A Public Service Reminder: Care for All Equipment and Things!
Wilton youth and high school athletics rely upon a shared set of fields and equipment to run a wide variety of activities all year long.
The fields (grass and turf) are managed by the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The equipment on the fields such as soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and other goals or training equipment is maintained by and is the result of investments made by the our Wilton youth sports organizations on the community’s behalf.
The equipment is expensive, has long lead time to replace or fix, and requires care of all to be maintained through useful life.
A few specific reminders regarding all soccer equipment:
When moving or using soccer goals at all fields, please properly engage the wheels (flip all four wheels over so that the wheels are on ground and the goal frames are off the ground, and then roll goals into place). It is best if goals are moved by multiple people in cooperation so as to not compromise integrity of goal frame.
Once in place, flip the wheels so that goal frames rest on ground and wheels return to their original/up (non rolling position).
If moving soccer goals for individual or small group use, please ALWAYS return them to their proper places on or off the fields when you are done. Goals for game play belong either in the locations specified for game play, and mini goals belong off the fields to side in specified locations or storage. Goals are used by teams for practices and games almost every day of the week and moving them and not returning them makes work for the next group and uses precious time.
Please do not let your players or their siblings or friends hang on soccer goal crossbars or hang or climb on soccer nets - in addition to possibly damaging the equipment which causes need to replace parts or entire goals before this would otherwise be needed, this is a safety issue we must prevent,
Ensure the sandbags always move with the goals - sandbags are required for use in all cases as they protect children from possibility of goals tipping over during use or misuse. Referees will not start any games if sandbags are not properly placed on each goal.
A few more reminders with respect to NON-soccer equipment on shared fields:
DO NOT use non-soccer equipment such as lacrosse, field hockey or any other goals or equipment for any reason.
Lacrosse and field hockey goals are built specifically for those sports, not soccer
These lacrosse and field hockey goals, like soccer goals, are heavy and awkward to move - DO NOT move them and do not use them for soccer. We have requested lacrosse and field hockey groups move their equipment to safe or secure locations after use, but this is not always possible just as it isn’t always possible for our equipment either,
If you must move lacrosse or field hockey goals off the field because they are in the field of play, please do so with extreme care so as not to break, bend or damage them.
A similar note is going out to each respective group with an ask to care for each others’ equipment for the benefit of all.
This shared sense of commitment, responsibility and ownership will serve us all well as we seek to create the best opportunities for play in many sports and at all levels for our children.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation!
Soccer goal in need of repair - back wheel missing, front wheel loose/bent from improper rolling/torque due to not properly engaging the wheel, detached net due to broken and lost clips
Soccer wheel kit, engage it properly before moving goals.
Field hockey goal (not a soccer goal!)
(Damaged) lacrosse goal (also not a soccer goal!)