Fields--both insufficient quantity and quality--have long topped club members’ list of concerns.

The lack of sufficient play space meant having to cap the number of U5 teams for the first time in 2009. Record rains this fall cancelled games and nearly cut the travel season short, just as division standings (and thus a team’s shot at moving up) hinged on the outcome of final games. Meanwhile, our high school rec teams struggled to find space while beautiful, taxpayer-funded turf fields sat idle behind D.C. public high schools.

DC Stoddert Soccer heard you... and has worked hard to improve access to more, and better, fields.

High school teams vying at Roosevelt High School (above) last spring.

Two years ago, our young players had zero artificial turf fields on which to practice or compete. Today, turf accounts for a growing percentage of pitches. Of 21 rec fields that hosted practices an games this past fall, seven--or one third--were artificial turf We continue to look for other turf pitches to add to the current mix. 

Our U10 teams kicked off the at the new turf field behind Tubman Elementary School in Columbia Heights and at Horace Mann Elementary. The U11s competed on turf pitches at Palisades park, Murch Elementary and Georgetown Day School. Meanwhile, the U12s to U14s have battled on Roosevelt High School’s splendid artificial pitch in spring and at the French International School, while high school rec teams competed on artificial pitches at the Maret School. Gallaudet rescued the high school rec and U16 travel season by opening its turf field--with lights!--and permitting our boys’ teams to play several finals and one semifinal game when rain drenched their originally scheduled venues.

 Photo: U9s got game at Tubman Elementary’s new turf field in October

In addition, Stoddert Soccer has partnered with the District’s Department of Parks and Recreation to renovate and maintain fields in return for first dibs on permits to practice and play.

The first fruits of that collaboration can be seen at Ft. Reno (DPR photo of 2008 groundbreaking, left) where the Bermuda grass laid down last year has held up well, though like any grass surface, rain cancellations remain an issue. 

The club continues to explore ways to expand access to high-quality fields for our players, and we’re hoping to find more fresh fields for our players in 2010. 

Stoddert Soccer fields hand Charlie Myers joins Mayor Adrian Fenty (rt.) and Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh at Ft. Reno groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 18, 2008.                                                                                                      

posted by MCL 12/09/09 updated 12/15/09.   Roosevelt and Tubman photos by MCL for DC Stoddert Soccer.