By Cleonix Wagner

Soccer brings families together, ignites passion, and creates lifelong connections.

For many of us, soccer is more than just a sport, it is our lifestyle.

For young soccer players, it can be even more. The sport can become a central part of their identity growing up. Millions of young players are forever bonded together by their love of the beautiful game. Team practices lead to new friendships, community building and a sense of pride. Young players feel empowered when they reach new achievements alongside their teammates at matches and tournaments. Every chance they get to play the sport can make them feel alive.

But there’s a problem we’re not talking enough about. Too many youth soccer players, coaches and referees pollute the world with single-use plastic water bottles. 

Here’s what you might not know:

91 out of every 100 single-use plastic water bottles are not recycled.

It doesn’t matter if you put them into the black or blue bin. More than 90% of single-use plastic bottles will end up polluting our fields, damaging our communities and harming our planet Earth. 

Millions of young soccer players consuming single-use plastic water bottles add up to hundreds of millions of discarded bottles polluting our communities, harming our health and damaging the planet. We’ve all seen the mountains of bottles overflowing garbage cans and blowing across the field while the trophies are being handed out.

Now, imagine If every league, club and team took a stand against single-use plastic water bottles on the pitch. How much of a positive impact could it make on the world, and on the lives of young soccer players?

Here’s what we know:

Young people want to feel like they are making a difference in this world.

They want an ownership stake in their future and they want to feel as if they have an important role in creating that future. Within the soccer community, there are millions of passionate, young players who are truly excited to help create positive changes. They are bright, full of care for their communities, and ready to become the leaders of the future.

Since it can be hard for young people to know just exactly how to help, Refill90 is leading the way by creating a fun and rewarding plastic-free soccer experience for players, coaches and families. We work with soccer leagues and clubs to ‘Protect The Pitch’ from single-use plastic pollution, by making sure everyone on the field has a refillable bottle and water to keep them hydrated. At major tournaments, our ‘Free Water’ activations reward everyone that brings a refillable bottle with free ice and drinking water all tournament long. And, what’s a refillable bottle without awesome stickers to put on them? Our creative sticker campaigns actually get young people excited about being sustainable.

Above all, the most important role Refill90 plays in youth soccer is giving young people hope and providing happiness.

Here’s what we believe:

It’s time for youth soccer to set a new standard and our commitment is helping you do it.

Whether you are a league, club, or team official, player or family member, we’re here to work with you and make sure we all have fun along the way.

Let’s show the world the amount of love, respect, and care that flows through our soccer family. ‘Protect The Pitch’ for our planet and for each other!

Join The Refill90 Movement.