Chicago Fire FC’s Play Proud League is an inclusive, physically, and psychologically safe space, created for LGBTQIA+ people, friends, and allies to compete and build community. Whether you are a soccer enthusiast or never kicked a ball, PPL is a place where everyone can be their authentic selves and enjoy the beautiful game.

Why Chicago Fire FC partnered with Common Goal to launch the Play Proud initiative and Play Proud League:

• 80% of adults have witnessed homophobia in sport
• 78% of people believe that an openly gay person wouldn’t be a safe spectator in sport
• The most common place for LGBTQIA+ discrimination is a stadium
• 81% of gay men and 74% of lesbians stay completely in the closet when playing sport
• 95% of athletes said their teammates’ responses to them coming out were “neutral” to “perfect”

Learn more about the challenges LGBTQIA+ people face and see the full Outsports report here.

• Teams use Sprocket to register, set rosters, check standings, etc.
• City of Chicago Amusement Tax applied at registration checkout.
• More info? Here are answers to FAQs
• Games times: 7:30pm, 8:16pm, 9:02pm, 9:48pm, and 10:34pm
• For additional questions, please contact cfrs@chicagofirefc.com

STEP BY STEP: SPROCKET SPORTS CFRS TEAM REGISTRATION
• Select ‘Login’ in the top right corner.
• Click ‘Don’t Have an Account’ – This will allow you to begin creating an account.
When logged in and asked to Add a Player, select Skip this Step.
• Skipping that step will allow you to proceed to the dashboard and select your league from the Open Programs (NOTE: The player registering the team does not have to be the team's captain. CFRS Coordinators can reassign captain status on a teams roster prior to the start of the season.)

STEP ONE: STARTING THE REGISTRATION
• From the Dashboard – select your league from the ‘Open Programs’ list on the right side of the screen.
• Select your preferred league.
• Review the league information and click the blue ‘Register’ button to continue.

STEP TWO: TEAM REGISTRATION FIELDS
• Follow all prompts and click ‘Save and Continue’ to navigate through the team registration.
• Acknowledge Code of Conduct and Waiver as the team captain, ‘Save and Continue’
• Indicate a jersey color (Your league coordinator can change this at a later date)

STEP THREE: CHECKOUT OPTIONS
• City of Chicago Amusement tax is reflected as a one-time amount per team and automatically added to your checkout.
• Teams have two payment options: Pay in Full OR Deposit+Payment
o Pay in Full – your team balance is paid in full upfront.
o Deposit + Payment – you pay the $400 deposit (+part of the City of Chicago Amusement tax) at the time of registration and the remaining balance will be charged at the conclusion of the first week of the season.
• Teams may pay via Credit Card or teams may now use ACH. (NOTE: Teams who use Deposit + Payment will be charged automatically for the remaining team balance on April 28, 2024 at the conclusion of the first week the season.)
• After submitting payment, your registration is COMPLETE!

In 2021, Chicago Fire FC became a founding partner of Common Goal’s Anti-Racist project, to address the structural and systematic problems that make football inaccessible and unwelcoming to marginalized communities. In 2022, the Club expanded its relationship with Common Goal to launch the Play Proud initiative – Common Goal’s grassroots-driven program that works with stakeholders at all levels of the game across the soccer industry to make our cities and stadiums a safer space for the LGBTQIA+ community, their families, and friends.

Learn more about Common Goal and join the movement here.