Transcend the Field is a free, friendly all-levels scrimmage (modeled after our Kickabout program) exclusively for gender non-conforming players that takes place during Friendly Tournament weekend. The match showcases the impact of removing gendered language from soccer and creating a safe space where gender diverse individuals in soccer can meet and play while fostering and building relationships across the globe.
Transcend the Field is meaningful in many ways, but likely the most impactful way is also the most grounding perspective: many gender non-conforming people across the US and across the globe, struggle to find inclusive places to play, even in queer-led communities. Transcend is one of only 5 programs like it IN THE WORLD. What a limiting space for marginalized people who live in every aspect of our society, culture, and neighborhoods. Often times our program finds attendees from all across the US and globe who travel just to be able to participate in inclusive-language soccer. It's what RCSC is known for.
RCSC wants to make sure we are putting best efforts forward to move the needle on gender diversity and inclusion in sports. That's the 10 second elevator pitch. But the reality is, it's deeper than that. As a club we have decided that community and inclusion is our purpose - there always have been marginalized people in the world - and we want to do our best to make sure that they don't feel alone and have a seat at the table. Our largest decision as a board has also been our most impactful one: forgoing extensive profit in pursuit of inclusion.
Advocacy should never be limited to one-off events, offering our events is a wonderful platform to showcase our mission; we believe that what we do in one aspect of the club, should be reflected in all areas. RCSC offers sliding scale assistance in our funding models for our larger scale programs so that people who are proportionally disadvantaged and face financial barriers to access can attend. Many of our programs like Skills Clinics (free skills-building workshops with donated gear), Spooktacular Halloween (an event focused on giving people hope, family, and inclusion around the holidays), and Transcend the Field are held for free because we know that need-to-exist far outweighs profitability. At RCSC we believe in fostering a loving, inclusive, nurturing environment where people can be themselves without fear of judgement. We know that representation matters, especially on sports pitches where adherence to antiquated gender rules create barriers of access to the wonderful environment that is community building in sports. Rain City Soccer Club is excited to see other sibling clubs join this movement in advocating for inclusion both on and off the field.
A huge component of RCSC's model: our programs are designed to create an inclusive space focused on highlighting marginalized communities in the world of soccer here in Seattle. Our Transcend the Field match is a staple free event during our Friendly Tournament weekend that showcases the impact of removing gendered rules from soccer and creating cost-free, no-barrier access to sports and creating a safe space where gender diverse individuals in soccer can meet and play with each other. Gear (shin guards, goalie gloves, KT tape, etc), is provided for any match attendee by the club free of charge. Each participant identifies as gender non-conforming, and the match is a friendly scrimmage of players (modeled after our Kickabout program) from all levels played without gendered language and focused on community building - we strongly encourage anyone interested to join. Each participants also receives a free jersey they get to keep to memorialize their time with us, their inclusion in the event, and their ability to proudly wear the shirt throughout the year.
Unfortunately transphobia and intolerance is on a rise here in the US (and globally) and often treated as a inflection point in the world of gendered spaces in sports. This program highlights the need for de-gendering sports spaces and creating inclusive pitches focused on the love of sports rather than gendered expectations. We know that players such as these are significantly more likely to face under/un-employment, housing instability, limited support and family access, proportionally disadvantaged access to medical care, and lack of community and inclusion. Members who encompass this identity as well as intersectionality from multiple marginalized communities are also disproportionately affected in a myriad of ways.
