Stamford School To Get 'Mini-Pitch' Thanks To U.S. Soccer Donation

STAMFORD, CT — World Cup fever is already catching on in Stamford.

The Board of Education Operations Committee this week voted to accept a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation for a "mini pitch," which will be permanently installed on the outdoor basketball court at Westover Magnet Elementary School. In soccer, a "pitch" is another term for the area where the sport is played.

Stamford/BOE Joint Facilities Officer Cindy Grafstein said she received an email in January from the U.S. Soccer Foundation offering up a mini pitch.

"They wanted it in a neighborhood to offer up the opportunity for youngsters to play more soccer," said Grafstein, who noted she was unfamiliar with the concept. "This is something the U.S. Soccer Foundation is promoting around the country, likely having to do with the World Cup evidently happening next year."

The FIFA World Cup is coming to North America in 2026 for the first time since 1994.

School officials conducted a site visit with a U.S. Soccer Foundation representative at Westover to assess possible locations for the mini pitch, which is valued at $100,000.

"It's specific how they can lay this pitch down and what kind of land they need," Grafstein said. "After quite a few visits and assessments, it was determined that they could install this mini pitch on the basketball courts at Westover."

According to the U.S. Soccer Foundation website, "mini pitches are customized, hard-court surfaces suited for soccer programs and pick-up games. Mini-pitches serve as community hubs, encourage physical activity, and provide more opportunities for play."

Mini pitches are smaller than regulation size, with surface dimensions of 45 feet by 80 feet or greater, according to BOE Operations Committee agenda materials.

Courts have lighting for extended play, are ADA accessible, and feature lockable storage areas, benches and other sideline enhancements.

There are 700-plus mini pitches installed nationwide as part of the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Safe Places To Play initiative, and the organization has a goal to create 1,000 locations across the country by 2026.

Grafstein said Stamford Public Schools will be responsible for resurfacing the outdoor court so the mini pitch hard surface can be installed properly.

"That will be paid for out of the school building use fund," Grafstein said, mentioning a price tag of about $25,000. "It is something we would have done anyway, and it is needed."

The fund pools money from school building rentals throughout the year.

"That's the purpose; to rent out our schools so that we can turn around and improve our facilities, and this was one example of that," Grafstein added.

Board member Becky Hamman asked about the impact of taking away an outdoor basketball court.

Westover Principal Lisa Saba Prize said students typically use the courts inside during recess and PE classes, and the neighborhood users usually walk to the nearby Boys & Girls Club to use their courts.

The school could add a basketball hoop or two to the blacktop in the parking lot for the neighborhood, but Saba Price said school officials didn't think it was necessary.

In between the play structures on the Westover playground, students also play a lot of soccer on the blacktop, Saba Price noted.

"We think they're going to get a lot of use out of the mini pitch," she said. "It really is exciting."

SPS Chief Staff and Family Resource Officer Michael Fernandes agreed.

"This is a tremendous opportunity, I'm so excited. The World Cup is coming, kids love soccer, they love cheering for their country, they're going to love having this at their school and they're going to definitely take advantage of it," he said.

The school district must submit impact reports on school-use once a year for the first five years. Also as part of the donation, the U.S. Soccer Foundation can come once a year and host an event to promote the sport.

Grafstein said the district wants to begin work on resurfacing the court in July so the mini pitch can be available for use in September.