The Ottawa Rapid FC are building a community—and you should be part of it

I played every sport imaginable as a kid—soccer, gymnastics, ballet, ringette, swimming, softball—but by the time I reached middle school, my interest evaporated. It is a common story, according to the Women’s Sports Foundation. By age 14, girls are dropping out of sports at a higher rate than boys are.  

I spent most of my teenage and university years hating sports. But now, experiencing the new wave of women’s teams across North America, I’m starting to wonder if I just never felt like I belonged.  

When I attended my very first Ottawa Rapid FC game in July, I could feel that changing.  

Exploring the pitch

When you arrive at a Rapid FC game, you descend right to the field level. Before the game starts, you can walk around and explore the Fan Zone, which is the place to be before kickoff. We stopped by the CAA kiosk to say hi to the events team before exploring everything on offer.  

The Fan Zone was incredibly family-friendly, which was great to see. We played oversized Jenga and Connect 4, plus foosball, magnetic darts and cornhole. We tried (and failed) to hula hoop, and even had a very competitive game of tug-of-war.  

It was Country Night, so on top of the games, there were themed activities, too. Country music and line dancing were so fun to watch while I lost multiple games of Connect 4. Perri, the blue peregrine falcon and the Rapid’s mascot, even joined in on the dancing.  

The highlight of the night, though? A mechanical bull. And if you know me, you know I never miss a chance to ride one. Afterwards, someone told me that they filmed my attempt and put me on the jumbotron. I felt famous.  

Watching the beautiful game

I really don’t know much about soccer. I haven’t played since I was tiny, holding my coach’s hand as I kicked the ball down the field. Admittedly, it can be a bit confusing to watch if you don’t know what’s going on.  

But the more I observed, the more it made sense. There are 11 players on the field—10 outfielders and one goalkeeper. Everyone uses their feet, except the goalie when she’s in the box. Other rules floated around in my brain—corner kicks, red cards, offsides. It all came together eventually, more or less.  

If there’s only one thing to know before going to a game, it’s that the Rapid are phenomenal. At the time of writing this, they’re first in the league, having won their last five games in a row. They've got skill and chemistry, which translates to some absolutely beautiful plays on the pitch.  

When Sadie Waite sunk that final goal to bring the score up to 2-1, the crowd went wild. Plumes of blue smoke curled into the air from the supporters section, also called the Cauldron. Steady drumbeats pounded, and fans cheered into the night. The atmosphere was electric as they clinched their win.  

The weather that evening was lovely, but it was also the cause of my main issue that night. Because the sun sets over one of the low office buildings behind the jumbotron, I was staring directly into it for the first half of the game. I would highly recommend bringing a hat and sunglasses so you can watch the game without squinting.  

My poor preparation aside, the game was a great—and exciting—way to spend a summer night in Ottawa.  

What really stood out to me

I felt such a sense of community while I was at the game. From the fan group, nicknamed the Peregrines, to the groups of season ticket holders who recognized each other from previous games, everyone seemed in on some grand conspiracy to make the game as welcoming and supportive as possible.  

Even I was running into people I knew, to my great surprise. One of my best friends happened to be there while on duty as a camp counsellor, and another friend of mine from university was hanging around the Fan Zone in her cowboy boots. Most shockingly, I ended up sitting in the same row as my high school English teacher, whose young daughter was down on the field catching balls for the team. 

Mostly, I was reminded that we can all belong in sport. We can find community and be a part of something together.  

That’s what the Rapid are building in their second year—for the players, for the fans, and for the 14-year-old girls who need to be reminded that there’s a place for them in the game they love.  

Cheer them on in person

You can catch the Ottawa Rapid FC until their season ends in October and save on your seats. CAA Members save 20 per cent on home game tickets to see this team in action.