Sitting on the second floor of the East-side location of Rose City Futsal (RCF), Media Director Joe Lescher explains that a mere 30 minutes from then, a swarm of kids will enter the building, filling the courts with excitement and liveliness. RCF is a futsal — futsal is a sport that is usually referred to as a modified version of soccer, typically played indoors and with a smaller field and fewer players on the court — facility in Portland, and since its founding in 2013, has become a community space for athletes of all ages. RCF originated as a shared idea between 10 families who wanted to create a space for futsal, fun, and community. Lescher emphasized this history, saying that there are photos of these families building the facility that are still up for guests to see today. “They were involved in every aspect of putting this place together,” he says. After success in its first location, RCF opened its second in 2016 in Tigard, Oregon, for players on the West-side. These familial and community-focused beginnings stand true to the values RCF holds today.
RCF offers a wide variety of opportunities for athletes, encouraging play for people of all ages and skill levels. “There are so many access points to Rose City Futsal … we’ve got our soccer stars program which is for 18-month-olds to 6-year-olds, and then we have our youth academy program … and then we have our adult programs … and each of these programs, there’s such joy involved in it,” Lescher describes. At RCF there are youth programs; Camps, Select Teams, Soccer Stars, Youth Academy, and general Youth League, and adult programs; Adult leagues, Academy, Champions League, and Community Teams.
Lescher highlights community teams as an example of RCF’s values. Community teams are for individuals interested in playing who aren’t a part of an already established team. According to the RCF website, “With Community Teams, you’ll find the right level of play while making new friends, staying active, and enjoying the game with players who match your skill and energy.” Individuals who want to participate in futsal but don’t already have a team can choose to participate in this program where the RCF team will place them with others at a similar skill level.
For adults, the opportunity to play may be rarer than that of youth. Lescher heavily believes in the spirit of play. “As … adult[s], we just don’t get the opportunity to go out and play as often as I think we would like,” he elaborates. The adult community that often participates in RCF will come in after work-hours to play a game, then hang out at the pub and grab a bite to eat. Clives Pub, which is housed at both locations, is an opportunity for athletes or spectators to eat, drink, and enjoy the atmosphere at RCF.
For youth, the environment of RCF is valuable in a different way. Franklin senior Steven Tooze has been playing at RCF since he was in 6th grade. He participated in summer camps as a kid, and now plays for his team “The Fire Storm” alongside friends. Tooze says that there is a good community at RCF, and that the feeling he gets from playing keeps him returning. Fellow player and Franklin senior Everett O’Leary mirrors this, saying, “I quit actual soccer, so it’s fun to get back and play, even if it’s not the most serious thing.”
Above all, at RCF attitude matters most. “We value the way you play the game as much as the results, and we instill — hopefully — in our players that we coach a love for the game and real passion for it but also understanding that we play the game the right way, [with] respect for yourself, [and] respect for your opponent,” Lescher emphasizes. He continues to explain that RCF encourages life lessons beyond soccer, and that how you play the game will translate much further into a player’s life than just athletic skill.
RCF staffs only around 80-90 people across the two locations. This small but hardworking staff works together to create a welcoming environment. “When people come through the door at Rose City Futsal, we always try to greet them; we’re here because they’re here. It’s a super important connection for us to have people feel like [we’re] welcoming and excited for them to be here, because we truly are,” Lescher explains. The smaller staff allows them to have an outsized footprint, wearing multiple hats and getting involved in various aspects of the business. For example, Lescher points out that the cameras installed throughout the facility, he installed himself: “It’s fun isn’t it? To not be in a silo, you get to be involved in all aspects of the business working here.” Much like their various programs, staff opportunities are also vast. From working front desk, to coaching, to the pub, to leadership and management, every role is necessary in running RCF.
Gwen Hamilton, one of the staff members working at Clives Pub on the East-side location, reinforces the community of staff at RCF. She has been working there for a little over a year and explains that the managers make sure that she, and the other staff, want to go to work every day. “I don’t think I’ve ever liked all of my customers [and] all of my co-workers like I do now, so it’s great being able to be like, I actually don’t mind going to work,” Hamilton remarks. Laughing, she points out, “I’m not just saying this, I swear.”
The pipeline of players to staff is also strong, Lescher explains. He elaborates that many of the star players who grew up attending and participating in futsal at RCF eventually grow to become coaches and counselors for the younger players.
From coaches, to players, to management staff, RCF works to create a valuable space for everyone. “What we’re providing is like this community that allows you to get exercise and have fun and meet other people that are interested in some of the things that you’re interested in, and, round out your life in a really positive way,” Lescher describes. As time has progressed, RCF has become a staple in Portland for the athletic community and beyond.
