training may take the form of a game of football, or it may involve exercises that look to develop specific skills.

These exercises may involve apparatus designed for that particular purpose. In addition to training, the exercises and the associated apparatus may be used in the assessment of footballers, both initially and as they develop through a training program.

It will be apparent that "football" refers to the game referred to in the UK as football, but that it is sometimes referred to as soccer. Although initially designed for football skills training, it is envisaged that in due course parts of the apparatus can be adapted for integration into aspects of skills training for sports other than football/soccer.

Although the present invention provides apparatus that may be used as a goal in a game of football, the present invention is directed more to providing different apparatus suited to different training exercises. In particular, the present invention seeks to provide a flexible kit of parts that may be assembled to form a goal that may be used in different ways to provide apparatus that differs according to the core skill being developed or assessed. Furthermore, the present invention seeks to provide a goal that may be used in a variety of locations (e.g. sports halls, fields, playgrounds, car parks, etc.) rather than being restricted to use only on any particular football pitch. As a result, the present invention seeks to provide a kit of parts that is readily portable, and both quick and easy to assemble.

Against this background, and from a first aspect, the present invention provides a football goal comprising: a io pair of uprights; a crossbar connecting upper portions of the upright; a base for supporting the goal on the ground, the base comprising a pair of base sides extending from respective lower portions of the uprights at one end and meeting a base back at their other ends, the base back extending from one base side to the other; and a pair of diagonal struts attached at one end to the base and at the other end to an upper part of the goal with one diagonal strut being disposed on each side of the goal. As such, the goal has a conventional configuration, typical of football goals that may be assembled and placed on a hard surface such as in an indoor sports hail.

The goal has an angled rear face defined at least in part by the crossbar, the diagonal struts and the base back.

The goal further comprises an elastic panel located at the rear face, the elastic panel attaching to the remainder of the goal along first and second opposed sides, the first side comprising first attachment means for anchoring the elastic panel to another part of the goal and the second side comprising second attachment means for attaching to retaining means provided on another part of the goal, thereby allowing the elastic panel to be stretched and retained in place by the retaining means still in a stretched state.

The football goal having the control panel is intended for use in exercises aimed at developing a player's ability to bring a football under control. A football may be thrown s or otherwise launched at the elastic panel. The elastic nature of the panel sees the football rebound back towards the player who must then bring the football under control using an appropriate part of the body. The elastic panel may be set at the same angle as the angled rear face of the goal, thereby imparting an upward trajectory to the rebounding football. Thus, the football may be made to travel a good distance without requiring excessive vigour when launching the football at the goal.

The distance the football is returned is also helped by is using the elastic panel that is retained in position in a stretched, tensioned state. However, attaching the stretched elastic panel to the goal can be problematic, particularly where the goal is assembled in situ from a kit of parts. This is particularly the case where the panel must be stretched while trying to assemble the goal, i.e. the panel may resist attempts to join other parts of the goal together. This difficulty is overcome by providing the goal with retaining means that cooperate with the second attachment means such that the elastic panel may be stretched and put into position once the remainder of the goal has been assembled. The present invention conveniently provides a first attachment means on one side of the goal that allows the elastic panel to be attached to a part of the goal and anchored to that part of the goal. Providing second fastening means on the opposite side to the first fastening means allows the elastic panel to be stretched from the second side thereby allowing the first attachment means to anchor the panel to the goal during this part of the assembly process. The elastic panel may then be fastened in place by coupling the second attachment means to the retaining means.

Preferably, stretching the elastic panel may be facilitated by providing the second attachment means with a bar that extends along the second side. The bar may be arranged such that once the first side is attached to the rest of the goal, the bar is used to stretch the elastic io panel and then is placed against the retaining means to hold the stretched panel in place. Different configurations for the bar are possible. For example, the shape of the bar may be varied, although regular-shaped cross-sectional profiles are preferred, with circular and elliptical profiles being particularly preferred. Also, while it is preferred to use a single bar that extends at least the full length of the second side, one or more shorter bars may be used instead.

For example, two bars may be provided that are preferably spaced apart a distance to allow them to be gripped comfortably with both hands.

The bar, or bars where more than one is present, must be attached to the elastic panel. While fasteners may be used, such as studs, ties or hook and loop fasteners, it is preferred that the second attachment means comprises a sleeve provided along at least a part of the second side.

The bar may then be received within the sleeve, and the sleeve will retain the bar securely when the panel is stretched using the bar. A single sleeve may be used, and the sleeve may extend along the full length of the second side. Alternatively, a number of smaller sleeves may be provide along the second slide, for example in a manner akin to tab-top curtains. Conveniently, the bar may be provided with enlarged ends. This will stop the bar from sliding free of the elastic panel. Preferably, the heads are provided on removable caps to allow ease of removal and replacement when the bar requires insertion into the sleeve or similar.

Optionally, the first attachment means comprises a sleeve provided along at least a part of the first side in which the crossbar, one of the diagonal struts or the base back is received. This allows the elastic panel to be placed over the appropriate part prior to assembly of the goal. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is provided on the top edge of the elastic panel such that the panel is hung from the crossbar. Then, the retaining means may be provided on lower portions of the diagonal struts. This is advantageous as it allows the panel to be stretched by pulling the panel downwards such that the goal is stably supported by the ground. Other configurations are possible, such as the reverse configuration of anchoring the panel to the base and providing the retaining means at or towards the top of the goal, or by attaching the elastic panel between the two diagonal struts. However, this would require stretching the elastic panel either upwards or sidewards, leading to a tendency for the goal to topple.

Other more general configurations are possible. For example, however the panel is attached, the retaining means may be provided on at least one of the diagonal struts.

Preferably, the retaining means is a clip such as a hook. More preferably, the retaining means comprises multiple hooks. For instance, a pair of hooks may be provided, optionally one on each diagonal strut. The hooks may cooperate with the bar described above, if present. The hooks may be curved to complement the shape of the bar.

Alternatively, the hook(s) may engage in hole(s) provided in the elastic panel, with the hole(s) corresponding to the second fastening means.

Optionally, opposed third and fourth sides of the s elastic panel are provided with third and fourth attachment means respectively. The third and fourth attachment means may correspond to straps that are optionally provided with hooks for attachment to other parts of the goal. In a preferred configuration, the first attachment means attach io to the crossbar, the second attachment means attach tO retaining means provided on lower portions of the diagonal struts, the third attachment means attach to one diagonal strut and the fourth attachment means attach to the other diagonal strut.

The elastic panel may take several forms. For example, the panel may comprise an elastic web of material.

Preferably, the panel comprises a net, optionally contained within a frame of material. The frame of material may be arranged to provide any of the sleeves described above. The net may be woven from elastic material. Additionally, or alternatively, the net may include elastic means such as elastic cord or elastic tapes. These may be arranged across the net, for example in orthogonal configurations such as a cross. In a preferred configuration, the net is divided into quadrants.

From a second aspect, the present invention resides in a method of assembling a football goal from a kit of parts comprising: assembling a basic frame of the goal to form a crossbar extending between a pair of uprights, and a base for supporting the goal on the ground; and positioning an elastic panel at the rear of the goal face by attaching a first side of the elastic panel to a part of the basic frame thereby anchoring the elastic panel to the goal, stretching the elastic panel and attaching a second side of the elastic panel opposite the first side to another part of the basic frame such that the elastic panel is held in place still in a stretched state.

Other optional features of the present invention are presented in the appended claims.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a goal from the rear; Figure 2 is a detail showing the control net before it is fastened in place; and is Figure 3 is a detail showing the control net after it is fastened in place.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a kit of parts is provided that may be assembled to form a -goal and in various other apparatus for use in football training exercises. The kit is designed to be portable and so may comprise one or more bags in which the other parts may be carried. The kit of parts may also comprise ancillary items such as footballs, coloured bibs for players to wear, flags, whistles, etc. Advantageously, the kit includes components that may be assembled in various combinations to provide differing apparatus for training and assessing different football core skills. The kit is particularly advantageous as several of the parts fulfil more than one function and are used differently in different apparatus. The kit includes parts that may be assembled to form a pair of goals; coverings of different forms that may attach to the goals in different locations for different -a-functions such as providing targets, obstacles or to cause the football to rebound from the goal; measuring tapes that may be used to indicate distances and dummy players that may be used as obstacles such as for dribbling practice.

s Further details of the kit of parts may be found in our patent application published as WO 2007/104963.

Figure 1 shows an assembled goal 20, of which the kit provides two. As will be evident from the Figure, each goal is made from a series of extruded pipes that are joined io together by connectors. The pipes and connectors may be made of any suitable material, although a durable but lightweight plastic is preferred. Each goal 20 comprises a goal face 22 defined at its sides by a pair of uprights 24, at its top by a crossbar 26 and at its base by the ground 28. The uprights 24 are connected to the crossbar 26 by connectors 29.

Stability of the goal 20 is provided by a support structure 30 at the rear of the goal 20. The support structure 30 comprises a base and diagonal struts 32. The base is in turn comprised of a pair of base sides 34 that are joined at one end to respective bases of the uprights 24 by connectors 29. The other end of the base sides 34 are connected by a base back 38 that mate together with connectors 29. The base sides 34 and base back 38 are all of the same extruded-pipe form as the uprights 24 and the crossbar 26. Although of the same general extruded form, the diagonal struts 32 are smaller in diameter than the base sides 34, base back 38, the uprights 24 and the crossbar 26.

Accordingly, the goal 20 is stable in that a football striking the uprights 24 or the crossbar 26 will not cause the goal 20 to topple. The crossbar 26, diagonal struts 32 and base back 38 together form a rear face 42 of the goal 20.

A single type of connector 29 is used. In one configuration, the connectors 29 serve as simple elbow connectors to connect the base of the uprights 24 to the base sides 34. In another configuration, the connectors 29 serve as three-way connectors to form the junctions between (a) the tops of the uprights 24, the ends of the crossbar 26 and the tops of the diagonal struts 32, and (b) the base sides 34, the ends of the base back 38 and the base of the diagonal struts 32. The connectors 29 comprise an elbow connector with a pair of apertures 92. The apertures 92 are located close to the corners of the connector 29 and are oriented and sized so as to receive an end of a diagonal strut 32. Providing two apertures 92 as shown allows a single connector 29 to be used for all junctions, thereby obviating the need to provide different types of connectors 29. Also, having two apertures 92 allows both left-hand and right-hand forms of the three-way connector 29 to be made.

When used to connect the base of the uprights 24 to the base sides 34, the apertures 92 that otherwise receive the diagonal strut 32 are not used.

Each connector 29 is provided with sockets at each of its ends that are sized to receive the ends of the various pipes as a snug f it such that assembling the goal 20 is a simple push-fit operation. Of course, other fittings may be used to fasten the parts together. An example would be bayonet type fittings or similar where the pipes and connectors are joined by a simple twist and lock movement.

The pipes may require twisting through a quarter-turn to lock into place. This is advantageous as the need for a twisting action for disassembly helps prevent accidental disassembly such as by the repetitive flexing of the pipes due to impact by footballs.

-10 -The pair of goals 20 may be used in a regular game of football, i.e. with each goal 20 placed at respective ends of a pitch to face each other. Alternatively, the goals 20 may be used with other parts to form apparatus for training s exercises directed to different core skills.

Figure 1 shows a goal 20 being used to form apparatus for control practice. In this exercise, players practise bringing a football under control. Goal 20 is turned around such that the back face 42 looks out to the playing area. A io control net 68 is attached to the back face 42. The control net 68 attaches to the base back 38, the diagonal struts 32 and the crossbar 26 such that it is secured to the goal 20 and will not come loose when footballs strike the control net 68.

The control net 68 is elastic so that a football striking the control net 68 rebounds back towards the player. To enhance the elastic nature of the control net 68, the net itself is elastic and it may be fastened to the goal 20 using elasticated fasteners.

The angle of the back face 42 is such that the football will be rebounded upwardly and so travel further towards the player. The player stands behind the line defined by a tape. The player, or someone else, either kicks the football against the control net 68 or throws the football against the control net 68. The player then attempts to bring the football under control as it bounces back towards him or her. The position of the tape may be moved such that the football bounces more or less (or not at all) before reaching the player. Where the football does not bounce, the height of the football when it reaches the player can be varied such that the player must use different parts of their body to bring the football under control.

-11 -The apparatus may comprise another goal. In such an arrangement, one of the goals is reversed and bears a control net 68, while the other is set in its normal configuration. Hence, footballs are bounced off the back s face 42 of the reversed goal 20 back to a player who should bring the football under control. The other goal 20 is used for shooting practice so that, once the player has brought the football under control, the player attempts to score in the other goal 20. The goals 20 may be separated or arranged side by side.

For the control net 68 to function well, it must be fastened to the goal 20 so as to be held taught. An arrangement of parts is used that allows the goal 20 to be assembled first, with the control net 68 put in place after, is yet adds little to the complexity of the goal 20 or to the number of parts.

The control net 68 comprises a rectangular panel defined by a peripheral frame 50 of elastic web surrounding a net 52. The net 52 is divided into quadrants by vertically and horizontally extending elastic tapes 54.

Each of the top and bottom sides of the frame 50 is formed by a loop of material that forms a sleeve 56, 58.

The top sleeve 56 is run over the crossbar 26 prior to the goal 20 being assembled. The goal 20 may then be assembled in conventional fashion. While the various parts of the goal 20 are fastened by the appropriate connectors 29, the control net 68 hangs freely from the crossbar 26. With the remainder of the goal 20 assembled, the control net 68 can be tensioned and secured in place. If the goal 20 is already in use, the control net 68 is simply put into place by detaching one end of the crossbar 26 from its connector 29, sliding the top sleeve 56 over the crossbar 26, and re- -12 -attaching the crossbar 26: the following steps are then the same.

To finish fitting the control net 68, a tensioning bar is pushed through the bottom sleeve 58. The tensioning bar 60 is longer than the control net 68 is wide so that the ends of the tensioning bar 60 protrude from the bottom sleeve 58. Each end of the tensioning bar 60 is provided with a cap 62 that is a simple push fit onto the tensioning bar 60. Each cap 62 has an enlarged head 64, sized to be bigger than the bottom sleeve 58. To allow the tensioning bar 60 to be pushed through the bottom sleeve 58, one cap 61 is first removed and then replaced once the tensioning bar is in position. The enlarged heads 64 ensure that the tensioning bar 60 cannot slide out of the bottom sleeve 58.

Figure 2 shows the control net 68 just prior to being secured in place. As can be seen, the tensioning bar 60 rests against the diagonal struts 32 a little way above a pair of hooks 66 against which it will be subsequently held.

The tensioning bar 60 may then be grasped and pulled, such that the control net 68 becomes stretched. The tensioning bar 60 is pulled in this way such that the tensioning bar 60 moves in front of and below the hooks 66 provided on bottom connectors 70 of the diagonal struts 32. The tensioning bar may then be moved under the hooks 66 and gently released such that the tension of the control net 68 pulls the tensioning bar 60 up and into the hooks 66. In fact, it is the round side walls of the caps 62 inboard of the enlarged heads 64 that mate up against the complementarily curved hooks 66, as can be seen in Figure 3 that shows the control net 68 in place. The curved shape of the hooks 66 ensures that the tensioning bar 60 of the control net 68 is not inadvertently released, even when the control net 68 is - -13 -struck repeatedly by a football.

With the tensioning bar 60 secured in place against the hooks 66, four straps 72 provided on either side of the control net 68 are extended and looped around the adjacent diagonal strut 32 and reattached to itself, e.g. using hook and loop fasteners. Alternatively the control net 68 may be secured to the diagonal struts 32 using a hook provided on the end of each strap 72.

Fully assembled in this way, the control net 68 is secured to the goal 20 along top and bottom edges via top and bottom sleeves 56, 58 respectively, and at four points on each side via the straps 72. The elastic nature of the control net 68 is provided by the elastic web of material forming the frame 54 and by the elastic tapes 54 running across the control net 68.

As will be appreciated, the above-described embodiment of the present invention shows how a flexible kit may be provided for use in football training. A basic set of parts allows goals to be assembled to form apparatus suited to different training and assessment exercises. The kit is intended to be portable. Of course, the kit may be taken to any suitable location in kit form, and then assembled and used as desired.

The kit may be used as part of a structured training and assessment program. For example, players may be enrolled on training courses where they are assessed and developed. An advantage of the portable nature of the apparatus is that it allows a standardised approach to training and assessment that can be used anywhere.

Accordingly, players may be assessed, scored and rated on an absolute scale no matter where they are. Put another way, the apparatus may be taken from venue to venue, and the -14 -players at each venue may be assessed and scored in exactly the same objective manner. Hence, players from different backgrounds and from all areas can be rated on the same scale and meaningful comparisons made therebetween. The s ratings and scoring may be derived from assessments based on the different training exercises described above.

A database may be compiled in respect of the players enrolled on training programs that relates to their skills and progression. For example, the database may record the players proficiency at each exercise and the configuration of the apparatus for that player, e.g. the target to be hit and distance from the goal a pass or shot should be taken.

As will be readily apparent to the person skilled in the art, variation can be made to the embodiment described is above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, details of how the various parts fix together may be varied, and may include any of the possibilities mentioned above as well as others not mentioned. Materials and sizes and shapes of the various parts may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the shape of the tensioning bar 60 is not critical, and bars 60 with square, rectangular, oval or other cross-sectional profiles may be used. While it is convenient to have a single bar 60 extending the full width of the control net 68, an alternative could be to divide the tensioning bar 60 into two, such that two short tensioning bars 60 extend in the same direction at either end of a side of the control net 68.

The top and bottom sleeves 56, 58 (or either one of them) need not extend the full width of the control net 60.

For example, a single loop of web may be used that is -15 -narrower than the full width of the control net 68.

Alternatively, a number of loops may be used to create a series of tabs to the top and/or bottom edge of control net 68. What is important is merely the requirement that the s crossbar 26 and the tensioning bar 60 be retained by the top and bottom edges of the control net 68. To this end, any attachment means may be used to this effect. For example, the tensioning bar 60 may clip into place or may be tied into place.

In fact, the tensioning bar 60 may be omitted altogether in favour of other attachment means. For instance, holes may be formed in the control net 68 such that the control net is retained in place by stretching the control net 68 and placing the control net 68 such that the is hooks 66 extend through the holes. Of course, the bottom sleeve 58 may be omitted in such an arrangement. Similarly, the top sleeve 56 may also be omitted if the control net 68 is attached to the cross bar 68 in some other way. For example, hooks may be provided along the cross bar 68 that are received in holes provided in the top of the control net 68.

The shape of the hooks 66 is not critical, provided they fulfil their function of retaining the tensioning bar in place. Although shown as part of the connector 70 provided on the end of the diagonal strut 32, they may be provided otherwise. For example, the hooks 66 may be integrally formed with the diagonal struts 32. Furthermore, the hooks 60 need not project from the diagonal struts 32.

For example, cut-outs may be provided in the diagonal struts 32 into which the tensioning bar 60 is pushed.

The hooks 66, in all the forms discussed above, need not be provided as part of the diagonal struts 32, but could -16 -be provided elsewhere. For example, the hooks 66 could be provided on the base back 38 (including the connectors 29).

Also, the control net 68 need not be anchored from the crossbar 26. Instead, the control net 68 could be anchored to the base back 38 with the tensioning bar 66 located in the top sleeve 56 and retained by hooks 66 provided on the crossbar 26 or at the tops of the diagonal struts 32. In another embodiment, the sleeves 56, 58 are provided on the sides of the control net 68 such that the control net 68 is io anchored to one diagonal strut 42 and retained by hooks 66 provided at the top and bottom of the other diagonal strut 32. Nonetheless, the arrangement illustrated in the Figures is preferred as anchoring the control net 68 to the crossbar 68 means that the control net 68 is tensioned by pulling downwards: this means working in the same direction as gravity and, more importantly, against the supporting force of the ground leading to a reduced tendency for the goal 20 to topple.

The straps 72 are strictly optional, both in their form, number and inclusion. For example, the straps 72 may be omitted altogether. Alternative arrangements for securing the straps to the remainder of the goal 20 are possible. Other arrangements include simple loops of material forming tabs, or ties. The straps 72, or their equivalent, may be elastic if desired.

Claims

-17 -CLAI MS1. A football goal comprising: a pair of uprights; a crossbar connecting upper portions of the upright; a base for supporting the goal on the ground, the base comprising a pair of base sides extending from respective lower portions of the uprights at one end and meeting a base back at their other ends, the base back extending from one base side to the other; and a pair of diagonal struts attached at one end to the base and at the other end to an upper part of the goal with one diagonal strut being disposed on each side of the goal; wherein the goal has an angled rear face defined at least in part by the crossbar, the diagonal struts and the base back; the goal further comprising an elastic panel located at the rear face, the elastic panel attaching to the remainder of the goal along first and second opposed sides, the first side comprising first attachment means for anchoring the elastic panel to another part of the goal and the second side comprising second attachment means for attaching to retaining means provided on another part of the goal, thereby allowing the elastic panel to be stretched and retained in place by the retaining means still in a stretched state.
2. The football goal of claim 1, wherein the second attachment means comprises a bar extending along the second side and arranged such that, once the first side is attached to the rest of the goal, the bar may be used to stretch the elastic panel and then placed against the retaining means to -18 -hold the stretched panel in place.
3. The football goal of claim 2, wherein the second attachment means comprises a sleeve provided along at least a part of the second side in which the bar is received.
4. The football goal of claim 3, wherein the bar is provided with enlarged ends such that the bar cannot slide from the sleeve provided along the second side of the elastic panel.
5. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein the first attachment means comprises a sleeve provided along at least a part of the first side in which the crossbar, one of the diagonal struts or the base back is received.
6. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means is provided on at least one of the diagonal struts.
7. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means is a hook.
8. The football goal of claim 7 when dependent upon claim 2, wherein the bar is cylindrical and the hooks have a curved retaining surface to complement the cylindrical bar.
9. The football goal of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein one end of the diagonal strut terminates in a connector piece, and wherein the hook is an integral part of the connector piece.

-19 -
10. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein the first attachment means comprises a sleeve provided along at least a part of the first side and within which the crossbar is received, and wherein the retaining means are a pair of hooks, one hook being provided on a lower portion of each of the diagonal struts.
11. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein opposed third and fourth sides of the elasti panel are provided with third and fourth attachment means respectively.
12. The football goal of claim 11, wherein the first attachment means attach to the crossbar, the second attachment means attach to retaining means provided on lower portions of the diagonal struts, the third attachment means attach to one diagonal strut and the fourth attachment means attach to the other diagonal strut.
13. The football goal of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the third and fourth attachment means comprise straps arranged to connect to the third and fourth sides to the remainder of the goal.
14. The football goal of claim 13, wherein the straps are provided with clips such that the straps may be pulled and the clips placed around the diagonal strut, the crossbar or the base back.
15. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein the elastic panel comprises a net.

-20 -
16. The football net of claim 15, wherein elastic tapes extend across the net.
17. The football goal of any preceding claim, wherein the uprights, the crossbar, or the base sides or the base back comprise a connector for connection to an adjacent part.
18. A method of assembling a football goal from a kit of parts comprising: assembling a basic frame of the goal to form a crossbar extending between a pair of uprights, and a base for supporting the goal on the ground; and positioning an elastic panel at the rear of the goal face by attaching a first side of the elastic panel to a part of the basic frame thereby anchoring the elastic panel to the goal, stretching the elastic panel and attaching a second side of the elastic panel opposite the first side to another part of the basic frame such that the elastic panel is held in place still in a stretched state.
19. The football goal of claim 18, wherein attaching a second side of the elastic panel to another part of the basic frame comprises placing fastening means provided on the elastic panel into engagement with retaining means provided on the another part of the basic frame.
20. The football goal of claim 19, wherein attaching a first side of the elastic panel to a part of the basic frame comprises attaching the first side to the crossbar and attaching a second side of the elastic panel to another part of the basic frame comprises pulling downwardly on the second side of the elastic panel and placing the second side -2]. -under the retaining means, and releasing the elastic panel so that it is pulled tight against the retaining means.
21. The football goal of claim 20, wherein the basic frame of the goal further comprises a pair of diagonal struts attached at one end to the base and at the other end to an upper part of the goal with one diagonal strut being disposed on each side of the goal; and wherein the retaining means are hooks provided on the diagonal struts.
22. The football goal of claim 21, wherein a bar is provided along the second side of the elastic panel, and pulling downwardly on the second side comprises pulling downwardly using the bar.