This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.<\/p>\n
Tallahassee\u2019s Dyke Soccer League is a student-run dyke soccer community, made for and by queer people, based in Tallahassee. Dyke soccer provides a community for sapphics and other queer people<\/a> on and off FSU\u2019s campus, while also providing a space for LGBTQ+ students to get active. To get an inside look at the organization, Her Campus at FSU reached out to one of their coaches, Riley de Arcos (he\/they).<\/p>\n Her Campus (HC): Tell the readers a little bit about yourself \u2014 your name, your role in Dyke Soccer, and how you got involved in the organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n Riley de Arcos (RA): My name is Riley de Arcos, and I\u2019m one of the founders of Dyke Soccer. About one year ago, in October of 2024, I was talking to my friend Lila Rush about playing pickup soccer with primarily [cisgender] straight men who didn\u2019t perpetuate an inclusive environment. She initially proposed the idea of starting a Dyke Soccer pickup group, and we went from there, creating flyers and posting them around campus. Our first practice went well, and as the weeks went on, the turnout kept improving, which made us excited about meeting new faces and providing a safe space for them.<\/p>\n HC: How long have you been a part of Dyke Soccer?<\/p>\n RA: I\u2019ve been a part of Dyke Soccer since October of last year.<\/p>\n HC: Why did you start Dyke Soccer?<\/p>\n RA: Lila and I started Dyke Soccer to create a space for all dykes to not only play soccer, but be a part of, especially in today\u2019s political climate.<\/p>\n HC: What\u2019s your favorite part about being in Dyke Soccer?\u00a0<\/p>\n RA: My favorite part about being in Dyke Soccer is seeing the excitement members experience when they score a goal, interact with one another, or simply just be in each other\u2019s presence. We support each other no matter what team we\u2019re on during the scrimmages and rarely keep track of the score. What matters is that we\u2019re all playing with and for each other.<\/p>\n HC: How has your life been affected by being a part of Dyke Soccer? This can be about your personal or academic life, takeaways, anything you\u2019ve learned from being a part of the team, etc.<\/p>\n RA: My life has been affected by Dyke Soccer by not only being able to create a space for others, but for myself as well. After high school, it was hard for me to find an appropriate space to continue my love for the game that aligned with my identity, yet Dyke Soccer has grown into something much more than that outside of the field. It\u2019s created a community where we can all gather together, reaching out to dykes from all around Tallahassee. It\u2019s shown me the importance of finding your community, especially one you can fall back on during difficult times.<\/p>\n HC: Why would you recommend being a part of Dyke Soccer?\u00a0<\/p>\n RA:\u00a0 I\u2019d recommend being a part of Dyke Soccer because of the many faces you\u2019ll encounter at practice or events outside of practice. It\u2019s been a beautiful experience forming different bonds with different people and seeing how their lives have been impacted by the community we\u2019ve fostered.<\/p>\n HC: How can readers get involved in Dyke Soccer?\u00a0<\/p>\n RA: All self-identified dykes are welcome to get involved by attending our events or coming to practice, whether you\u2019re interested in playing or not. Many people come to practice to play, watch, or talk to anyone on the sidelines for however long they please. You can follow our Instagram and join our GroupMe in our Instagram bio for more information!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n HC: Is there anything else you want to share with readers that hasn\u2019t been mentioned?<\/p>\n RA: We welcome all dykes of all skill levels to practice, so if you\u2019re nervous about attending or stepping on the field, we\u2019re here to help, teach, and guide you through the motions!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in being a part of Dyke Soccer, make sure to follow their Instagram<\/a> for updates and join their GroupMe<\/a> to get involved!\u00a0<\/p>\n Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, and Pinterest<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t