About GSSL
The GSSL is Washington's leading non-profit adult outdoor soccer league, serving Seattle and all of the greater Seattle area.
our mission
The mission of the Greater Seattle Soccer League is to promote adult team soccer play by providing an enjoyable and competitive playing experience at all skill levels with safety, schedule reliability, quality refereeing, and professional league management.
The GSSL supports our diverse soccer community and promotes an inclusive environment welcoming all participants to enjoy and play the "beautiful game".
DIVISIONS
Play is divided into age groups, with divisions based on skill within each group. Typically, between six and twelve age groups compete in up to 20 divisions. The GSSL offers various levels of competition for Open (all-ages), Over-30, Open MOD, Over-40, Over-50, Over-55, Over-60, and Over-65 divisions.
Open and Open MOD: Players of any age
Over-30: Players must turn 30 in the calendar year
Over-40: Players must turn 40 in the calendar year
Over-50: Players must turn 50 in the calendar year
Over-55: Players must turn 55 in the calendar year
Over 60: Players must turn 60 in the calendar year
Over 65: Players must turn 65 in the calendar year
Approximately 250 teams participate in the Greater Seattle Soccer League. Over the last year, the GSSL has placed hundreds of new players to teams that match both their age and skill level. The GSSL maintains an active player pool list of all ages for our teams. This allows manager/teams the ability to contact the office with specific player needs.
SEASONS
We offer four league sessions: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. The league plays according to FIFA law, with the exceptions of unlimited substitutions and slide-tackle restrictions in the older age groups. We also have slide tackle and reckless play from behind restrictions in the Open MOD and O-50+ divisions.
PLAYERS
Every player is an individual member of the GSSL. Each has a separate membership card, and may be on as many teams as he or she wants.
The GSSL is a competitive and recreational league that features players of all skill levels. Players in our league cite our quality of play, referees and fields, relative low cost to play, and overall camaraderie being a part of the league allows, as reasons why they come back season after season.
The GSSL prohibits discrimination in membership on the basis of age (except playing group qualifications), ethnicity, race, gender or sexual orientation.
OPERATIONS
The league features three, full-time, professional staff members, as well as two part-time members. In addition to this, the GSSL hires referees and manages them directly, working one-on-one with referees as needed. The GSSL is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the member teams, meaning members have direct control over league affairs.
our History
The Greater Seattle Soccer League traces its heritage back to the 1880s, when Irish immigrants working the coal mines in Black Diamond formed the first organized league in the Seattle area. In the 1920s, the league had adopted the name Seattle Soccer League. A trophy, which was used for our previously held George Washington Tournament, was a gift to the league by George Parsons in 1927. During World War II, prisoners from Europe played on the local ethnic community teams: the Seattle Hungarians, the Danes, and others.
As soccer enjoyed a rise in popularity as a result of the 1966 World Cup in England, the United States' participation rose as well in the 1960s and early '70s.
The league as it is now constituted was formally incorporated as a non-profit social organization on March 10th, 1976. Initially referred to as the Washington State Soccer League, the name was changed to the Greater Seattle Soccer League in 1985. Today, many players and officials from that particular era remain playing in senior divisions of the league.
