If you are planning football practice sessions in the backyard, choosing the best backyard football goal is a must. The right goal will not only help the football players to focus and perform better, but you will also be doing a major favor to the neighbors.
To help you with the process of choosing, we have picked the best backyard football goals and listed down their best features and detriments. This article will help you to find the best choice that matches your needs and budget.
OpenGoaaal 3-in-1 Rebounder
Pros
- Premium grade quality
- 3–in-1 functionality
- Saves time and energy
- Affordable price tag
Cons
- Can take up a lot of space
Unlike most other products, the OpenGoaaal 3-in-1 football trainer comes with the combined functions of a goal, rebounder, and backstop. That means, the players need not waste time chasing down the ball in case of missed shots.
These goals come in various sizes. You can pick a size whether you want to practice in the backyard or on a football field. Some of the goals, like the 16x7 football goal, are also adjustable in terms of width.
Each product comes with a durable steel frame and UV-resistant PE net. That gives you a weatherproof set that will last for years. One of the highlights of this goal is excellent stability. The combined design of the net and the frame can also withstand the impact of full-power shots without the material failing.
Admittedly, they are not the best backyard football goals in terms of portability. They also take more time to set up than the competitors. But considering the 3-in-1 functionality, that is acceptable.
When you think about the convenience and features, the OpenGoaaal trainers offer excellent value. Moreover, each goal comes with a one-year warranty. If you are looking for a goal that helps the players to improve faster, the OpenGoaaal 3-in-1 rebounder is the top option.
Lifetime Football Goal
Pros
- Durable steel frame
- Collapsible design
- The size can be adjusted
- Affordable price tag
Cons
- Not a full-size football goal
- Does not come with a storage bag
This goal from Lifetime is a good choice as a portable football goal. Made from 18-gauge powder-coated steel and heavy-duty nylon, the goal provides enough durability to last for years.
Besides, Lifetime has incorporated some smart design features to enhance portability. For example, the goal has a telescopic design and fold-in-half poles. That makes the design simple enough to ensure an easy setup using the provided ground stakes.
Once set up, the goal feels stable and robust. However, the quality of the net is not the best in this category.
At 27 lbs., the goal is not exactly lightweight. That is the tradeoff for a heavy-duty steel frame. Once folded, it’s easy to store in the trunk of a car. But we wish it came with a carrying bag.
Coming to the size, the length of this goal can be adjusted from 3 feet to 5 feet, and the width from 4 feet to 7 feet. While that makes it a good choice for junior players, it’s not big enough for players above 10 years of age.
Overall, this is a high-quality football goal at an affordable price. But if you are looking for a larger regulation-size goal for training sessions of more advanced players, there are better options.
Franklin Football Goal
Pros
- Durable steel frame
- Great stability with zero wobbles
- All-weather design
- Affordable price tag
Cons
- A high weight
- Not a foldable design
Franklin Sports has been around for a long time and they have a wide range of goals of different sizes in their product range. This product is a heavy-duty goal with assembled dimensions of 12 feet width and 6 feet height.
Construction quality is great with powder-coated steel frames, galvanized ground pegs, and a durable net. The goal is weather resistant and the nylon net can easily withstand full-power shots. In terms of overall stability, it is good but not the best.
We noted that a few users mentioned a few durability issues with the velcro straps connecting the net with the frame. For additional safety, you can use zip ties.
Also, carrying loose items without a carrying case or bag is not easy. With a weight of 37 lbs., it’s also super heavy.
The goal is easy to put together with the precision fit locking pins, but it takes some time. The assembly can take anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes.
This is a sturdy goal that is good enough for beginners or advanced players. That said, with the limited portability, we would not mark it as one of the best portable football goals.
Bownet Football Goal
Pros
- Foldable BOW poles for better stability
- A quick set up time
- EAS technology for net
- Telescopic frames
Cons
- A high price tag
- Not a foldable design
This 4 feet x 6 feet football goal from Bownet is a good choice for players within the age group of 4 to 8. In fact, this is the official USSF regulation goal size for U6-U8 leagues.
Now, Bownet has a few tricks up its sleeve that make this goal a solid piece of training equipment. Firstly, it has an Energy Absorption System that diffuses the energy of the football over a wider area of the net. That reduces tension and allows the football goal net to last longer.
In addition, there are quick clips that make it easier to attach the nest to the steel football goal post. The setting time is marked as 80 seconds. With some practice, you can set it up in 2 to 3 minutes. It is one of the quickest frame-based outdoor football goals to set up.
The composite BOW poles ensure that the weight is distributed more at the bottom for better stability. Besides, the poles also flex to absorb the impact of powerful shots.
At 16 lbs. the size-to-weight ratio is acceptable. But it is not a lightweight option by any means. On the plus side, it comes with a carry bag that makes it easy to store and carry. In addition, the telescoping frames make it compact enough for storage.
While the goal has multiple features, it’s priced higher than the competitors. And since it is designed for younger players, including a football rebounder could have been a good idea.
Pugg Pop-Up Football Goals
Pros
- Pop-up design for easy use
- Lightweight and portable
- Can be used on grass or turf
- Offers excellent value
Cons
- Small size
- Limited durability
This product from Pugg has been a top choice as a portable football net over the years. The main reasons for this are the excellent ease of use and the pocket-friendly price.
The Pugg goal pops open on its own and needs no assembly. The net is made from a high-quality poly net with a hexagonal braid pattern.
Another plus is the great value that this product offers. You get two goal sets, anchoring pegs, and a carry bag with a shoulder strap.
Each goal weighs 4 lbs. Quite simply, those seeking a lightweight and portable option will find it one of the best football goals for the backyard.
Unlike the other options like the Golme pro-pop-up football goal, the frames of the Pugg goal are made from steel, and not fiberglass poles. While the stability of the goal is good, it is not designed for withstanding high-powered shots at close range.
The goal excels in terms of portability, but it is limited in terms of size. The 4 feet width and 2.5 feet height does not make it the best choice for more skilled players. At best, you can use it to improve the shooting accuracy of the players.
How to Choose the Best Football Net for Your Backyard
Before you pick a professional-grade football goal, check the specifications provided by FIFA. The size of the goal will depend on the age group of the players and the playing area. However, many buyers make the mistake of picking a 6x4 football goal and find it inadequate for the players. For picking the correct size check the age-based guidelines by FA.
Other than that, there are a few points that you should keep in mind as buying guides for the best football goals for the backyard.
- Basically, portable football goals are of two types- pop-up and frame-based. When it comes to portability and ease of use, pop-ups are the best option. But if you want a sturdy option for serious practice sessions, pick the frame-based goals.
- When it comes to picking frame materials, aluminum and steel are the best options. PVC frames are cheaper, but they are less durable. Fiberglass is another lightweight and durable option used in many pop-up goals.
- The net material should be durable enough to withstand the shots. The common net materials are nylon and polyethylene (PE). High Tenacity Polypropylene (HTPP) is the best choice for the best quality goals.
- Lastly, you need to balance the quality and the size of the product you need with your budget. Keep in mind the price will affect the quality of the football goal.
Features of the Best Football Goal
We think that the best football goals for the backyard need to have the following main features.
- Quality materials for excellent durability
- Solid stability to withstand power shots and wind pressure.
- Should be able to tackle the elements all year long
- Should offer the right combination of price and quality
If you love football, a backyard football goal is a great investment. For that reason, we suggest picking the right quality over cheap prices.
Final Thoughts
Time for a quick recap.
We have listed the best backyard football goals that offer the right combination of quality and long-term performance. Any of these goals are great options for backyard football games.
Still, when it comes to picking the best performer, we think the Open Goaaal 3-in-1 football rebounder is the best option for parents of young athletes. Quite simply, Open Goaaal offers the best combination of features at an unbeatable price that sets it apart from the competition.
