The original San Diego Sockers began as the in the old in 1974. The team moved to San Diego in 1976, becoming the Jaws. A year later, they were the , before returning to Southern California in 1978 and beginning a long and successful run as the San Diego Sockers. Successful on both the outdoor pitch and at the gate, they played indoor soccer in the NASL's indoor league as well as in the , playing in the latter exclusively after 1984. They later joined the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) but folded in 1996.