National Independent Soccer Association
 | |
| Founded | June 6, 2017 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2019–20 |
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup |
| International cup(s) | CONCACAF Champions League (via U.S. Open Cup) |
| Current champions | Detroit City FC (2nd title) |
| Most championships | Detroit City FC (2 titles) |
| TV partners | Eleven Sports beIN Sports |
| Website | nisaofficial |
| Current: 2022 National Independent Soccer Association season | |
The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019.[1][2][3] NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season format with a winter break but have switched to spring-to-fall which is more common in the United States.[4]
History[edit]
League beginnings[edit]
On June 6, 2017, it was announced that the newly formed National Independent Soccer Association would begin play in 2018 targeting an initial 8 to 10 teams, later revised to 8 to 12 teams.[5] Initially, the league outlined plans to introduce a promotion/relegation system, once they reach their goal of 24 teams, the first in US professional soccer and in doing so act as a feeder league to the North American Soccer League (NASL);[6][7] however, the NASL ceased operations prior to those plans being implemented.
On February 13, 2018, NISA co-founder Jack Cummins died suddenly.[8] On May 17, 2018, NISA co-founder Peter Wilt left the NISA to help start up Forward Madison FC in Madison, Wisconsin in USL League One.[9] A committee of club owners has been formed to elect new leadership within the organization.[10]
Reorganization and start of play[edit]
On August 31, 2018, NISA filed an application with the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a men's professional league, playing at the third division.[11] On February 16, 2019, NISA was provisionally sanctioned as a Division III league by the United States Soccer Federation.[12] In May 2019, it was announced that clubs were not happy with the silence from the league and that Bob Watkins was no longer the President of NISA and that John Prutch had taken the helm as commissioner.[3] During this same timeframe, the league's start date was pushed back from August 2019 to a targeted September start date.[3]
On June 10, 2019, it became known that both Miami FC and California United Strikers FC were approved at the recent board of governors meeting to join NISA, while the previously identified club in Central Florida would play in Baton Rouge, Louisiana instead of Daytona Beach, Florida.[13] However, it was unclear whether either of the teams would start before the league's September start date.[13] On June 27, 2019, it was announced that Oakland Roots SC would have their inaugural season with the league in the spring season, rather than the previously announced NPSL Founders Cup.[14] On August 15, 2019, the league officially announced the addition of Oakland Roots for the 2019 season and Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, and Michigan Stars FC for early 2020.[15]
The inaugural season began on August 31, 2019, with a 3–3 draw for Oakland Roots SC and California United Strikers FC in Oakland.[16] On April 27, 2020, following previous postponements, the remainder of the 2019–20 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]
On September 10, 2020, the league announced that one of the original co-founders of the league, Peter Wilt, would be rejoining the league in a club operations capacity by attempting to establish a club in Chicago.[18] On September 15, 2020, one of the founding teams, Oakland Roots, announced that they were leaving the league to join the USL Championship a league in the second division of professional soccer.[19]
Development of the amateur and semi-professional game[edit]
On April 27, 2020, NISA revealed a new tournament called the NISA Independent Cup that would have member teams face off against high quality amateur and independent professional sides in a regional format.[20] The tournament and 15 participating teams were announced on July 1.[21]
NISA announced its first affiliation agreement with the Gulf Coast Premier League, a USASA affiliated amateur league based in the gulf coast of the United States, on August 13, 2020.[22][23] The partnership is set to provide a pathway to professional status for both clubs and players, while also allowing two GCPL teams to qualify for future editions of the Independent Cup based on league play. This was expanded to include the Midwest Premier League and Eastern Premier Soccer League on September 3 and 4, 2020, respectively.[24][25] On November 23, NISA announced a fourth agreement with the Mountain Premier League.[26]
On September 17, 2020, the league announced that it was establishing a full-year amateur league, the NISA Nation, that would serve as an incubator for amateur and semi-professional clubs that wish to move into NISA's professional league.[27] NISA stated that this full-season amateur league and its previously announced league affiliations would serve as the foundation of a fully open professional to amateur pyramid in the United States.[28]
The league announced an "alliance" with semi-professional women's soccer league United Women's Soccer on January 28, 2021,[29][30] with the target of launching a professional women's league in 2022. This proposed league would occupy the at the time vacant second tier of professional women's soccer in the United States. Many NISA clubs, including Detroit City FC,[31][32] Michigan Stars FC,[33] and NJ Teamsterz FC[34] field or had announced fielding UWS and UWS2 teams. However, on March 20, 2021, it was reported that the alliance had broken down and the leagues had gone their separate ways.[citation needed]
Teams[edit]
Current[edit]
Location map[edit]
Former[edit]
| Team | City | Joined | Final season | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta SC | Alpharetta, Georgia | Fall 2019 | Ceased operations | |
| Chicago House AC | Bridgeview, Illinois | Fall 2021 | Moved to Midwest Premier League | |
| Detroit City FC | Hamtramck, Michigan | Spring 2020 | Fall 2021 | Moved to USL Championship |
| Miami FC | Miami, Florida | Fall 2019 | Moved to USL Championship[36] | |
| Philadelphia Fury | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Fall 2019 | Ceased operations | |
| Oakland Roots SC | Oakland, California | Fall 2019 | Fall 2020 | Moved to USL Championship[37] |
Timeline[edit]
Current clubs Future clubs Former clubs Club played in different league
Champions[edit]
 |
Teams that no longer participate in the National Independent Soccer Association are in italics.
| Team | NISA Championships |
Year(s) won | Split season titles |
Year(s) won | NISA seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit City FC | 2 | 2020–21, 2021 | 3 | Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021 | 2 |
| California United Strikers FC | 1 | Fall 2019 | 2.5 | ||
| Miami FC | 1 | Fall 2019 | 0.5 |
NISA Finals results[edit]
| Season | Portion | Champions | Score | Runner Up | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Spring | Detroit City FC | 1–0 | Los Angeles Force | Keyworth Stadium | 7,231 | July 3, 2021 [38] [39] |
| 2021 | Fall | Detroit City FC | N/A | California United Strikers FC | N/A | N/A |
Season championship results[edit]
| Season | Portion | Champions | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Fall | No overall association champion decided[b] | |||||
| Spring | Season not complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
| 2020–21 | Fall | Detroit City FC | 2–1 | Oakland Roots SC | Keyworth Stadium | 0[c] |  Steven Carroll (DCFC)[40]
|
| Spring[d] | Los Angeles Force | 3–2 | Chattanooga FC | Keyworth Stadium | ~150[41] | N/A | |
| 2021 | Fall | Detroit City FC | N/A | California United Strikers FC | Season champion determined by final table results | ||
NISA Legends Cup results[edit]
| Year | Champions | Score | Runner up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Detroit City FC | 3–0 | Chattanooga FC | Finley Stadium |
NISA Independent Cup Champions[edit]
| Year | Central Plains/South Central | Great Lakes | Mid-Atlantic | Southeast | Midwest | New England | Pacific | Southwest | West Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Gaffa FC (GCPL) | Detroit City FC | Maryland Bobcats FC (NPSL) | Chattanooga FC | N/A | ||||
| 2021 | Louisiana Krewe FC (GCPL) | Detroit City FC | Maryland Bobcats FC | Chattanooga FC | Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL) | Lansdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL) | PDX FC (USL2) | California United Strikers FC | Los Angeles Force |
NISA Nation and affiliates[edit]
In addition to its professional division, NISA operates a full-season amateur league called NISA Nation. NISA's stated long-term goal is to have promotion and relegation between the professional division and NISA Nation, as well as between NISA Nation and seven affiliated regional leagues. Some of those affiliated leagues have entered into promotion and relegation agreements with other leagues, and so a pyramid can be constructed with NISA's Division III professional league at the top.
| Level | League(s)/division(s) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | National Independent Soccer Association East Division 5 clubs |
National Independent Soccer Association West Division 5 clubs | |||||||
| 4 | NISA Nation Florida Region 5 clubs |
NISA Nation Northeast Region 10 clubs |
NISA Nation Pacific Region 4 clubs |
NISA Nation Southwest Region 6 clubs | |||||
| 5 | Gulf Coast Premier League | Pioneer Premier League | Eastern Premier Soccer League | Midwest Premier League | Cascadia Premier League | Mountain Premier League | Southwest Premier League | ||
Cascadia region[edit]
| Level | League(s)/division(s) |
|---|---|
| 5 | Cascadia Premier League First Division 6 clubs |
| 6 | Cascadia Premier League Second Division 6 clubs |
| 7 | Cascadia Premier League Third Division 6 clubs |
Gulf Coast region[edit]
| Level | League(s)/division(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gulf Coast Premier League Eastern Conference 9 clubs |
Gulf Coast Premier League Western Conference 6 clubs |
Midwest region[edit]
| Level | League(s)/division(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Midwest Premier League East Division 11 clubs |
Midwest Premier League South Division 4 clubs |
Midwest Premier League West Division 12 clubs | |
| 6 | National Soccer League (Chicago) Major Division 6 clubs |
Wisconsin Primary Amateur Soccer League 7 clubs | ||
| 7 | National Soccer League (Chicago) First Division 6 clubs |
|||
Mountain region[edit]
| Level | League(s)/division(s) |
|---|---|
| 5 | Mountain Premier League East Division 6 clubs |
Northeast region[edit]
| Level | League(s)/division(s) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Eastern Premier Soccer League Delaware River Conference 8 clubs |
Eastern Premier Soccer League Metropolitan Conference 10 clubs |
Eastern Premier Soccer League Mid-Atlantic Conference 8 clubs |
Eastern Premier Soccer League Northeast Conference 10 clubs | |||||||||
| 6 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 1 12 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League Super Division 8 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Premier Division 8 clubs |
Maryland Major Soccer League Division One 6 clubs |
|||||||||
| 7 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2 11 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League Semi-Pro Division 10 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Division 1 7 clubs |
Maryland Major Soccer League Division 2 - Baltimore Met 6 clubs |
Maryland Major Soccer League Division 2 - Capital Beltway 6 clubs |
||||||||
| 8 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 3 - Central 10 clubs |
Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 3 - East 9 clubs |
Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 3 - West 10 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League A Division - Central 9 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League A Division - North 9 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Division 2 - Blue 6 clubs |
Long Island Soccer Football League Division 2 - Orange 6 clubs |
||||||
| 9 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 4 10 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League B Division - Central 6 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League B Division - North Blue 6 clubs |
Garden State Soccer League B Division - North Yellow 6 clubs |
|||||||||
Southwest region[edit]
| Level | League(s)/division(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Southwest Premier League Pacific Premier - East 4 clubs |
Southwest Premier League Pacific Premier - West 4 clubs |
Southwest Premier League Nevada Premier 6 clubs |
Southwest Premier League SoCal Premier First Division - North 6 clubs |
Southwest Premier League SoCal Premier First Division - South 6 clubs |
| 6 | Southwest Premier League SoCal Premier Second Division 9 clubs | ||||
| 7 | Southwest Premier League SoCal Premier Third Division 10 clubs | ||||
See also[edit]
- NISA Nation
- United Soccer League, operator of several leagues in the US system, including:
- USL Championship, the current second level
- USL League One, also playing at the third level
- NPSL Members Cup
- Soccer in the United States
- Professional sports leagues in the United States
Notes[edit]
- ^ Played two home matches at Championship Stadium in Irvine
- ^ The "Fall Showcase" had both NISA conferences compete in separate championship games with both winners automatically qualifying for the Spring 2020 playoffs. Miami FC and California United Strikers FC won the East Coast Conference and West Coast Conference respectively.
- ^ Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- ^ The Spring Championship was originally going to be contested between the 2021 Legends Cup Champion and highest finishing Spring Season season team, with the winner moving onto the NISA Championship against the Fall champion. However after Fall 2020 champions Detroit City FC won both the cup and finished first in the table the match reverted into a standard semifinal match and no trophy was awarded.
References[edit]
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) – A New Division III Professional Soccer League Expects to Launch in 2018". NISA. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "Inaugural Applicant Markets Announced for New US Pro Third Division Soccer League – NISA". nisaofficial.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c Kivlehan, Chris (May 28, 2019). "With New Leadership In Place, NISA Breaks Its Silence". Midfield Press. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ "NISA Formally Announces Shift to Spring/Fall Season". www.nisasoccer.com. September 14, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "About". NISA. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "New league seeks to finally bring pro/rel to US soccer". NISA. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "City said to be ripe for pro soccer". June 28, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ "Obituary: NISA co-founder Jack Cummins". February 13, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- ^ "Big Top hires Peter Wilt to launch pro soccer team at Breese Stevens Field in 2019". May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
- ^ "Committee Formed to Select New NISA Leadership". May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ "NISA Submits Application For Division III Pro League Sanctioning". Midfield Press. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Kivlehan, Chris (February 17, 2019). "Breaking: NISA Sanctioned By USSF, To Start In August". Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ a b Kivlehan, Chris (June 11, 2019). "Miami FC, Cal United Accepted Into NISA, Pro Soccer For Baton Rouge & Other News From NISA Board of Governors Meeting". Midfield Press. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Oakland Roots Statement: League and Membership". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "NISA Announces Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC & Oakland Roots SC". NISA. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Zimmerman, Douglas (September 1, 2019). "Oakland Roots tie first ever game 3-3". SFGate. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ "NISA Official Update". NISA Homepage. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "Soccer Pioneer Peter Wilt Applies for NISA Club in Chicago". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Zimmerman, Douglas; SFGATE (September 15, 2020). "It's official: Oakland Roots moving to higher league, the USL Championship". SFGate. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ^ Kennedy, Paul. "NISA cancels spring season, sets sights on August start to fall championship". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "NISA Independent Cup". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "NISA Announces First Amateur Affiliation With Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL)". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Kennedy, Paul. "NISA reaches first amateur league affiliation with GCPL". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "MWPL Joins Forces with NISA". Midwest Premier League. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "NISA EXPANDS AMATEUR AFFILIATIONS WITH THE EASTERN PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE AGREEMENT". Eastern Premier Soccer League. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "NISA Scales up With Mountain Premier League Amateur Affiliation". www.nisasoccer.com. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ^ "NISA Announces NISA Nation". Protagonist Soccer. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ^ Norling, Ashle (September 15, 2020). "2021 US Soccer Expansion/Departure Tracker". E Pluribus Loonum. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ "Equity and Opportunity at Heart of NISA Alliance with United Women's Soccer". NISA Homepage. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "UWS & NISA Announce The Launch Of A Professional Women's League". UWS Homepage. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Detroit City FC announces women's team". Detroit City FC Homepage. September 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Detroit City FC Adds Women's Reserve Side, Set to Compete in UWS League Two". Detroit City FC Homepage. December 17, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Michigan Stars FC Announces a Women's Team in United Women's Soccer (UWS)". Michigan Stars FC Homepage. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Expansion News: NJTFC Joins Women's Pro-Am League UWS". NJ Teamsterz FC Homepage. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "NISA Launches Into Spring With Tournament in Chattanooga". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Ottawa Fury FC Announce Relocation, Sale of Franchise Rights to The Miami FC". uslchampionship.com. USL. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ^ "USL Championship Welcomes Oakland Roots for 2021 Season". uslchampionship.com. USL. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ NISA Official [@NISALeague] (July 3, 2021). "Final. #NISAChampionship t.co/QxdHL4yDna" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ local sports news DCFC https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/soccer/2021/07/03/own-goal-la-force-gives-detroit-city-fc-1-0-win-nisa-championship/7855972002/
- ^ NISA Official [@NISALeague] (October 2, 2020). "2020 Fall NISA Championship Tournament MVP #NISAFCT20 Steve Carroll @DetroitCityFC t.co/1ExafoECZ4" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Chicago House AC [@ChicagoHouse_AC] (June 30, 2021). "Thanks for the hospitality @DetroitCityFC. See you August 7th. t.co/OCRcgLLzaE" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
