Indy City Futbol: Soccer, service and trash talk

The young Downtown denizens could pass for professional soccer players. They have the trash talk down pat.

Brandishing their neighborhood crests like breastplates, teams like Mass Ave United and FC Fountain Square will begin battling Thursday at the second season opener of Indy City Futbol.

The fledgling, community service-based recreation league is the brainchild of nonprofit Big Car and Indy Eleven professional soccer team — an effort to unite urban neighborhoods through healthy competition.

Each team member is required to complete at least 15 hours of community service. The coed, adult league is inspired by the Detroit City Futbol League, which started more than five years ago to join neighborhoods in a city divided by class, ethnicity and race.

Last year, teams volunteered with Indy Urban Acres, Near East Soccer Alliance youth league and at Garfield Park. This year, League demographics saw a jump in female participation from the previous season with some teams bringing a variety of cultures from countries such as Haiti, Colombia, Kenya, Zambia, Mexico and India.

“We want people to take pride in their community, represent their neighborhoods,” Indy City Futbol commissioner Justin Becht said.

After the games, many teams regroup, share drinks and brainstorm ideas for the kind of volunteer work they’d like to do in their community. FC Fountain Square’s captain said they will probably reconvene at the Fountain Square Brewery.

The league plays eight-on-eight games with a minimum of three women from each team playing at all times. The lineup for the playoffs is determined by the number of points each team wins during the season. Three points for a win and one for a draw. For any draws during the playoffs, teams are eliminated through a shootout on goal.

“The real competition is on social media, talking trash. Then you get to the game, high-five and have a couple beers afterward,” Becht said.

The Star asked the team captains to deliver their best trash-talk lines. Here are the top five:

Mass Ave United: “Mass Ave United doesn’t need to prove it on paper, because we will be etched into the trophy.” — Team captain Jordan Updike, referring to news print.

Sporting Herron Morton: “Unlike Jordan’s team, we actually made it to the semi-final shootouts.” — Team captain Ryan Smith.

During last year’s playoffs, Mass Ave United was eliminated in the first round whereas Sporting Herron Morton made it to the third round, losing in the shootout.

FC Fountain Square: “The Fountain Square neighborhood used to be called ‘The End’ because of the street cars. That’s the way we feel about our opponents, because it’s the end when they face us.” — Team captain Jairav Desai.

In the 1860s, the Virginia Avenue corridor emerged as the Southside’s commercial center with the Citizen’s Street Railway Company laying down tracks. The intersection of Virginia Avenue, Shelby and Prospect streets was known as “The End.”

Real Fletcher Place: “I feel bad for all the Squares all along Virginia Avenue, because we will kick their butts all over the place.” — Team captain Andy Howard, referring to teams AC Mile Square and FC Fountain Square.

Garfield Athletic Club: “Garfield Park, bigger and more beautiful than a jungle, will crisscross your team and make your fungal feet stumble.” — Team captain Cory Robinson.

Complete roster: AC Mile Square, Atletico Cottage Home, Bates-Hendricks FC, Broad Ripple City, FC Fountain Square, Garfield Athletic Club, Irvington FC, Mass Ave United, Old North United, Real Fletcher Place, Sporting Herron Morton, Upper Downtown FC.

Call Star reporter Dennis Barbosa at (317) 444-6206. Follow him on Twitter: DennisBarbosa86.

Indy City Futbol

What: Adult soccer recreation league representing their neighborhoods

Where: Arsenal Technical High School, 1500 E. Michigan St.

When: Every Thursday, 6:30 p.m., for 10 weeks, starting July 23

Cost: Free to watch, free to park

Website: indycityfutbol.com