We strongly recommend that if you are interested in applying for a Field Enhancement or Synthetic Field Building Grant, that you register for our Annual Grants Q&A calls. These calls give you the opportunity to ask questions you may not see below as well as receive more details about some the most relevant topics regarding the U.S. Soccer Foundation's grant program. Each call will feature a U.S. Soccer Foundation staff member as well as a representative from one of our Corporate Partners.

What are the requirements that organizations must meet in order to qualify for a Synthetic Field Building Grant grant?

• Apply on behalf of a program or project operating in the United States
• Be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, school, municipality, college or university, or sovereign tribal nation
• Apply as, or on behalf of a field building project
• Own, or have a minimum of a 10 year land lease/land use agreement on the land where the field building project will take place
• If applying for Sports Lighting, you must have written authorization from the community where the field building project is located, authorizing the addition of lights to the field(s)

Do proposed fields need to be regulation size?

No, fields do not need to be regulation size in order to be considered for a grant. It can be a smaller pitch - the size can range. We award grants for all size fields, but the grant awards will vary based on size and scope of the project.

Can you provide a rough estimate of the money, space, and resources required to install and maintain an artificial turf field?

In terms of cost there are quite a few variables. In terms of the actual turf - everything is based on square footage, which typically runs somewhere between $4.25 and $4.50 a square foot. A lot of variables include what types of lines are put into the field, if there are logos, etc., that will affect price. In terms of the base-work, it really depends on what you have for existing soils. Additionally, smaller fields tend to have a significantly higher cost per square foot.

What type of preparation is needed for the FieldTurf field in advance? Does the grant cover all the prep work for the field?

Synthetic Field Building Grants are awarded as credit with FieldTurf that is used towards the installation of the new field (or the upgrading of existing fields). Grantees are given vouchers. That voucher is then deducted off the final invoice from FieldTurf. The base typically costs just as much as the turf product in rough numbers. All the logistics and finances for the base-work and prep work is the responsibility of the grantee.

Does the projected area have to be situated in an area already established as a park?

No. The project can be anywhere, as long as your organization owns the land or has at least a 10 year lease on the land.

How far along in the process do you have to be to receive a Synthetic Field Building Grant? Can the site just be undeveloped?

There is no minimum progress that a project needs to have achieved. If your project is just a wooded lot, for example, it can still qualify for funding. Keep in mind, though, that there would be significant prep work (funded and carried out by your organization) to prepare the lot for the installation of a field building project.

Will the U.S. Soccer Foundation provide technical assistance in developing the Synthetic Field? How much time do you spend helping our facility? Will you help plan indoor facilities?

The Foundation is happy to put your organization in touch with our partners, like FieldTurf and CHA Sports, who are all experts in their field. We do this because each project is unique, and there is not a standard answer that will apply to everybody.

What drawings or plans do we have to submit with our grant application?

One of the documents you are required to submit with your application is a professional site plan. What the Grants Committee is looking for is evidence that the project is constructible, fundable, and thought out. The site plan should prove that the project being applied for, does in fact, accommodate the sport of soccer and is realistically accomplishable.

How long would it take to complete one full-size soccer field?

While this varies from project to project, according to our partners at FieldTurf, from start to finish the process usually takes about nine weeks. This includes about five weeks for the base-work and about four weeks to lay the turf. Weather can have a major impact on this timeline. It is important to note that when an organization receives this type of grant, they have 18 months to use it.

Once a grant is awarded, what is the waiting period for when grants or projects are distributed?

This year, grants will be announced in early February. Grantees will have one month to complete the grant agreement. Once the grant agreement is in place, the Foundation will connect grantees with the appropriate people at FieldTurf and grantees will then work directly with FieldTurf on a plan and timeline that works for both parties.

What are the expected maintenance expenses for a turf field?

FieldTurf fields need maintenance about every 6-8 weeks. There is a grooming machine that is recommended by the company. It's a pull-behind machine that you use with a Gator or golf cart. The machine itself costs around $5,000 but as part of their grant, grantees get it for free. The grooming machine serves three purposes: it loosens up the in-fill, levels the in-fill, and perks up the fibers. This maintenance is vital to the longevity of the fields; if properly maintained they should last 12 years (but FieldTurf has a number of fields that have lasted longer than that).

With FieldTurf, can the fields be pre-lined to a certain field size with permanent paint?

Yes, there are two options: you can either have permanent lines that are tufted in factory (about 90% of the fields are done with permanent line); or you can get an all green field where you apply paint (current options now include paint that lasts 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, etc.).

Can this type of grant go towards a field that will be used for other sports, in addition to soccer?

The Foundation prefers that soccer is the primary use for the field. However, we recognize that most fields are used for a lot of different activities. Our goal is to get kids outside - playing and running around - so a field can be used for multiple sports as long as soccer is the primary sport.

We are in need of additional parking. Does this match up with the available grants?

No.

Can a basketball court be transitioned into a Sport Court for soccer?

Yes, in fact it's one of the most cost-effective ways to accomplish that goal. Sport Court would use the existing flooring surface - whether that's a concrete or asphalt slab on a playground, or a flat floor in an indoor space - and overlay it with its modular sports surfacing products. The new surface can be striped to accommodate any number of sports and activities, and provides additional safety (cushioning falls), traction, and playability. If you have an existing basketball or tennis court that's not getting enough use, Sport Court products are a great way to revitalize that area and get kids back out and playing.