DIY Network

Building a Soccer Field Michael Strahan builds a backyard soccer goal and some unique practice hazards that are sure to improve soccer skills. From "Backyard Stadiums" episode DBYS-104

(Continued from page 2)

Building Barn-Door Shooting Targets

Practice can be boring when there is no one around to join in. Michael Strahan and Amy Wynn Pastor designed a hinged obstacle that attaches to the frame of the goal with cutouts that allow the Goldberg children to practice shooting at the corners of the goal. The doors easily swing open and close like a barn door allowing the family member to play with a wide open goal or with the targets in place.

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Host Michael Strahan gets busy building the barn-door shooting targets.

Materials:

2 sheets of 3/4" pressure-treated plywood
two 12' pressure-treated 2x4s for the frame
4 strap hinges
2 bolt locks for door tops
one 6' pressure-treated 2x4 for bottom brace
2 small hooks
2 small chains for sides
angle brackets

Tools:

chop saw
jigsaw
circular saw
drill and drill bits
screws

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Cut two 4'x6' pieces of ¾"inch plywood. Place the good side face down on your work surface.

2. Place the board the long way and cut out the left hand corners on one board and the right hand corners from the other board. The holes can be any size you like as long as they are big enough for a soccer ball to go through. We made our holes 24". Tie a string around a pencil, measure out 24" and swing an arch from a point 5-1/2" from the top and sides of the four corners of the boards. Cut out the arcs with a jig saw.

3. Now you have to make a frame for the target, but you want it to fit snuggly around the front of the goal, which means the frame has to be adjusted accordingly. Measure 4" in from the sides of the targets that have the holes and 4" down from the top.

4. Attach the 2" side of the 2x 4s to make up the frame.

   Note: The frame will measure 65"x 41"and attach flush to the edge of the target doors opposite the holes.

5. Attach strap hinges to each top and bottom of the frame (figure A. Add a corner bracket to the bottom of the frame opposite the target holes, and let it extend 1-3/4" beyond the rear of the frame (figure B). This will serve as the hook that will hold an extra 2x4 to ensure the doors will stay in place when struck by errant soccer balls. Add a screw eye that will be used to secure your doors when they are open.

6. Attach the targets to the frame of the goal. Close the doors over the goal, and attach a sliding bolt latch to the top of your "door" to hold them in place when they are closed (figure C).

7. Cut a 4' 2x4 and place it in the angle brackets at the base of the target doors. Note the point where they touch the angle brackets and cut two notches at those points. This will secure the both the board and the bottom of the doors when they are closed (figure D).

8. Open the doors and attach a chain with an S-hook to the screw eye on the door. Run the chain back to the base and add another screw eye and S-hook to secure the doors in the open position when you want the entire front of the goal exposed.

	Figure E
	Figure F

Building Dribbling Archways

The Backyard Stadiums crew has added fun stuff for the Goldberg family to practice shooting, but dribbling and ball handling are an important part of soccer. Host Michael Strahan and carpenter Amy Wynn Pastor have a simple, yet effective, way to build something to help the Goldberg kids practice their dribbling.

Materials:

six 4', 1" metal rods
six 4' pipe insulation
5-gal. bucket to bend around

1. Take the 4' pipe insulation and slip it over the 4' rods.

2. Once they are covered, simply take a five-gallon bucket and bend the rods around it (figure E).

3. Then stick them in the ground in any pattern you like that will help you practice your dribbling (figure F).

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