Prospect Park Soccer (Mixed-Level)

BEFORE YOU JOIN US, please read below for our member requirements and how to rsvp (click “read more”). If you’re looking for a typical competitive soccer game, this group is probably not for you. We meet in or near Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and play games all year round for players of all skill levels and genders. Our mission is simple: have fun, welcome everyone regardless of soccer background, and keep the game friendly, inclusive, and low-contact.
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How to join - important! Please read!
Read about us carefully to make sure this is the group for you. Check out prospectparksoccer.com to learn more.

Click “join us” and fill out the profile questions.

• Use a close up, recognizable photo of your face, no one else in it
• Introduce yourself with real facts about you, not just “hi”
• Use your real first name, like John, John S, or John Smith. No usernames/nicknames (like jsmith123 or js2434 or jo.sm) or initials
• Must be 18 or older
  If you don’t meet these requirements, your application will be denied. If you later update your profile to remove them, you’ll lose eligibility to play.

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Our players are mostly…

• People learning to play, including complete beginners
• People who’ve played before but want to avoid injury and aggressive players
• People who haven’t always felt comfortable in mainstream sports, including women, non-binary, and trans players
  Advanced players of all genders are welcome too, if you’re looking for a mellow game and can adjust how you normally play. We love advanced players who come to mentor the beginners in our group!

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How to RSVP & play with us

• RSVP is required to play, you can’t just show up. It closes 2 hours before the game, no walk-ons after.
• Mixed gender games have two invites, one for men and one for women/trans/nonbinary. RSVP to the one that fits you best.
• Three hard rules to keep in mind when playing with us:
  • No cleats ever (turf shoes or sneakers only).
  • Latecomers can’t join, players must be on time.
  • Stay for the full 2 hours.
• When you arrive to the game, introduce yourself to a PPS volunteer and sign in right away so you’re not marked a no-show. Three no-shows means you’re out for the season.

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About the games

• Open to all genders and skill levels, ages 18 to 70+, unless a game is limited to a sub-group or have a level requirement. No need to commit weekly, there’s always new people.
• Pickup games are outdoors: no set teams, no tryouts, no goalies, positions rotate. We usually play three 7v7 games on a quarter sized field, with two short breaks.
• We do throw-ins and corner kicks, no offsides or penalty kicks. We don’t keep score, and shuffle players if teams get uneven.
• League games have set teams and standard rules, usually on a weeknight. To play in league games, the expectation is that you have at least 3-months soccer experience. Registration opens about two weeks before each season.

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How We Play - Our Guidelines (read closely)
Read our full Community Guidelines →

• Our goal here is to have fun and enjoy the game, not competition. Everyone’s welcome, all ages, races, genders, orientations, body sizes, abilities, and religions. Zero tolerance for racism, homophobia, transphobia, or anything like it. Please respect people’s pronouns.
• Pass often. Don’t carry the ball more than a few steps, no showboating or solo runs.
• Avoid contact. Stay spread out, no tackles, give space on defense.
• Keep shots low and easy on goal. No goalies or hands, max 2 players per team in the goal zone.
• Play your position. Don’t cover for a teammate in a different position, even if they’re at a different skill level.
• Give beginners room. Encourage them to try new positions. They raise a hand at the start, keep passing to them, let them try things.
• If someone goes down, stop play immediately, no questions asked. Call fouls honestly, don’t debate. Reset and play on.
• Keep the energy mellow, even against equally skilled players. No screaming or swearing, bring issues to a field captain instead. Three talks about aggression, discrimination, or how you play gets you pulled from that game, with a possible season-long ban.

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What to wear

• Turf shoes or sneakers, no cleats allowed.
• No watches, big jewelry or anything that can injure another player
• Shin guards recommended, but not required.
• We have pinnies, no need to bring light/dark shirts.

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What to bring

• Just a water bottle. Bring your own ball if you have one, we have a pump.

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Levels

1. Haven’t played much or at all
2. Played before, still learning, or find it hard to run a full game
3. Basics down, playing regularly for 3+ years, can run fast a full game
4. Solid skills, 10+ years playing or played growing up
5. Advanced, played high level school or league soccer

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Waiver
By participating in or RSVPing to PPS activities, you accept the risks of injury, illness, or property loss, and release PPS, its organizers, and volunteers from claims arising from that participation.

See you out there!