At The Pitch, we use soccer as a cross-cultural tool to build relationships with kids and their families. Through our soccer program, we are able to aid our kids’ personal and spiritual development and serve the surrounding community.
We build relationships with kids and the community through soccer programs and training camps. Our soccer program provides a foundation to reach into our kids’ lives and community.
Soccer Program
Kids all over the world love soccer, and we love kids all over the world. So of course, we love soccer!
Our signature field is on the grounds of House of Hope Orphanage in Tabarre, Haiti. Surrounded by four mango trees, stands for fans, and lighting for night games, our 105’ x 65’ pitch is among the best soccer fields in the area.
The Pitch hosts weekly practice for our competition team, whom we sponsor in local soccer tournaments. We provide our team with everything they need to compete, including professional coaching, equipment, cleats, jerseys, and more. In addition to soccer drills, every weekly practice includes a devotional time coordinated by Paul Clark, our director in Haiti.
We also regularly open the field up to kids in the community for pick up games and other events. Our goal is to use the resources we’ve been given to impact as many kids in the community as possible, whether or not they are ready to play in tournaments.
Personal, Physical, and Spiritual Development
At The Pitch, our primary goal isn’t to promote soccer, it’s to love kids. Our soccer program gives us the opportunity to reach into kids’ lives and address areas of real need.
Soccer is a great framework to teach our kids the importance of team building, self-discipline, and hard work. Our goal is to teach lessons through practice and devotionals that will stick with our kids throughout their lives. We don’t just want to make them their potential as soccer players. We want our kids to reach their potential as people.
Soccer also presents ample opportunities to teach our kids about physical health and hygiene. Practices give us an opportunity to challenge the kids physically through drills and training exercises. More importantly, as kids visit our field, we can them basic hygiene principles and distribute basic goods like toothbrushes, soap, washcloths, deodorant, and more.
While developing kids personally and physically is important, we don’t just want them to be stronger, smarter soccer players. We want every kid who comes to our field to know the Gospel: that they are made in the image of a God who loves them so much he was willing to die for their sins. We encourage the kids in their spiritual walk through devotionals, Bible studies, and regular service projects.
Community Outreach
We want The Pitch to impact the entire community, especially the families and friends of our kids. We look for opportunities to give back to the community through service projects such as picking up trash in the neighborhood, upkeep of the field, and other events to teach the importance of serving the surrounding neighborhood.