Trevista at Horace Mann Opens New Soccer Pitch

The new mini soccer facility provides students with a dedicated space for daily recreation and sportsmanship.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Soccer

Trevista at Horace Mann Opens New Soccer Pitch

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Trevista at Horace Mann opened a new mini soccer pitch at the start of the 2026 school year. The project, created in partnership with Vita Coco and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, allows students to engage in organized play during daily recess.

Why it matters

The new pitch increases access to organized sports for students who have not previously participated in such activities. It also serves as a tool for teaching essential life skills like sportsmanship and emotional support.

The pitch installation follows a four-year wait after physical education teacher Aric Pelafas first requested the facility. The design features walls that eliminate out-of-bounds play, mirroring the setup of the 2018 installation at Bryant Webster.

The players

Trevista at Horace Mann

This Denver school provides education to a diverse student body and now hosts a new mini soccer pitch on its campus.

U.S. Soccer Foundation

This national organization works to provide underserved communities with greater access to soccer through facility construction and programming.

Aric Pelafas

As a physical education teacher at Trevista at Horace Mann, he initiated the request for the new pitch four years ago.

Bryant Webster Dual Language School

This school serves students aged three to 14 and established a precedent for mini-pitch installations in the city in 2018.

The details

The facility features a specialized design with walled boundaries that keep the ball in play continuously. Students at the Denver school have been using the space since classes began in August 2026.

2018: Bryant Webster Dual Language School installed a mini-pitch.
2022: Physical education teacher Aric Pelafas first requested a pitch.
August 2026: The new school year began and the Trevista pitch opened.

Season Trajectory

This installation aligns with the broader growth of the U.S. Soccer Foundation's national mini-pitch initiative across urban school districts. It signals a shift toward utilizing school-based infrastructure to increase youth athletic participation in Denver.

Students now have access to a walled pitch that facilitates constant play during daily recess periods. This setup allows for organized soccer games that accommodate varying skill levels among the student population.

The takeaway

The addition of this facility provides a practical space for students to develop physical and social skills through sport. Families can encourage youth participation in similar programs to foster consistent habits of activity and teamwork.