Squamish will be the recipient of a new soccer mini-pitch courtesy of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer.
It is part of a program called the MLS 20 for 20 Mini-pitch Initiative. Every one of the 20 MLS franchises works with a community in its area to build a mini pitch, said Rob Weys, a director with Squamish Youth Soccer Association.
He made the announcement at the association鈥檚 beer and burger fundraiser event at Match Eatery and Public House on Thursday night.
鈥淭here are 20 communities in North America that get this,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for communities to grow the sport.鈥�
The mini pitch is a rubberized playing surface, roughly the size of a tennis court, with goals at the end. The facility can be used for soccer practice and other sports.聽
鈥淜ids can go down and play pick-up soccer. You can play ball hockey as well,鈥� Weys said.
The idea behind the mini-pitch is to provide a safe recreation spot, a practice space for soccer and a place to encourage unstructured play.聽
The 20 for 20 program is a partnership of professional soccer鈥檚 outreach initiative MLS WORKS, Adidas, Southern New Hampshire University and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, along with the 20 MLS clubs. The first mini-pitch was unveiled in conjunction with the 2015 MLS all-star Game in Denver.
Weys said the association has been talking with the Whitecaps for about eight months. The organization already has an agreement with the team to work with its academy, which is considered integral for the development of young players.
The facility is estimated to be worth US$50,000. A Whitecaps spokesperson said details are not yet finalized.聽
It will not be the only new playing surface for the soccer community. On Thursday, Squamish Youth Soccer Association president Tim Sjogren also updated members at the event about the new half to three-quarter pitch slated for south of the current turf field at Brennan Park. The association has been raising money and working with the District of Squamish to put in the new field, which is expected to cost approximately $150,000.
鈥淚t opens the door for us to really grow programs,鈥� Weys said.
The new field will be to provide more playing surface for young teams up to and including U12, which play on half of a full field. The extra playing space will allow the association to increase the opportunities for players to advance skills at a younger age.
鈥淲e鈥檙e expanding our development program to U8 next year,鈥� Sjogren said. 鈥淲e need lots of volunteers, though.鈥�
Thursday also marked the first time the association has held the fundraiser, although association vice-president Ray Christensen said the plan is to make it an annual event.
He said the dinner had its roots in the sportsmen鈥檚 dinners that used to be held in Squamish, and the hope is that the fundraiser will grow to include more sports organizations.
Christensen also outlined organized soccer鈥檚 long history in the Squamish community, dating back to 1961 when it was introduced through the schools, though an association was soon set up to run the program.
鈥淚n 1962 they took it out of the schools and into an association,鈥� he said.
