Improving Communities Through Soccer

Have you heard of a “mini-pitch?”  Essentially, it is a small, customized, hard court created for organized soccer programs and pick-up games. As reported by Lauren Green, LEGO and the U.S. Soccer Foundation have just created a new mini-pitch at the HB & Lucille Horn Family YMCA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This project is part of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s efforts to transform underutilized areas into state-of-the-art pitches and create safe soccer play spaces that all community residents can use. The Foundation has set an ambitious goal of installing 1,000 mini-pitches by 2026.

Each mini-pitch installation typically includes:

• A brightly colored court that transforms the look and feel of the location where it is built, whether it be a park or a school.
• Lighting which extends the number of hours kids and adults can play in a day.
• ADA-accessible gates and hard-court surface which allows for everyone to be able to play on the pitch.
• Lockable storage, benches, and other enhancements which provide convenience to players and spectators.

According to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, mini-pitches have positively impacted communities.  Surveys conducted after installation of mini-pitches indicate that:

• 98% say that people in the community are more active.
• 98% say that the community feels safer.
• 93% say that mini-pitches serve as community gathering places.

To find a mini-pitch near you, check out this locator tool.