The goal posts used in football have evolved significantly over the years. It’s not only the design that has changed either, as the position on the field has changed on multiple occasions. Below we’ll run through the history and transformation of field goal posts.
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The sport of American football originated from rugby and soccer and the first goal posts used in the late s were inspired by those sports. It was during the s that both soccer goals and rugby goal posts were first used in accordance to the unifed Cambridge rules. The two vertical posts and horizontal crossbar were positioned on the goal line which created some safety issues, and at that point field goals were worth more points than touchdowns
The NFL was founded in and from then until the goal shape and position remained unchanged. In , the goal posts were moved back 10 yards to ensure NFL rules were consistent with NCAA rules, but that change saw fewer field goals and more tied games.
In the NFL created its own rulebook and opted to move the goal posts back to the goal line. That change meant that for the next few decades quarterbacks had to avoid the posts with any attempted passes (passes that hit the posts were ruled incomplete), whilst punters also had to avoid the posts when kicking from their own end zone.
After that date there were minimal changes to goals, but that all changed in when Joel Rottman’s "slingshot" or "gooseneck" goal design was introduced. Retired newspaper distributor Rottman came up with the idea whilst out dining with Montreal Alouettes coach Jim Trimble in a Montreal hotel. Inspired by the shape of a fork, Rottman proposed a new Y-shaped design that he believed was more aesthetically pleasing and safer than the traditional H-shaped posts. This innovative concept was showcased at the World's Fair in Montreal, and the one post goal design quickly increased player safety which meant it was adopted by the NFL.
Whilst the look of the posts now resembled the field goal posts we know today, their position on the field remained on the goal line until when the NFL made the landmark decision to move the goal posts to the back of the end zone. The main reason why football goals were moved backwards is because it improved player safety, but the move also helped encourage offenses to score touchdowns rather than field goals. Kicking a field goal was now more difficult with the goals moved further back, whilst quarterbacks now had an unobstructed end zone to throw into. During the same year, the standard height of the uprights above the crossbar was increased to 30ft (9.14m), which followed an increase 8 years earlier in which saw them increase from 10ft (3.05m) to 20ft (6.10m).
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Since the changes to field goal posts have been minimal. Yellow paint is now typically used to enhance visibility for players, referees and spectators, and in the uprights above the crossbar increased in height again to 35ft (10.67m) following a proposal by then New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. This increase in height was to help referees judge whether field goal kicks were successful or not. More padding is now used around goal post bases to increase player safety, and some technology has been introduced in more recent times but for the most part field goal posts haven’t changed that significantly since .
The color of football goal posts depends on the level of play. In the NFL, field goal posts must be sulfur yellow so all 32 teams in the league use yellow goal posts. At college and high school level the rules aren’t as strict. Typically, football goals used in college and high school football are either white or yellow. This is due to contrast and visibility, as football players, referees and spectators need to be able to see the goal clearly.
Football goal posts are normally made from a combination of materials. The uprights and crossbar are often constructed from either steel or aluminum as both provide strength and durability. Most NFL and College Football field goal posts are made from aluminum as they are lighter in weight, which means they can be taken down with greater ease when not in use.
To ensure stability, the posts are usually anchored to the ground using concrete or a heavy metal base. The netting used behind the goal posts is typically made from nylon and polyester, which is strong and resistant to tearing.
Football posts differ significantly in their design and function. Rugby posts have a classic H-shaped, while football posts are a Y-shape. Rugby posts are typically lower and have a wider crossbar, while football posts are taller and have a narrower crossbar.
Professional (NFL) Football Field Goal Posts have a top of crossbar height of 10’ (3.05 m) and inside width of 18’6" (5.64 m). The uprights extend 35’ (10.67 m) from the top of the crossbar, resulting in an overall height 45’ (13.72 m). The diameter of the posts is between 3”-4” (7.6-10.2 cm) with a goal post depth of 6’6" (1.98 m). The lower post is protected by 6’ (1.83 m) of high impact padding.
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