Detroit City FC launch Switch the Pitch initiative

USL club join Anti-Racist project

Common Goal, Detroit City (DCFC) and Soccer Without Borders (SWB) are proud to announce Detroit as the third host of the Switch the Pitch (StP) project.

The StP initiative is built with the purpose of strengthening community, building individual and collective empathy, examining and interrogating inequitable structures as well as applying a racial justice lens to the practice of coaching.

Common Goal, in partnership with expert facilitator Soccer Without Borders, developed this initiative to disrupt traditional coaching methodologies and build a community rooted in racial justice and inclusion in soccer.

Switch the Pitch creates an experiential and interactive participant experience that invites everyone at every stage of their learning journey to take action to advance racial justice. 

After participating in Common Goal's Play Proud project, Switch the Pitch reflected on DCFC's commitment to fostering a positive, supportive, truthful, and inclusive space.

"As an organization that values both the power of soccer and the importance of community, we are proud to partner with Soccer Without Borders and Common Goal to implement the Switch the Pitch training program," said Todd Kropp, Chief Operating Officer and one of the founders of Detroit City FC.  

"At DCFC and City Youth, we are dedicated to providing a safe, supportive space for young athletes to thrive. This collaboration underscores our mutual mission to ensure that all players, regardless of their background, can experience the joy of soccer without fear of discrimination.

"Together, we are committed to building a more inclusive and respectful soccer culture for the next generation."

Building off the success of Switch the Pitch cohorts with Oakland Roots Sports Club and Chicago Fire FC, this iteration in Detroit provided a fresh opportunity to expand our reach and tailor our programming to best serve such a dynamic club and city.  

In anticipation of this partnership, SWB Assist Director, Nora Dooley, stated "We are excited to bring StP to Detroit.

"We believe that inclusive coaching and racial justice work is successful when the community owns the process. SWB's job is to support the space DCFC has created by facilitating a fun and powerful training and club education experience.

"DCFC’s commitment shows us how much opportunity there is for StP to take new shape and so far, the input from Detroit City leaders - from players, coaches, parents, referees, managers and owners - shows us that they are ready to make StP their own." 

After a series of visioning sessions to listen to participants' insights on advancing racial justice in soccer collectively, Switch the Pitch kicks off for a series of training sessions on February 11th and 12th at the Detroit City Fieldhouse.  

“In its very DNA, soccer is about creating community. We are thrilled to work alongside Detroit City FC and Soccer Without Borders to strengthen community cohesion and inclusion across Detroit through Switch the Pitch,” said Mary Connor, Executive Director of Common Goal USA, “uniting soccer stakeholders - parents, coaches, players, and staff - around a common goal of ensuring racism has no place in soccer is a crucial step to building healthier communities on and off the pitch. We are honored to partner with Detroit City FC toward this shared vision.” 

A city synonymous with grit, pride in hard work, union labor, and the power of a comeback story, Detroit presents new challenges and dynamics to expand our commitment to racial justice through soccer.  

For all inquiries regarding Switch the Pitch, please contact Taylor Green, Common Goal USA'sRacial Justice Programme Manager (taylor@common-goal.org). 

Find more info on Switch the Pitch at https://www.common-goal.org/Project/Details/Switch-the-Pitch