About Us
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, based in Washington D.C.
What we do
The Urban Soccer Initiative improves soccer pitch accessibility in cities by bringing high-traffic, smaller-sized pitches to urban neighborhoods where space for full-sized fields is limited or non-existent, and leading in the restoration of high-traffic urban soccer pitches that are in a state of disrepair.
How we do it
We build and rehabilitate urban soccer pitches through conducting targeted demographic analyses to identify neighborhoods, sites and prospective site owners/operators that would benefit from a new pitch or pitch restoration; acting as a bridge between financing and/or funding sources and site owners/operators, and; designing, delivering, and building/restoring each pitch.
Who we serve
Broadly, we serve a group of urban Americans that have been largely left behind by organized sports in the United States. These inner-city residents face barriers to participation in sports, due to a myriad of factors. The most palpable of these revolve around an inability to participate in sports due to of a lack of resources (money, accessible transportation, time, etc.). Within this population, we target those demographics most likely to benefit from the installation of a soccer pitch in their community. These groups reside in neighborhoods with spatial constraints that preclude the feasibility of a full-sized soccer field within their immediate community.
Why cities?
Soccer's lack of penetration among America’s poorest populations has prevented some of the country’s best athletes from playing soccer. This pool of athletic talent is a commodity that has been left largely untapped by developmental youth soccer programs in the United States. In recent years, efforts have been made by foundations and non-profits to effectively bring organized soccer to America’s low-income city-dwellers. Our pitch solutions bring a refined, touch-centric, pick-up game to these youth.
The benefits
A small soccer pitch used frequently by the same players serves as a pro-social environment for the community. Due to the nature of pick-up game play on the small-sided soccer pitch, one must work through issues with fellow players. Someone you are competing against one day may be on your team the next. If you “misbehave” (i.e. get in fights with opposing players, play “dirty,” etc.) you face the threat of being ostracized from the enclosure’s community. This in mind, players generally play a more respectful brand of soccer than one might witness in organized league play.
