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July 29, 2022
Common Goal, the initiative created by streetfootballworld and professional footballer Juan Mata in 2017, will be rolling out its “Switch the Pitch” program across the United States this Fall (Sep – Dec) as part of its Anti-Racist Project (ARP). The program is described as a first-of-its-kind opportunity for coaches and young players to take action to make football more inclusive and equitable for all and comes one year after the ARP implemented an anti-racist executive-level training for professional US clubs.
Common Goal is “rooted in the belief that the world’s most popular sport is one of the few cultural forces strong enough to help shift society towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.” Through it, football players around the world contribute 1% of their salaries which are then donated to selected communited-based organizations. Common Goal launched the ARP, a collective effort uniting players, fans, clubs, grassroots organizations and brands to tackle racism across every level of the game, in the US last year.
The ARP is designed to tackle the “structural and systemic problems making football inaccessible and unwelcoming to marginalized communities that often lack the money to participate, have no access to facilities or supportive coaches trained to understand anti-racist approaches and techniques.” It consists of a series of activations, including an Executive Level Training Series for leaders of clubs and football NGOs, and a digital competition that trains and empowers football coaches to lead anti-racist programming in their communities.
“Switch the Pitch is an initiative that is sorely needed in soccer, and I know it’s going to help create more inclusive spaces for everyone,” said Donald Wine II, board member and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) chair of the American Outlaws, a non-profit that organizes support (30,000 members) for the men’s women’s and youth soccer teams. American Outlaws is a contributor to the ARP. “To create an anti-racist environment, you have to learn, re-learn, unlearn and take action. Switch the Pitch does all of that.”
The program uses an interactive and experiential anti-racist-based curriculum to enable coaches to foster safe and inclusive spaces and inspire young players to take action against racism. The pilot program will be launched this autumn, and organizations have until the end of August to register their interest to take part.
A virtual social impact league is also set to launch, enabling teams across all 50 states to earn points and prizes for completing team challenges and join a collective grassroots football movement driving change in the game.
Beyond Sport Global Award winners, Soccer Without Borders, Soccer in the Streets and America SCORES will be supporting Switch the Pitch along with the contributions from 50 experts in the field such as the American Outlaws, Chicago Fire, Angel City FC, San Diego Wave and Oakland Roots.
If you are a US-based coach, club or team that wishes to take part in the Switch the Pitch pilot program, register here.
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