Gerardo Flores, director of coaching for Gulf Coast Rangers Football Club, in Daphne, painted more than 25 mini soccer fields on local lawns last month. The first field was painted for his daughters in his own backyard. “Ella wanted to go play soccer with her friends, but obviously that’s not an option at the moment. So, as I completed the mini field I started to think how many kids in the soccer community would probably love to be able to play in their yard with a painted field,” Flores says.

He posted the idea on Facebook and word spread from there. Other local coaches plus friends in Ohio and Mississippi are replicating the idea in their communities as well. The mini fields are intended for 1v1 or 2v2 matches among siblings and family members to adhere to social distancing requirements. 

There was no cost for the service but Flores encouraged generous recipients to give back by buying a Village Park T-shirt, which funds the development of Village Park—a space that’s meant to strengthen the soccer community—while raising awareness for this up-and-coming park.

For more information about Village Park, visit VillageParkSoccer.com.