PHS’s Futsal Club gathers over 200 students every time they meet — with these meetings not happening weekly, but daily. Holding matches during break, numerous students from all parts of PHS gather to cheer their friends on.

Part of what has allowed the club to be so successful is its inclusivity. The club has members that range from skilled soccer players to those simply looking for some fun.

“I told everyone I knew about it and made sure that people knew it was open for all. I emphasized having fun more than taking it very seriously,” said Luke Wingreen ’20, leader of the Futsal Club.

Wingreen’s efforts of recruiting students across PHS have proven to be successful. The club’s popularity has skyrocketed; it now boasts 24 teams and is the school’s largest club. The club encourages members to bring in their own social groups. While people may join because they enjoy watching and playing soccer, they stay because of the experience.

“It's actually a club that’s open to everyone. So if anyone wants to come, just come. It’s really about the experience. … We want everybody to join.” said club member Simon Li ’21. “I love collaborating with others and getting to know all these people I didn’t know before really makes me happy. … In the stressful environment of this high school, having time to forget about my worries and just play is something I think a lot of people need.”

With a new surge in popularity, the Futsal Club continues to work toward expanding, but also troubleshooting some issues that have arisen. Both members and leaders have noticed the difference in skill between some teams and are looking for methods to mitigate the imbalance. Another issue is the lack of time during break.

“If the club continues to grow, we need a new model of gameplay because right now we are playing 12 games in a week and we only have 30 minutes at break most days. It makes it really difficult to get everyone who's on the schedule in,” said Advisor Katie Dineen.

With this in mind, student leaders and Dineen have been implementing changes in the club to better match up teams and coordinate matches till the end of the year. But PHS’s closing has disrupted some of the club’s plans.

“We’re just going to have to roll with it. If there’s no more school, then I guess there will be no more Futsal Club — until next year of course. But if school comes back, futsal will be back. We may have to head straight into the playoffs though,” Wingreen said.

Despite the school’s closing, this past season has been a major checkpoint for the Futsal Club. Membership, participation, and organization have greatly increased, and members agree that the club is a great way to make new friends, collaborate, and just have a blast.

“I'm just surprised at how the gym erupts anytime a team scores. … It seems strange to me that kids are playing soccer in a gym during their lunchtime for 30 minutes and [that] somehow draws hundreds of kids to come and watch and cheer and that is really exciting. I love how positive they are,” Dineen said.