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The Gray Ducks build and place teams in multiple leagues and formats in Minnesota. We have over 50 teams year round across 5 days of the week serving more than 1,000 community athletes annually.
an organization in Minnesota that provides soccer in a variety of experience levels, formats and leagues. We match players with teams based on their interest and experience. However, we are more than a soccer club. We are a community of amateur athletes seeking to spread equity, education and equality through sport. We come to play soccer at all levels and stay for the friendships.
We are a mentoring club with member helping member on and off the field. There are relationships and friendships that blossom as our teams are diverse. While some have known each other for decades, others are transplants to the Twin Cities. Our programs help our players in need and those of theirs in need. We provide opportunities and promote adult soccer affordably without regard to age, level of experience, skill level, race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion and socio-economic status. We are unique, and that is what makes us a strong on and off the pitch.
We believe the benefits of organized soccer are numerous and it is our mission to provide adults with quality soccer opportunities that:
Gray Ducks Soccer strives to be an all inclusive soccer club, which reaches players across a broad spectrum, including those new to soccer, former youth players, weekend warriors, and the most advanced competitors. Our program is built around quality with experienced leadership, responsible leagues and superb fields. We anticipate all of our members will encounter a rewarding and satisfying experience season over season.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
The Gray Ducks history extends well beyond it's February 2017 launch. The club is founded by Ryan Adams, a veteran club organizer, whom lead a different Minnesota adult soccer club from 2012 - 2017 out from from near extinction to new heights. Credit to founding LGBTQ+ soccer in Minnesota goes to the late JB Becker and friends who, in 2009, began to rally the community around this great sport. Adams was also the founder of the legendary LGBTQ+ community group, The Lake Calhoun Boys, which produced community activities and charity activations from 2008-2011.
The Gray Ducks roots are in the LGBTQ+ community, and our Allies of the LGBT community have always been a vital part. The Ducks continue to have an emphasis on promoting equality for gender, racial, and sexual orientation and equity in sport for women and BIPOC. The Gray Ducks hold sporting organizations in Minnesota accountable for these same values, and strive to partner with them to ensure ALL persons, staff and athletes are affirmed and welcomed in sport at all levels and ways.
The Gray Ducks are built on a for-profit operation model to ensure sustainable team planning despite no paid personnel. Through private leadership of the organization, there is a 100% say-do ratio among the leaders. Providing diverse opportunities is a significant reason the Gray Ducks launched and have been successful as a club. The LGBTQ+ soccer community has long been let down by poor leadership at the international level, as well as other local organizations, so the Ducks strive to international role models for club operations. It is with great honor, and privilege that the Gray Ducks are Minnesota's largest adult soccer club, and the home to one of the best LGBTQ+ squads in the world. There are over 100 similar clubs worldwide, and it's an honor to be part of this vibrant soccer community. Our soccer community appreciates those who paved the path such as the New York Ramblers and Stonewall FC in the UK.
Find below some of the great coverage of our club's efforts, that highlighting many of our talented and queer contributors. We are proud visible contributors to the world's lgbtq soccer scene and conversation:
Minnesota Public Radio [2024] Sports aren't just for kids
Breaking Barriers Award Winner [2024] National Girls & Women Sports Day Minnesota
Optus Sport Australia [2023] Video: 'This is the first time we're playing as our authentic selves' - IGLFA World Championships
LGBTQ Sports Directory [2023] Lavendar Magazine
Sound of the Loons, Episode 147 [2021] Pride
Football v Homophobia Nominations & Football v Homophobia Winners
Minnesota United FC Blog [2021] Adrienne Fox, John Gallagher and the Gray Ducks
Outsports [2020] How a gay soccer player was hired as first out teacher at a Christian Science school
Howler [2020] One Mans Way Out
Home Field Alliance Introducing Ryan Adams
Soccer Bay Area [2019] Sin City Classic shines bright
France 24 News [2019] Women's World Cup victory a big win for gay community
DNA India [2019] Women's World Cup 2019: 'You can't win a championship without gays on your team', says Megan Rapinoe
SportsPesa [2019] African Foreign Press USA World Cup Queens Land Home, Success Hailed A Win For LBGTQ
Kare 11 News - Video [2018] Martin's announcement on Pride Night inspires many
Lavendar Magazine [2018] Pride match photos
Dallas Voice [2017] Coming out in sports … as gay, and as a soccer player
US LGBT Soccer Trans Inclusion Policy [2016] Google Scholar
NBC News [2016] Pride on the Pitch: Does Soccer Have a Gay Problem?
We're always available for press and media inquiries at info@grayduckssoccercom or via the contact us feature of our site. We weigh in on LGBT persons in sporting news, LGBT sporting policy, our organization activities, and more.
The Gray Ducks is proudly managed by Ryan Adams, a 10 year veteran organizer of community soccer and LGBTQ+ Athletics. By trade, Ryan is a marketing guru, and enjoys this hobby of organizing soccer squads. The dedication of 1,000 plus hours annually has led Gray Ducks soccer to tremendous heights, influence and success since it's inception in early 2017. Ryan would like to acknowledge all of the Allies to the LGBT community who make this organization possible, as together, the club is able to serve all themore LGBTQ+ persons with playing the game we love.
Soccer Recognition, Awards, and Accolades:
2022 Finalists for Football v. Homophobia Awards: Grassroots Level and Women's Game
2019 L'Eotile Du Nord from Minnesota United FC
2018 Founder | North American Gay Soccer Association
2018 Certified Sports Diversity Leader (SDL) by SDLC
2016 Best Goalie | Sin City Classic Division I
Pictured: (left) David Zimmerman (right) Ryan Adams, Partners of 9 years.
Gray Ducks Volleyball Sporting Director
We're more than one flock, thank you to all our team managers and team captains.
We're available to meet by appointment to consult on your sporting endeavors, LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, and more.
Copyright © 2022 Gray Ducks Soccer - All Rights Reserved.
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