09/01/11
Movable Soccer Goal Safety Act

On August 2, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a new Act designed to improve safety on soccer fields. The Act requires park districts, school districts and other organizations that host youth soccer leagues to install soccer goals that won't tip over. The Illinois Movable Soccer Goal Safety Act [HB 1130 (Public Act 97-0234)], also known as Zach's Law, requires park districts and other agencies that own and control movable soccer goals to develop a soccer goal safety and education policy that states how their agency will address the safety issues associated with movable soccer goals.

To assist IPARKS Members, the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) joined efforts with IPARKS Loss Control Department to draft a model Movable Soccer Goal Safety and Education Policy, which may be obtained in the Online Resource Library.

The sample policy should be modified depending on the scope of an agency's soccer program, whether it owns movable soccer goals, and how goals are used on the agency's property.

Agencies are encouraged to work with IPARKS and their local legal counsel to implement their Movable Soccer Goal Safety and Education Policy in accordance with the Act.

If you have specific legislative questions, please contact the IAPD Offices at 1-217-523-4554.

If you have specific loss control questions, please contact Bill Bongartz, your IPARKS Loss Control Department Representative at 1-815-235-4585.