September 13, 2025

The TCC Connection

Tulsa Community College Student Newspaper
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What Is Soccer and Why It Matters If You Are in Tulsa? 

Chrys Melissinos010 mins

If you have never kicked a ball, never watched a match, and could not tell a corner kick from a coffee break, you are not alone. Soccer (or “football” to the rest of the planet) is the world’s most popular sport, and right now it is having a major moment in Tulsa. 

That is because FC Tulsa, your hometown heroes, are in the middle of the team’s best season in club history. Whether you have been a die-hard fan for years or have literally never set foot in a stadium, this is the perfect time to join the party. 

Abdoulaye Cissoko (#91) as team captain and in his role as a defender on the field, has emphasized the group’s mentality to move forward and give 200% effort to win every game. He also expressed that the team is not just 11 players on the field but a whole group working hard to be the best in their league. (Photo by Sam Levrault)

Soccer 101 – The Fun, Quick Version 

Soccer is simple: Two teams, each with 11 players (10 runners + 1 goalkeeper, a brave soul with gloves), and the goal is to score more than the other side. 

A match lasts 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute halves, with a 15-minute halftime break. The clock keeps running, so the game flows fast, mistakes matter, and moments of brilliance can happen in a heartbeat. 

Hands Off the Ball: Only goalkeepers can use them and only inside their own 18-yard box. 

Offside Rule: No “goal camping.” You must time your run, so you are not behind the last defender when your teammate passes. In other words, at the moment the ball is played forward, attackers cannot be passed the farthest defender. 

Restarts: When the ball goes out, the game restarts in one of three ways: 

  • Throw-in: If it crosses the sideline, the team that did not touch it last throws it back in (both feet on the ground, ball over the head). 
  • Goal kick: If the attacking team sends it over the end line, the defending goalkeeper kicks it back into play from their team’s box. 
  • Corner kick: If the defending team sends it over their own end line, the attacking team kicks from the corner nearest where it went out – often a prime scoring chance. 
A soccer field – called a pitch – is usually larger than an American football field. Football fields are standardized at 120 yards long (including end zones) and 53.3 yards wide. Soccer, however, allows more flexibility. Pitches can range from 100–130 yards in length and 50–100 yards in width. For international play, FIFA requires tighter dimensions of 110–120 yards long and 70–80 yards wide. At the highest levels, the “gold standard” is about 115 yards by 74 yards, giving players plenty of room to run, pass, and create plays. (Image by Sam Levrault)

Cards: Penalty cards are used as disciplinary tools by referees to issue caution or penalize players for misconduct. Red = Serious Offense and the Immediate Expulsion of a Player, Yellow = Warning for Minor Offense or Repeated Offenses, and Two Yellows = One Red  

Once a player accumulates two yellow cards, he/she is issued a red card and ejected from the game, leaving his/her team one player short. (Image by Sam Levrault)

FUN FACT: The U.S. Women’s National Team won the first-ever Women’s World Cup in 1991, and the Major League Soccer (MLS) is the highest level of American professional soccer.   

Why Soccer Hits Different in Tulsa Right Now 

Tulsa 83 United is the local fan club that cheers on the team from behind the home goal week to week. After every home goal flags are waived, drums beaten, and colored smoke fills the air as the crowd celebrates. (Photo by Sam Levrault)

Here in Tulsa, the matchday vibe is unmatched, including the beating of drums, waving scarves in the air, chanting nonstop, and drifting smells through the stands of the stadium in an electric atmosphere. What is even more special is that the tickets are affordable. Soccer is more than a sport – it is energy, culture, and community all rolled into 90 minutes. In most sports, a lead can mean the drama’s over. In soccer? One kick can change everything. 

FC Tulsa’s Year of Pure Hype 

This is not just another season. This is the season. FC Tulsa sits at the top of the Western Conference in the USL Championship, riding an unbeaten streak that is making the rest of the league sweat. 

Last month, the conference leader pulled off a 3–2 road comeback against Monterey Bay FC – proof they fight until the final whistle. This squad has skill, grit, and a locker room full of players who believe this is their year. 

As low scoring as a soccer game can be, there is no shortage of excitement. Midfielder Marcos Cerato (#5), defender Lamar Batista (#15) and defender-team captain Abdoulaye Cissoko (#91) celebrate the third goal against New Mexico in an impressive 5-2 win. (Photo by Sam Levrault)

Why College Students Should Care 

  • Cheap Tickets, Big Energy: Student discounts mean pro sports without pro prices. 
  • Built-In Social Plans: Bring friends, meet people, start chants, lose your voice – It is part of the fun. 
  • Hometown Pride: Even if you are new to Tulsa, cheering for a first-place team feels right. 

Soccer live is way more exciting than on TV. By the end of your first match, you will be fist-bumping strangers and yelling “GOAL!” like you have been doing it for years. 

You do not need to know every rule to have a blast at an FC Tulsa game. Just show up, grab a scarf, and let the energy do the rest. This city’s team is making history – if you are in Tulsa, you do not want to miss it. 

For more information, see the full season schedule and buy tickets at fctulsa.com. 

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