Kmart Soccer Goals: Are They Worth It? (Coach’s Honest Review)
Budget-Friendly but Built for Casual Use Only
By JC | Coach & Founder | Elite Champions Coaching
After 30 years coaching youth soccer across Australia, I’ve tested countless goals with families on a tight budget. Kmart’s soccer goals are honest performers in the backyard arena. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
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Elite Champions Coaching earns a small commission when you purchase. This doesn’t affect your price and helps us create better coaching content for Australian families. We only recommend products I’ve tested and believe in. Affiliate Disclosure
Key Takeaways
- Price point: Kmart goals range from around 15 AUD to 40 AUD, making them the most accessible entry point for casual backyard soccer.
- Best for: Families testing whether their young child (U6–U10) enjoys soccer before investing in quality equipment.
- Durability reality: Expect one season of regular use or two seasons of casual weekend play before netting degrades or frames become unreliable.
- Verdict: Recommended for casual use only. Great starter kit; upgrade when commitment increases.
Who Is This Review For?
This honest assessment is written for parents of young players (U6–U10) who want to set up backyard practice without spending a fortune. If you’re exploring whether your child likes soccer, or you’re kitting out a casual family setup, Kmart goals offer a logical starting point. If your player is committed to regular training or competitive soccer, this review will help you understand why upgrading sooner makes financial sense.
Quick verdict: Recommended for testing interest and casual backyard play. Not suitable for serious training or multi-season durability.
Kmart Soccer Goals, Quick Overview
Kmart’s soccer goal range spans three main product types, all aimed at families prioritising affordability over performance:
- Pop-up goals (around 15–20 AUD): Compact, ultra-lightweight nylon frames with thin netting. Perfect for travel or occasional backyard use.
- PVC frame goals (around 25–35 AUD): More stable plastic piping structure with wider net opening. Better for regular weekend play.
- Starter kits (around 30–40 AUD): Goal plus ball bundle. Convenient if you’re setting up from scratch.
The honest takeaway: They do the job for which they’re designed, casual backyard soccer. Frame weight is minimal, netting is thin, and assembly requires no tools. For the price, they deliver exactly what families expect.
Who Are Kmart Soccer Goals For?
I recommend Kmart goals to specific family profiles:
- First-time soccer parents: You want to test whether your child is genuinely interested before committing to better gear.
- Casual backyard families: Weekend kick-around, MiniRoos age group, no formal training schedule.
- Multi-child households: Setting up multiple goals for backyard play without blowing the budget.
- Temporary setups: You need a goal for a school carnival, holiday, or short-term project.
- Budget-first mindset: Every dollar counts and durability is secondary to access.
If your child is training two or more times per week with a club or coach, or you’re a serious backyard enthusiast, skip this section and head to our guide on coach-grade soccer goal alternatives.
Kmart Soccer Goals, In Depth
Build Quality
Kmart goals prioritise lightweight construction and tool-free assembly. The frames are injection-moulded plastic or PVC piping, durable enough for backyard play but not designed for the impact stress of repeated professional training. Netting is thin polyester, adequate for casual use but prone to snag or wear if the goal is left out in harsh weather or regularly kicked hard.
I’ve set up dozens of Kmart pop-up goals for family events. Assembly takes around five minutes. The joints are firm, corners stay square, and the overall structure feels stable during casual shooting. No complaints on day one or week one. The problem emerges over time: thin netting catches on rough play edges, plastic joints weaken in direct sun, and lightweight piping flexes under consistent pressure.
Honest assessment: Build quality matches the price point. You’re not getting coach-grade materials, but you are getting a functional, straightforward goal that performs its job in the backyard.
Durability
After 30 years coaching, durability is where budget goals reveal their limits. Kmart goals are realistic for one season of regular use (two to three times per week) or two seasons of casual weekend-only play. After that, netting begins to fray, frame joints loosen, and plastic becomes brittle in Australian UV.
I tested a Kmart PVC-frame goal in my backyard for six months of weekly use. By month five, the netting on the bottom edge was separating. The plastic frame joints remained solid, but sun exposure had dulled the colour and made the material slightly less flexible. After a season, repair costs (new netting, re-gluing joints) often exceed the cost of buying a new goal, making replacement more economical than repair.
Reality check: If you leave the goal set up permanently (no cover), expect one season. If you store it after each session and use it casually, two seasons is achievable. This doesn’t make Kmart goals bad, it makes them honest entry points.
Value for Money
This is where Kmart shines. Around $20–40 AUD is an unbeatable entry price. For a family testing whether soccer sticks, this cost is negligible compared to club fees or private coaching.
However, cost-per-use reveals a more complex picture. If you use a Kmart goal for four months before it degrades, the true cost is high per session. If you invest $50 AUD in a mid-range goal and use it for two years, the cost-per-use is lower, even accounting for eventual replacement. The financial calculus depends entirely on your child’s commitment level and how often you’ll use the equipment.
My recommendation: If you’re genuinely unsure whether your child will stick with soccer, Kmart is the right financial choice. If you have a committed young player, spending $50–70 AUD upfront on a better goal saves money and frustration in the long run.
Setup and Portability
Kmart’s lightweight design is a genuine strength here. Pop-up goals take two minutes to deploy. PVC-frame models need five minutes and no tools. Both fold down for storage in a cupboard or garage.
If you’re moving between locations, storing equipment seasonally, or setting up temporary play areas, Kmart goals are excellently convenient. The trade-off is that lightweight = less stable, but for backyard play, portability wins.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unbeatable price: $15–40 AUD puts soccer within reach for any family.
- Tool-free assembly: No technical skills or equipment needed. Pop-up versions deploy in seconds.
- Lightweight and portable: Easy to move, store, or take to different locations.
- Good for testing interest: Low financial risk if your child decides soccer isn’t their sport.
- Adequate for casual play: Frame is stable enough for weekend backyard kick-around.
- Available immediately: Kmart stock is usually reliable for these budget items.
Cons
- Short durability window: One season of regular use before visible wear emerges.
- Thin netting: Snags easily on rough play or repeated hard kicks; fraying is inevitable.
- Plastic materials: UV-sensitive; leaves in direct sun year-round will degrade faster.
- Not suitable for training: Lightweight frame flexes under serious shooting practice; not ideal for developing technique.
- Limited repair options: Replacement often cheaper than fixing broken parts.
- Less stable than mid-range alternatives: Not ideal for windy locations or aggressive play.
How Kmart Goals Compare
Let’s see how Kmart stacks up against mid-range alternatives popular in Australia:
| Feature | Kmart Goals (20–40 AUD) | Dimples Excel Pop-Up (~35 AUD) | VAVOSPORT (~50 AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 2–5 min | 2–3 min | 10 min (frame assembly) |
| Frame material | Plastic / PVC | Fibreglass | Steel + plastic joints |
| Netting quality | Thin polyester | Standard polyester | Reinforced mesh |
| Expected lifespan | 1 season (regular) / 2 (casual) | 1–2 seasons | 2–3 seasons |
| Portability | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Stability | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Best for | Entry level, testing interest | Casual family play | Regular training, committed players |
The takeaway: Kmart is the cheapest option but with the shortest lifespan. VAVOSPORT costs more but lasts longer and performs better under regular training. For the middle ground, Dimples Excel offers slightly better durability for roughly the same price.
Want to explore more advanced options? Check our full guide on coach-grade soccer goals in Australia for alternatives suited to committed young players.
When to Upgrade
Your Kmart goal has served its purpose when you notice these signs:
- Your child is training with a club: They’re committed enough to deserve equipment that matches their dedication.
- Netting is visibly fraying or separating: Repairs cost almost as much as a new goal.
- Frame joints are loosening or creaking: Stability is compromised; a sturdier goal improves training quality.
- You’re replacing the goal after one season: Total cost analysis suggests investing in a better option initially.
- Your player is moving to U12 or above: Serious soccer training demands a goal that withstands consistent, hard shooting.
When upgrade time arrives, explore our complete soccer goals and nets page for options across all price points and performance levels.
Final Verdict
Recommended for casual use. Best entry point for testing soccer interest.
After 30 years coaching and testing countless backyard setups, I recommend Kmart soccer goals without hesitation, for the right family at the right moment.
They’re the honest choice: no marketing hype, straightforward design, unbeatable price. Your child will score goals, practice footwork, and have fun. The goal will stay square and stable. The netting will catch the ball.
What won’t happen is a multi-year investment. This is a one-season or two-season tool for families testing the soccer waters. That’s not a weakness, it’s exactly what the price promises.
Buy a Kmart goal if: Your child is U6–U10, you’re exploring whether they enjoy soccer, you want to set up casual backyard play, or you’re on a tight budget and durability is a secondary concern.
Skip Kmart and upgrade if: Your child is training with a club, you need a goal to last multiple seasons, or you prioritise stability and build quality over price.
For the price, Kmart goals do the job. That’s good coaching-honest enough for me.
FAQ About Kmart Soccer Goals
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kmart Soccer goals suitable for training?
Kmart goals are designed for casual backyard play, not serious training. The lightweight plastic frame flexes under repeated hard shooting, and thin netting is not ideal for developing technique. If your child is training with a club or you are planning regular practice sessions, invest in a mid-range alternative with better stability and durability.
How long will a Kmart soccer goal last?
Expect one season of regular use (twice weekly or more) before visible wear emerges. Two seasons of casual weekend-only play is achievable if the goal is stored indoors between sessions. Permanent outdoor setup in Australian sun will accelerate UV degradation. If your kids are anything like my sons, you may need to look at more heavy duty versions here, as my kids have smashed these pipes quick reguarly.
Can I repair a Kmart soccer goal?
Basic repairs like re-gluing loose joints are possible, but netting replacement and frame repairs often cost as much as buying a new Kmart goal. For more durable products like VAVOSPORT or Dimples Excel, repair is more worthwhile. For Kmart budget range, replacement is the practical approach.
What age group are Kmart soccer goals best for?
Kmart goals work well for children aged U6 to U10 engaged in casual backyard play. Pop-up versions are portable for younger players while PVC-frame models suit kids with more strength. Once a player joins a club or begins structured training, upgrade to a goal designed for more intensive use.
Is there a Kmart soccer goal that lasts longer?
Kmart PVC-frame goals (around 25 to 35 AUD) are more durable than pop-up versions, but neither matches mid-range brands like VAVOSPORT (around 50 AUD) in longevity. If durability is a priority, spend an extra $10 to $15 AUD for a product with reinforced netting and stronger frame materials.
