Choate Rosemary Hall Becomes First US High School with a Hybrid Field

SIS Pitches has completed a landmark project at Choate Rosemary Hall, a leading boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut. The new SIS Grass Hybrid field makes Choate the first high school in the United States to install a stitched hybrid surface, which is a durable, reinforced natural grass field designed to meet the demands of both football and soccer.

This project not only solves long-standing field challenges at the school but also positions Choate at the forefront of high school athletics, with ambitions to host New England championships and major showcase events in the years ahead on this exact field.

Choate Rosemary Hall is one of the United States’ most prestigious prep schools, renowned for its academic excellence, historic campus, and impressive athletics facilities. Its alumni network famously includes John F. Kennedy, alongside many other leaders in politics, business, sports, and the arts – a reflection of the school’s influence on attracting top talent.

With a proud tradition of competitive sport, Choate continually invests in facilities that support both student-athletes and the wider school community. The decision to install hybrid grass showcases a commitment to providing students with a safe and durable playing surface that mirrors the standards of professional stadiums and training facilities worldwide.

Project Overview

The school’s original field had long struggled with sloping, poor drainage and no irrigation, resulting in surface deterioration and playability issues. With this field being in the middle of the campus, it was a shame for the field to not be upto a playable standard. To resolve this, Choate undertook a full reconstruction of the field profile, creating a new profile built ready for hybrid stitching at 7 inches (180mm).

The idea was first sparked when Head of School Dr. Alex Curtis visited Leeds United FC in the UK and saw first-hand the benefits of a stitched hybrid surface. Impressed by the benefits, long-term durability and performance, he was inspired to bring the same hybrid grass technology to Choate, ensuring the newly constructed field was built to the highest standards.

Installation was carried out over the summer break while students were off campus, ensuring the project was delivered efficiently and without disruption to the school’s schedule.
Installation was carried out over the summer break while students were off campus, ensuring the project was delivered efficiently and without disruption to the school’s schedule.

The new field was stitched using the SIS Grass Hybrid system at 2×2 cm spacing to a depth of 7 inches (180 mm), the same specification trusted by Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field.

Key benefits of SIS Grass Hybrid for Choate Rosemary Hall include:

• Durability: Handles intensive training and game play, with reduced significant wear
• Playability: Offers natural grass playing characteristics and excellent footing under various weather conditions
• Longevity: Maintains performance longer than natural surfaces with reduced repair needs

As mentioned, the field is located at the heart of campus, meaning the hybrid field will serve as a central venue for both practice and competitive fixtures. With ambitions to host New England regional championships and showcase matches, the field is set to become an important asset for the school’s athletics program as well as a landmark for high school sports in the United States.

This milestone project further strengthens SIS Pitches’ growing presence in the North American market. With hybrid installations already completed this year in Orlando, Toronto, Charlotte, Miami and California, and now Connecticut, SIS Pitches continues to deliver the same world-class hybrid technology to high schools, colleges and professional leagues.