National Independent Soccer Association
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]
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Founded | June 6, 2017 |
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First season | 2019–20 |
Country | United States |
Confederation | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
Conferences | Eastern Conference Western Conference |
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) |
TV partners | MyCujoo |
Website | nisaofficial |
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History
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.[4] 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);[5][6] however, the NASL ceased operations prior to those plans being implemented.
On February 13, 2018, NISA co-founder Jack Cummins died suddenly.[7] 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.[8] A committee of club owners has been formed to elect new leadership within the organization.[9]
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.[10] On February 16, 2019, NISA was provisionally sanctioned as a Division III league by the United States Soccer Federation.[11] 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.[12] However, it was unclear whether either of the teams would start before the league's September start date.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
The inaugural season began on August 31, 2019, with a 3–3 draw for Oakland Roots SC and California United Strikers FC in Oakland.[15] On April 27, 2020, following previous postponements, the remainder of the 2019–20 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]
Clubs
Current
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Fall 2020 club Future club Club on hiatus
Former
Club | City | Joined | Final season | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Miami FC | Miami, Florida | Fall 2019 | Fall 2019 | Moved to USL Championship[20] |
Philadelphia Fury | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Fall 2019 | Fall 2019 | Inactive |
Atlanta SC | Alpharetta, Georgia | Fall 2019 | Fall 2019 | Inactive |
Champions
Teams that no longer participate in the National Independent Soccer Association are in italics.
Team | NISA Final | Year(s) won | Conference title |
Year(s) won | Regular season title |
Year(s) won | NISA seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Miami FC | 1 | Fall 2019 | 1 | Fall 2019 | 0.5 | ||
California United Strikers FC | 1 | Fall 2019 | 1 | ||||
Los Angeles Force | 1 | Fall 2019 | 1 | ||||
NISA Final results
Season | Portion | Champions | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance | MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019–20 | Fall | No overall association champion decided[lower-alpha 1] | |||||
Spring | Season not complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
- 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.
NISA Independent Cup results
Year | Region | Champions | National Champion | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance | MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Central Plains | Gaffa FC (GCPL) | N/A[lower-alpha 1] | ||||
Great Lakes | Detroit City FC (NISA) | ||||||
Mid-Atlantic | To be determined | ||||||
Southeast | Chattanooga FC (NISA) | ||||||
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regional champions were unable to compete in a National Final tournament
Staff
- As of June 2, 2019[21]
Current
- John Prutch – commissioner
- Brian Melekian – chief operating officer
- Joshua Prutch – executive vice president of expansion
- Jim Thompson – chief financial officer
- Samantha Prutch – director of communications
- Nick Mahrt – director of internal affairs
- Lana Masiuk – director of business operations
Previous leadership
- Bob Watkins – president (2018–19)
- Peter Wilt – co-founder (2017–18)
- Jack Cummins – co-founder (2017–18)
See also
- 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
References
- "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.
- 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.
- "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.
- 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.
- Zeigler, Mark (July 28, 2020). "San Diego 1904 FC will skip fall soccer season". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- "National Independent Soccer Association Kicks Off Announcements of Markets That Will Host Professional Soccer in 2019". Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- https://www.njteamstersfc.com/news/breaking-news
- "Ottawa Fury FC Announce Relocation, Sale of Franchise Rights to The Miami FC". uslchampionship.com. USL. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- Staff, NISA. "People". Retrieved June 2, 2019.