Soccer is one of the world’s most played sports and it has grown over the years in Tyler. However, where does a college student play soccer if they are not on a college team or are not from the area?
Tyler Indoor Sports, located on 12041 TX-364 Spur, and 271 Indoor Complex, located on 4504 US-27, have established themselves as the “go-to soccer places” in Tyler. Both complexes are open every day of the week and host a variety of leagues and games.
“We have veterans, one, two, three, four, five divisions. One of them has 20 teams, I am talking about like right now. The other one has 16 teams, veterans have 12, coed has eight,” said 271 Indoor Complex’s full-time receptionist, Erica Costelle.
271 Indoor Complex has leagues that are inclusive of players of all ages and abilities. Men’s leagues are held on Wednesday, ages 18 to 35, and Thursday, ages 35 and above, after 7 p.m. The women’s league is held on Sunday afternoons beginning at 3 p.m. Coed leagues are also available at both facilities, allowing groups of friends to play with each other. All leagues are 5v5 and the games run for 40 minutes with a five-minute halftime. Any player is welcome to sign up and join a team. The same rules apply for Tyler Indoor Sports.
“I would tell them to take a shot and step in on the field. We have developed or are trying to develop some lower skill leagues for those people that never got the chance or were not as good or just want to give it a shot and say that they have played with friends or whatnot,” said current owner of Tyler Indoor Sports, Ram Cornelio.
Both facilities are run by families who have grown up playing soccer and created a space where people can enjoy themselves. Cornelio stated he has seven children of his own, so he had made it his mission to provide a fun atmosphere for long-time players and newcomers.
“We try to make it a fun atmosphere. We have a family-friendly environment. We do not put anyone down and only try to uplift one another through encouragement. We want everyone to have a good time,” Cornelio said.
Although soccer has its wins and losses, Tyler Indoor Sports prohibits any foul play or language within players. Because people of all ages are welcome, it is encouraged that everyone be respectful to one another and focus on playing. 271 Indoor Complex shares the same values.
“We usually have a Christmas tournament where the owner gives Christmas toys and gifts away for little kids. And usually before school starts, we have a tournament where he gives away stuff for school, like school supplies and things like that,” Costelle said.
Besides regular league games, both facilities host cash tournaments that reward winning teams with a check. Often, newly formed teams end up keeping the same squad and return at the start of each season. Therefore, playing at these facilities allows new players to become comfortable in the environment and meet new people who also share the same passion for soccer.
For more information about these facilities, visit Contact Us – Tyler Indoor Sports, Tyler, TX (ezfacility.com) and Contact Us – 271 Soccer complex, Tyler, TX (ezfacility.com)
