Football Goalpost

A football goal post stays in the ground for years, so the decision rests on three things: the level you play at, how the post anchors, and whether soccer or other sports share the field. This collection covers backyard uprights through high school and college goalposts from First Team, Gill Athletics and Gared Sports, along with the ground sleeves and mounting plates that hold them in place.

How to choose a football goal post

Start with crossbar width. High school specs call for 23 feet 4 inches between the uprights and college specs call for 18 feet 6 inches. The Gared RedZone high school goalposts use the wider spacing on 20-foot uprights, and the RedZone college goalposts use the narrower one. Both sit on a 5-9/16-inch steel post with a 6-foot offset so other sports can share the field.

Then pick an installation method.

• Ground sleeve: The Gill FB36 steel goals install into a ground sleeve and meet high school specifications, with 20-foot uprights and an 8-foot gooseneck that leaves room for a soccer goal underneath.
• Plate mount: The Gill FB46 steel goals share that build but install on a mounting plate instead.
• Surface or sleeve mount: Gared sells the RedZone high school and college posts in surface-mount versions that skip the ground sleeve, and in permanent/sleeve-mount versions.
• Direct bury with an optional sleeve: The First Team All Star, All American and All Pro call for a 48-inch bury, and each lists a matching ground sleeve if you want the post removable.

Finally, size the post to the program. The First Team All Star pairs a 4-1/2-inch galvanized-undercoat steel post with aluminum uprights and an overhang that adjusts from 6 feet to 6 feet 6 inches. The All American steps up to a 5-9/16-inch post, and the All Pro uses a 6-5/8-inch post; both adjust overhang from 6 feet 9 inches to 8 feet 6 inches to clear portable soccer goals. For a yard, the First Team Gridiron backyard goalposts come as a pair with an aluminum crossbar, fold for storage and set up with one person.

Trainer's take: build the kicking area around progression

Kicking sessions stay productive when the target stays honest and the distance climbs in steps. Once the posts are level and padded, start each session with short, centered kicks to groove contact, then move back in five-yard steps and out toward the hash marks. Keep full-distance attempts for the end of a session when the kicker is warm but not worn out, and log makes and misses from each spot so you know which angle needs work. If the field doubles for soccer, choose the overhang at installation so the crossbar clears the soccer goal all season.

Football goal post FAQ

What color are football goal posts?

The First Team All Star, All American and All Pro come in a safety yellow powder coat. Gared offers its RedZone line in galvanized, yellow powder coat or white powder coat finishes.

How wide is a high school crossbar compared to college?

High school uprights sit 23 feet 4 inches apart and college uprights sit 18 feet 6 inches apart, as the RedZone and First Team product specs list.

How much does a football goal post cost?

Cost tracks post diameter, upright height, installation method and whether the listing is a single post or a pair. Several First Team models here are sold as singles, while the RedZone and Gridiron listings are pairs, so compare like for like on each product page.

Do goalposts need a ground sleeve?

It depends on the model. Gill offers sleeve and plate-mount versions, Gared offers the RedZone posts in sleeve-mount and surface-mount versions, and the First Team All Star, All American and All Pro bury 48 inches with an optional sleeve for removal.

Finish the field with more football equipment, add soccer goals for a shared surface, or browse the full Trigon Sports football lineup for sleds and training gear.