2020–21 NISA season

The 2020–21 NISA season is the second season of the National Independent Soccer Association's third-division soccer competition. The regular season is split into two halves, Fall and Spring, with playoffs at the end of each, and a Championship Match that will see the Fall champion host the Spring champion. Starting this year, the league is also organizing a new cup competition, NISA Independent Cup, that features independent clubs from various professional and semi-professional leagues across the United States.

National Independent Soccer Association
Season2020–21 season
DatesFall: August 8 – October, 2020
Spring: TBD
2021–22 →

Teams
Locations of announced clubs
  • West Conference
  • East Conference
  • Spring-only Club

The eight teams that participated in the inaugural 2019-20 NISA season will be joined by three expansion teams: New York Cosmos and New Amsterdam FC for the full season, and New Jersey Teamsters FC for the Spring season only. Two of the existing teams, San Diego 1904 and Stumptown Athletic, have announced that they will not participate in the Fall season, but intend to return for the Spring season.[1]

Stadiums and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity
California United Strikers FC Irvine, California Championship Stadium 5,000
Chattanooga FC Chattanooga, Tennessee Finley Stadium 20,668
Detroit City FC Hamtramck, Michigan Keyworth Stadium 7,933
Los Angeles Force Whittier, California Rio Hondo College 1,000
Michigan Stars FC Pontiac, Michigan Ultimate Soccer Arena 5,000
New Amsterdam FC Warwick, New York Hudson Sports Complex
New Jersey Teamsters FC[upper-alpha 1] Bayonne, New Jersey Don Ahern Memorial Stadium
New York Cosmos Uniondale, New York Mitchel Athletic Complex 5,000
Oakland Roots SC Oakland, California Laney College 5,500
San Diego 1904 FC[upper-alpha 2] San Diego, California Lincoln High School 3,700
Stumptown Athletic[upper-alpha 2] Matthews, North Carolina CSA OrthoCarolina Sportsplex
Sportsplex at Matthews		 1,200
5,000

Personnel and sponsorship
Note: The league has signed a deal with Hummel to be the official kit manufacturer, but it still allows clubs to find their own provider.[2]
Team Head coach Captain(s) Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
California United Strikers FC Don Ebert Xavier Fuerte Nike Taco Bell
Chattanooga FC Peter Fuller Juan Hernandez Hummel Volkswagen
Detroit City FC Trevor James Stephen Carroll Adidas Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers
Los Angeles Force Thales Peterson Joshua Culwell Hummel —
Michigan Stars FC Alexander Strehmel Kyle Nuel Hummel HTC
New Amsterdam FC Eric Wynalda Daniel Vicente Erreà Fruit Street
New Jersey Teamsters FC Javier Romero — SCORE Ignite Physical Therapy
New York Cosmos Carlos Mendes Danny Szetela INARIA Mediacom
Oakland Roots SC Jordan Ferrell Nana Attakora Nike Oaklandish
San Diego 1904 FC Alexandre Gontran Ozzie Ramos Nike —
Stumptown Athletic Mark Steffens Tate Robertson Hummel —

NISA Independent Cup

Following the cancellation of the 2020 Spring Season on April 27, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced initial Fall 2020 season plans and the creation of a new tournament called the NISA Independent Cup.[3][4][5] The region-based competition would include NISA clubs, including new expansion sides the New York Cosmos and New Amsterdam FC, and both independent professional and high quality amateur teams.

On July 1, NISA officially announced the cup along with the 15 teams that would be participating.[6] In total, four member clubs are set to take part with the rest of the field consisting of teams from the National Premier Soccer League, United Premier Soccer League, and Gulf Coast Premier League. The participants are split into four geographical regions with each operating independently and making decisions (format, tiebreaker rules, fan attendance policies, etc.) autonomously. All games are set to be live streamed online through MyCujoo, with some also being broadcast on local television.[7][8]

Central Plains
StTeamLeague
Gaffa FCGCPL
Lone Star RepublicUPSL
Louisiana Krewe FCGCPL
Mansfield Revolution SCUPSL
Great Lakes
StTeamLeague
Cleveland SCNPSL
Detroit City FCNISA
FC BuffaloNPSL
Mid-Atlantic
StTeamLeague
FC Baltimore ChristosNPSL
Maryland Bobcats FCNPSL
New Amsterdam FCNISA
New York CosmosNISA
Southeast
StTeamLeague
Chattanooga FCNISA
Georgia Revolution FCNPSL
Savannah Clovers FCUPSL
Soda City FCUPSL

The Great Lakes Division also serves as a rekindling of the Rust Belt Derby, a former in-season competition previously held in the NPSL, with 2019 NPSL national semifinalist Cleveland SC taking the place of the now folded AFC Cleveland.

Central Plains Region

The four teams will be split into pairs before playing two games against one-another. If tied on aggregate after two games, with no away goal rule, teams will play two 10-minute overtime periods followed by a penalty kick shootout if necessary. Winner of each aggregate competition will meet in the Championship match.

Both matches between Louisiana Krewe and Gaffa will be played at Holden Stadium on the campus of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi.

Lone Star Republic will host the first game against Mansfield Revolution at Greenhill School in Addison, Texas. The Revolution will host the second at Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, Texas.

Semifinals

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Louisiana Krewe FC 3–3 (8–9 p) Gaffa FC 0–1 3–2
Lone Star Republic 9–1 Mansfield Revolution SC 6–0 3–1

Final
August 1, 2020 Lone Star Republic 0–1 Gaffa FCBossier City, Louisiana
7:00 PM CST
  • Ameke  35'
  • Ketterhagen  45+1'
 Report
MyCujoo Broadcast
  • Avila  21'
  • Costa  25'
  • Santos  78'
  • Cosgrave  86'
 Stadium: First Bossier Stadium Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alexander Connelly
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Great Lakes Region

The three teams will compete in a Round-robin competition, each playing a total of two games. Any games tied after 90 minutes will be decided by a penalty kick shootout. Both games involving Detroit City will take place at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan. The remaining match between Cleveland and Buffalo will be played at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium in Erie, Pennsylvania.[9][10]

The Great Lakes Champion will be determined by most points, followed by head-to head, followed by goal differential.

Standings
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Final result
1 Detroit City FC (C) 2 2 0 0 0 6 0 +6 6 Champions
2 Cleveland SC 2 1 0 0 1 3 4 −1 3
3 FC Buffalo 2 0 0 0 2 1 6 −5 0
Source: nisaofficial.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head; 3) goal differential.
(C) Champion.

Results
Home \ Away CSC DCFC FCB
Cleveland SC —
Detroit City FC 3–0 — 3–0
FC Buffalo 1–3 —
Source: nisaofficial.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Mid-Atlantic Region

The four teams will complete in a round-robin competition, playing a total of three games each. The Mid-Atlantic Champion will be determined by most points, followed by head-to head, followed by goal differential.

All games were originally going to be hosted by the Bobcats at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Maryland behind closed doors.[11] On July 24, NISA announced that region's tournament was postponed due to a surge in COVID-19 in Maryland and the subsequent closing of Maryland SoccerPlex to professional sports.[12] On July 28, NISA announced that five of the region's six games would be played at Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Virginia, with the August 2 match between New Amsterdam and the Cosmos being played at Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, New York.[13]

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 FC Baltimore Christos 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 4
2 Maryland Bobcats FC 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
3 New York Cosmos 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
4 New Amsterdam FC 2 0 1 1 1 4 −3 1
Updated to match(es) played on August 9. Source: nisaofficial.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head to head; 3) goal differential.

Results
Home \ Away FCB MDB NAM NYC
FC Baltimore Christos — 1–1 3–1
Maryland Bobcats FC — 1–1
New Amsterdam FC TBD —
New York Cosmos TBD 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on August 9, 2020. Source: nisaofficial.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Southeast Region

The four teams will compete in a round-robin competition against one-another in various venues in both Georgia and South Carolina.[14]

Both Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Memorial Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina hosted matches the first two weeks. The final group stage round that was set to be played at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina on July 25 was called off due to weather.[15] The Southeast Regional Champion will now be determined by group stage points instead of the originally scheduled championship final and third place match, with the final set of games moved to Finley Stadium on August 1.[16]

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Final result
1 Chattanooga FC (C) 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Champions
2 Soda City FC 3 1 1 1 4 6 −2 4
3 Savannah Clovers FC 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3 3
4 Georgia Revolution FC 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: nisaofficial.com
(C) Champion.

Results
Home \ Away CHT GRV SAC SCY
Chattanooga FC — 3–1 3–0
Georgia Revolution FC —
Savannah Clovers FC 1–0 — 1–2
Soda City FC 0–3 2–2 —
Source: nisaofficial.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fall season

On June 4, NISA announced the Fall season format.[17] The season would be split into two separate formats: a regionalized regular season commencing in August, dividing the eight member teams into two conferences; Eastern and Western, followed by a single location tournament in late October that would determine a Fall Season champion.

Eastern Conference

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Michigan Stars FC 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
2 Chattanooga FC 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 3
3 New York Cosmos 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
4 Detroit City FC 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 0
5 New Amsterdam FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on August 15. Source: NISAofficial.com

Results
Home \ Away CHA DET MIC NAM NYC
Chattanooga FC — — — Aug 29 Sep 12
Detroit City FC 0–2 — — Sep 5 —
Michigan Stars FC 2–1 Aug 22 — — —
New Amsterdam FC — — Sep 12 — Aug 21
New York Cosmos — Aug 29 1–1 — —
Updated to match(es) played on August 15, 2020. Source: NISAOfficial.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Western Conference

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 California United Strikers FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Los Angeles Force 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Oakland Roots SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: NISAofficial.com

Results
Home \ Away CAL LAF OAK
California United Strikers FC — — Sep 13
Los Angeles Force Aug 29 — Sep 5
Oakland Roots SC — — —
Updated to match(es) played on August 2, 2020. Source: NISAOfficial.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

The dates, location, and final format of the Fall 2020 playoffs have not been announced.

Spring season

Information regarding the 2021 Spring season has not been released. New Jersey Teamsters FC is set to join the competition at this time while both San Diego 1904 FC and Stumptown Athletic are set to return from hiatus.[18][19]

Championship match

The winners of the Fall and Spring seasons will gain berths into the inaugural NISA Championship match, to be hosted by the Fall Season champion.[1]

Notes
  1. Expansion team for Spring 2021 season
  2. On hiatus during Fall 2020 season
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See also

References
  1. "NISA Fall 2020 schedule update". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. "NISA announces kit sponsorship deal". Twitter.com. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  3. "NISA Official Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  4. "NISA announces Spring season cancelled; aims for Summer tournament, Fall campaign". WTVC. April 27, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. Kennedy, Paul. "NISA cancels spring season, sets sights on August start to fall championship". www.socceramerica.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  6. "NISA Independent Cup". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  7. Gayle, Nathan P. (July 2, 2020). "Chattanooga Football Club to air match on The CW Chattanooga". WTVC. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  8. ""All NISA Independent Cup matches will be live streaming on @MyCujoo . #NISAIndCup It all begins tomorrow."". Twitter. NISA Official. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  9. Tsujimoto, Ben. "FC Buffalo to join NISA Independent Cup, unveils anti-racism jerseys". Buffalo News. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  10. "Detroit City FC to host two matches in NISA Independent Cup". Detroit News. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  11. FC, Maryland Bobcats (June 30, 2020). "Bobcats Announce Participation in NISA Independent Cup". Maryland Bobcats FC. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  12. "NISA Independent Cup Mid-Atlantic Region Update". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  13. "NISA Independent Cup Mid-Atlantic Region Schedule Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  14. MacCoon, Patrick. "Return to live sports inches closer as CFC prepares to open NISA Independent Cup at Finley Stadium". timesfreepress.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  15. MacCoon, Patrick. "Chattanooga FC rained out vs. Soda City FC in South Carolina". timesfreepress.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  16. "NISA Independent Cup Southeast Region Schedule Update". www.nisasoccer.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  17. "NISA Fall Schedule Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  18. Lewis, Michael. "A TEAM IN BAYONNE: NJ Teamsters FC joins NISA for 2021". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  19. Zeigler, Mark (July 28, 2020). "San Diego 1904 FC will skip fall soccer season". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
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