Beckham & Zidane Kickoff the Footprint Fields Community Program

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adidas, MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, and FieldTurf were joined by international soccer stars David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane to announce the “Footprint Fields” donation program, which will help develop new FieldTurf soccer fields in urban locations and communities in need across the country.

“The ‘Footprint Fields’ program is designed to encourage soccer players of all levels and backgrounds to pick up a ball and join 10 friends on the field to play the beautiful game of soccer,” said Patrik Nilsson, adidas America President. “From cleats and balls to uniforms and fields, providing the right equipment and infrastructure is an important way we can inspire and enable an American soccer nation.”

The partnership between adidas, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and FieldTurf supports the continued growth of soccer in the U.S. by providing grants to organizations to build synthetic fields. Five grants were awarded in 2009 to support new fields in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Milwaukee and Vancouver, Wash.

“MLS W.O.R.K.S. is proud to partner with adidas and FieldTurf to provide soccer players throughout the country with world-class soccer fields to call their own,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, “The ‘Footprint Fields’ program provides young players the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game. A few could rise up to the professional ranks like the Galaxy’s Tristan Bowen and Chivas USA’s Jorge Flores have done in the last two years, but all will benefit from these new fields.”

Soccer stars David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane were on hand to support the ‘Footprint Fields’ program and share their soccer skills with kids who will benefit from these types of fields.

“I’m excited to be supporting the growth of soccer at all levels,” said Beckham in his first appearance since returning to the U.S. to play for his team, the LA Galaxy. “Programs like the ‘Footprint Fields,’ as provided by adidas, MLS W.O.R.K.S and FieldTurf, is exactly what we need to give kids more places to play soccer.”

Zidane made a surprise visit to some of America’s top young soccer players earlier this year at the adidas Elite Soccer Program in Denver. At the launch of the 'Footprint Fields' program, Zidane celebrated the need to make the sport accessible to all kids who want to play.

“The importance of supporting youth soccer and growing the sport is my passion now that I’m retired from the professional level,” said Zidane.

Designed to replicate individual blades of natural grass and soil, FieldTurf is an engineered layered system of sand and rubber that provides the optimum level of energy restitution, which is important for soccer where midfielders run approximately seven miles during a game.

"It is no secret that our great game is in dire need of playing fields," said Jim Froslid, director of soccer development for FieldTurf. "We all have a tremendous responsibility to grow the great sport of soccer in the U.S., while doing all we can to ensure that kids in economically challenged areas have access to quality fields."

“Footprint Fields” will create top quality, sustainable fields for kids to play year-round with less wear and tear and lower maintenance than grass. FieldTurf continues to become more popular at the professional level with four MLS teams playing their home matches on FieldTurf.

“Footprint Field” grant applications for 2010 will be made available October 1, 2009 and managed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org/grants for more information.