The past two weeks have been quite bizarre for the sport of indoor soccer. Two new leagues, the USL-I League and the ASA, announced they will begin play in 2011.
The announcement of USL’s professional indoor league was not much of a surprise considering their roots in the indoor game. Rumors of the league have been around for several months.
Three teams will begin play in fall of 2011: Syracuse (NY), Rochester (NY), and Hampton Roads (VA). I completely respect Chris Economides, but have to wonder if the USL should focus their attention on the outdoor game. Who knows what the federation is going to do with the USSF D-II Pro League next year. I think they should be working on recreating USL-1 and defending their turf against the NASL.
The Arena Soccer Association (ASA) also announced they will be part of the indoor game in 2011. The Canton, OH based league has no member clubs, but appears to have several full-time employees. Our requests for an interview have gone unanswered. Their website has a “Coming Soon” message and their Twitter feeds offer no new information.
Our take on this situation is simple. The indoor game needs something drastic to guarantee its long-term survival. A merger between the MISL and PASL would be the best solution for the growth of the game. The MISL has some notoreity and the PASL has lots of clubs managed in a fiscally responsible way. It would be a perfect combination and would take the game coast to coast.
I think the ASA and USL-I League will struggle to get teams of their own and may not be around to see the fall of 2011. Neither league offers anything new or innovative; it is just more of the same. Ask the Xtreme Soccer League what they think of the idea? Wait. You can’t; they folded after one season.
One league (MISL/PASL) is plenty. No one in their right mind would think four independent leagues are a good idea. Let us leave the indoor game to the experts at the PASL and MISL and focus on growth in the outdoor game.
