About the SF Spikes -- Answers to Common Questions
What is the SF Spikes all about?
The San Francisco Spikes Soccer Club is one of the oldest gay soccer teams in the country. As one of the five teams that competed in the first Gay Games in San Francisco in 1984, the SF Spikes remains to this day a non-profit organization comprised of mostly gay male players who love to play soccer and socialize in a friendly, supportive environment.
How skilled / competitive is the team?
Our membership has players of all skill levels—from beginners who join us to learn how to play to advanced players who have played most of their life. The SF Spikes also has 2 teams that compete in local adult men’s soccer leagues:
The “Marin Team” is a competitive team of more experienced players that has successfully competed in the B-Division of the Marin Soccer League for almost a decade. Committed to competition, high skill level and winning games, this team actively uses players and subs to give the team its best chance to win each game, based on the coach’s perspective and best judgment. Other teams in the Marin League have a similar skill level. For this reason the Marin Team's membership is by invitation only. Games are typically on Saturdays.
The “San Francisco Team” is a more recreational team beginning its third year competing in the San Francisco Soccer Football League. Committed to cameraderie, gaining play experience, and improving individuals' skills, the team was created to provide our membership with a chance to compete against other teams on a weekly basis. The San Francisco Team has competed in the SFSFL’s 4th Division in the past, but in this year will be in Division 3B. The team's membership is open to application, but commitment is considered as well as skill level. Games are typically on Sundays.
Both teams’ seasons run approximately March through September each year. Though a few of our players play on both teams, there are plenty of members who practice with us but don’t compete on either team.
How can I play / join the SF Spikes?
Come out to a practice and join in! New players are always welcome at any point in our season. Potential new members are allowed to practice with the Club for up to 3 practices before they are asked to join the club.
You are also invited to come to one of our games to watch, cheer us on, and meet the guys.
How much does it cost to join the SF Spikes?
SF Spikes membership dues are $55/year. Dues along with other fund-raising activities we organize each year help provide our club with soccer balls, practice jerseys, cones, nets, league uniforms, field rentals for practice and other supplies. Members who compete on a league team also pay a $55 team fee which helps cover the subsidized cost of the league. Our fees are very low compared to most teams and leagues because of our fundraising practices.
When / where are practices?
From early January through mid-March, we practice indoors at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center, located at 100 Collingwood Street at 18th in the Castro (next to De Lano Foods). Indoor practices are Tuesday evenings from 7:00 – 9:30 pm. If you come to our indoor practices, bring shin guards and flat, non-black-soled shoes. These practices are typically 5-minute long 5-on-5 scrimmages, played 2 games back to back (10 minutes), with a 5-15 minute sitout in between rounds (depending on how many players are there). It’s lots of fun, and lots of running.
From the start of daylight savings time through the end of our season, we practice outdoors at Mission High School, located at 3750 18th Street in the Castro. The best entrance to Mission High is on Dolores Street between 17th and 18th – through the parking lot / basketball courts. Outdoor practices begin at 6:00 pm Tuesday evenings and run until dusk. In 2007, the SF Spikes will be merging for warmups and scrimmages at the beginning and end of practices, respectively, but dividing into two skill-based groups to practice more traditional skills, drills and conditioning.
Do the SF Spikes play in a gay league?
Though the SF Spikes are a gay team, both the Marin Soccer League (MSL) and the San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL) are traditional adult men’s soccer leagues. Most of the teams we compete against know we’re a gay team and our experiences are overwhelmingly positive playing in these leagues.
Do the SF Spikes play tournaments?
The SF Spikes participate in gay soccer tournaments around the country and around the world – typically one to three times per year. The IGLFA World Cup tournament is held in a different city each year (the SF Spikes hosted in 2004), usually at the end of the summer, and is almost always attended by our organization. Every fourth year most of the gay sport leagues come together at the Gay Games – a truly amazing international sporting event. In addition to the IGLFA World Cup, there are often several smaller weekend gay tournaments the SF Spikes may compete in each year, depending on the team members' desires. These have included:
- The Hotlanta Classic - a Memorial Day weekend outdoor tournament in Atlanta, GA
- The Philadelphia Pumpkin Patch Open - a Columbus Day weekend tournament held outdoors in Philadelphia, PA
- The New York Indoor Classic – a one-day tournament in late March held at the Chelsea Piers in New York, NY
Locations for the IGLFA World Cup include:
- 2014 -- Cleveland, OH (Gay Games)
- 2010 -- Cologne, Germany (Gay Games)
- 2009 -- Washington, DC
- 2008 – London, England
- 2007 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2006 – Chicago, IL (Gay Games)
- 2005 – Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2004 – San Francisco, CA
- 2003 – Boston, MA
- 2002 – Sydney, Australia (Gay Games)
- 2001 – London, England
- 2000 – Cologne, Germany
- 1999 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 1998 – Amsterdam, Netherlands (Gay Games)
- 1997 – Washington, DC
Do I have to join one of the league teams to practice (or be part of the club)?
Absolutely not! We have many members who only want to join the Tuesday practices and don’t have the time or desire to compete on a league team. Membership is not contingent on joining a league team, but it's available if you want it.
Do I have to be gay to play with the SF Spikes? Do the SF Spikes have any straight players?
The SF Spikes welcome straight players into our club…we just don’t get the request very often. We do have a few straight players that practice with us on Tuesdays. In the 90s the SF Spikes included a husband who played on a league team while his wife coached the team.
How are the SF Spikes managed?
The SF Spikes is managed by a Board of Directors, which is elected each year at the Annual Team Meeting. The Board is comprised of a maximum of 8 members in good standing. The 8 Board Members each year then elect four Officers – a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These four have the authority to conduct business transactions for the club and contractually bind the club in any activities and/or business dealings.
Both the Marin Team and the SF team typically have a manager and a coach. These positions have at times been the same person, and at times been filled on a rotating basis by team members.
I heard the SF Spikes have an email list. How do I get added to it?
Our e-mail list is used to communicate upcoming events, club activities and post-game reports. If you'd like to be added, go to the "Contact Us" page and use the request form to join up!