Portland Soccer Club Organizes Teams by Skill, Not Gender
A Portland youth soccer club is organizing teams by ability instead of gender, creating a space where all kids can play together. The approach is helping young players let go of outdated ideas about who belongs on the field.
One father watched his trans daughter squeal with joy as she ran down the soccer field during her first game, finally able to play on a team that welcomed her without question.
Portland Community Football Club (PCFC) has found a simple solution to making youth sports more inclusive. Instead of dividing teams by gender, founder Kaig Lightner organizes players by skill level.
The results go beyond just inclusion. Boys who once believed girls couldn't play soccer are learning otherwise by competing alongside talented female teammates. Young players are discovering that skill matters more than gender when it comes to the game.
For some families, PCFC has been life-changing. One trans girl was told she'd have to join a boys' league if she wanted to play soccer. PCFC offered her a spot on a team matched to her ability and handed her a jersey with a Pride flag on it.
The club welcomes players ages six to 18. The only requirement is that they accept their teammates.
The Ripple Effect
PCFC is tackling another barrier to youth sports: cost. The club is moving away from expensive pay-to-play models that force many families to quit organized sports. Instead, they secure funding from local and national partner organizations.
The club also provides food pantry access, language translation services, and rides to practice. These wraparound services ensure that financial challenges don't keep kids off the field.
Experts say this approach creates genuine public health benefits. Megan Bartlett, founder of the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, explains that positive sports experiences help children build biological resilience by teaching them to manage stress in safe environments.
The young players themselves aren't thinking about policy or public health. They're just happy to have a place where they can be themselves, trust their bodies, and play the game they love.
One parent summed it up perfectly: "On the field, she's just a kid who gets to be on a soccer team, who gets to play soccer with other kids."
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Based on reporting by Good Good Good
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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