The GSSL Board and staff are grappling with the recent incidents of police violence and closely following the protest movement that continues to gather support around the world. We are aware that discrimination occurs in everyday life, including in ways that are hard to identify. We are a community and the clear message from our cities to engage with these challenges has moved us to do better and we are listening.

Soccer is one of the most international institutions in the world, yet can still have discrimination and violence both globally and locally. Our sport can and should serve as a standard for equality and safety and be a forum where all can engage respectfully on an equal footing.

Our referees and players represent a diverse community and we have the responsibility to provide a match environment free of all discrimination and violence in any form. We are responsible to ensure that our league policies and personnel reflect the diversity, safety and respect our membership and community deserve.

Improving our diversity, safety, and experience for our members requires more than just our verbal commitment, it requires action. While we as a board have challenged ourselves to find ways to improve, we need the engagement from our soccer community to ensure our approach fully meets the playing experience our membership demands and deserves. It must be an experience that provides our members, willing to engage with respect and passion, the opportunity to play the game we love free of discrimination.

We welcome your suggestions. Please send us your thoughts, ideas, or experiences on how GSSL can improve the league in any manner you are comfortable – via social media, email, or our comment page. We will continue this conversation as we work out improvements you suggest. The GSSL has a big role in making the Greater Seattle soccer community an inclusive, safe and respectful one. There is work to do.

Stay healthy, safe, and engaged.

We welcome your ideas, thoughts, or experiences by:

•             email at diversity@gssl.org

•             our web site comment page

•             mail at 9750 Greenwood Avenue North, Unit 101, Seattle, Washington 98103

•             using one of our social media accounts below.