Choosing football goal posts for an athletic facility involves more than picking a style or finish. The right system must match the level of competition, meet the required dimensions, and work with the design of the field.
A high school football field has different goal post requirements than a college or professional stadium. Upright height, crossbar width, gooseneck offset, and mounting style all play a role in selecting the right equipment.
Sportsfield Specialties offers AdjustRight® Football Goal Posts for high school, college, and professional facilities. The product line includes standard, adjustable, rotating, and hinged systems, with several mounting and configuration options. With several configurations available, athletic directors, facility managers, and sports construction professionals can find a system that fits their field and program.
If you’re planning a new football field or replacing older goal posts, here’s what to look at before making your decision.
1. Start with the Level of Competition
The level of competition is one of the first things to consider when choosing football goal posts. High school, college, and professional programs have different equipment needs, including differences in crossbar width and upright height.
Sportsfield offers AdjustRight® models for:
| Specification | High School | College | Professional |
| Standard crossbar width | 23′ 4″ | 18′ 6″ | 18′ 6″ |
| Common upright options | 20′ and 30′ | 20′ and 30′ | 35′ |
| Gooseneck offset options | 6′ and 8′ | 6′ and 8′ | 6′ |
Sportsfield also offers select 35-foot upright configurations for high school and college applications, as well as adjustable models that can accommodate high school and college crossbar widths.
These options make it important to look at the actual model specifications instead of choosing based on the level-of-play label alone.
Always check the rules for your governing association, league, and level of play before requesting a quote.
2. Understand Upright Height
The uprights are the two vertical sections that extend above the crossbar. Their height is an important part of the goal post specification.
Sportsfield offers AdjustRight® models with 20-foot, 30-foot, and 35-foot uprights.
Here’s how to think about the available options:
- 20-foot uprights: Offered in select high school and college configurations.
- 30-foot uprights: Offered in select high school and college configurations.
- 35-foot uprights: Used for professional-level configurations and available in select high school and college models.
The 35-foot upright is the professional NFL configuration. It is also available in select Sportsfield models for other levels of play.
The key is to match the upright height to the requirements of the competition and the specific goal post model. If your facility hosts more than one level of play, ask about adjustable options that may support different configurations.
3. Compare Crossbar Widths
Crossbar width is another major difference between football goal post models.
Sportsfield offers two main crossbar widths:
- 23 feet, 4 inches: High school configuration.
- 18 feet, 6 inches: College and professional configuration.
The crossbar connects the two uprights and determines the width between them.
Sportsfield also offers adjustable football goal posts with an expandable crossbar. These models can accommodate both the 23-foot, 4-inch high school width and the 18-foot, 6-inch college width.
This can be a useful option for facilities that need flexibility between levels of competition.
Before choosing a model, consider which teams will use the field and whether the goal posts need to support more than one configuration.
4. Choose the Right Gooseneck Offset
The gooseneck is the curved support that connects the goal post uprights to the mounting point behind the end zone.
The offset describes the distance from the mounting point to the goal post’s vertical support structure. It affects how the goal post sits in relation to the end line and the field.
Sportsfield offers several offset options:
- 6-foot offset: Available on high school, college, adjustable, and professional models.
- 8-foot offset: Available on select high school, college, and adjustable models.
Why does this matter?
The offset needs to work with the field layout, end zone dimensions, foundation location, and surrounding construction. Choosing the wrong configuration can create problems during installation or affect the final position of the goal posts.
Review the product drawings and foundation requirements with your architect, engineer, or sports construction contractor before selecting an offset.
5. Decide Between Ground Sleeve and Plate Mount
After choosing the goal post dimensions, consider how the system will attach to the foundation.
Sportsfield offers two main mounting options.
Ground sleeve mounting
A ground sleeve football goal post is installed in a concrete foundation. The goal post fits into the sleeve, creating a mounting system that can allow the goal post to be removed when needed.
Ground sleeve mounting is worth considering for new field construction and facilities that want the option to remove their goal posts.
Plate mount
A plate mount football goal post attaches the goal post to a mounting plate at the foundation.
This option may be a good fit for projects where a plate-mounted system works better with the facility’s design.
Both options require proper foundation planning. The mounting method should be selected before construction begins so the foundation can be designed around the goal post system.
6. Consider Rotating and Hinged Goal Posts
Some facilities need more than a traditional fixed goal post.
Schools, colleges, and multi-sport stadiums may use the same field for football, soccer, lacrosse, and other activities. In these cases, a rotating or hinged goal post system may offer more flexibility.
Sportsfield offers several AdjustRight® configurations:
Standard football goal posts
A traditional option for facilities that do not need to move or lower their goal posts.
Rotating football goal posts
Sportsfield’s patented 360-degree rotating football goal post design allows one person to rotate the goal post away from the field when football is not being played. This can help facilities make better use of shared field space.
Rotating gooseneck hinged football goal posts
The rotating gooseneck hinged football goal post combines the rotating design with a hinged feature that allows the goal post to be lowered. This gives facility staff another option when working around the field or performing certain maintenance tasks.
Gooseneck hinged football goal posts
These models provide a hinged design for facilities that need the ability to lower their goal posts.
Think about how often your field changes from one use to another. If your facility hosts several sports or events, a rotating or hinged system may be worth considering during the planning process.
7. Look at Construction, Alignment, and Finish
The dimensions are important, but they aren’t the only things to consider.
Sportsfield’s AdjustRight® Football Goal Posts include several product features:
- Heavy-duty aluminum construction.
- Patented AdjustRight® upright alignment technology.
- Yellow or white powder-coated finishes.
- Ground sleeve and plate mount options.
- Standard, rotating, and hinged configurations.
Proper upright alignment is important for the appearance and performance of a football goal post. Sportsfield’s patented AdjustRight® technology is designed to help maintain upright alignment.
You should also consider the finish and overall appearance of the goal posts when planning a new stadium or upgrading an existing field.
8. Don’t Forget Goal Post Accessories
The goal posts are only one part of a complete football field setup.
Sportsfield offers several accessories that can be included in the project:
- Access frame kits: Designed for use with compatible goal post mounting systems.
- Football goal post pads: Help protect players from contact with the goal post structure.
Consider these products early in the planning process. Coordinating the goal posts and accessories can help create a more complete and consistent field setup.
9. Use Product Drawings and Specifications Before Ordering
Once you have a better idea of the goal post configuration you need, review the product specifications.
Sportsfield provides product documentation for its AdjustRight® Football Goal Posts, including specification sheets, installation instructions, cut sheets, and CAD drawings for available models.
These documents can help your project team confirm:
- Overall goal post dimensions.
- Upright height and crossbar width.
- Gooseneck offset.
- Mounting requirements.
- Foundation details.
- Available accessories.
Getting these details right before construction begins can help avoid changes later in the project.
If you’re not sure which model fits your facility, contact Sportsfield Specialties for help reviewing the available options.
Find the Right Football Goal Posts for Your Facility
Choosing football goal posts starts with understanding how your facility will use them. Upright height, crossbar width, gooseneck offset, and mounting style all affect which system is right for your project.
Sportsfield Specialties offers a wide range of AdjustRight® Football Goal Posts for high school, college, and professional facilities. From standard ground sleeve and plate mount systems to rotating and hinged models, there are several configurations to consider.
Whether you’re planning a new stadium, upgrading an existing field, or building a multi-sport facility, Sportsfield can help you find the right goal post system.
Explore the AdjustRight® Football Goal Posts from Sportsfield Specialties or contact our team to discuss your project.
