National Professional Soccer League (1984-2001)
 |
|
| Founded | April 18, 1984 (as AISA) |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2001 |
| Country |
 United States Canada |
| Number of teams | 15 |
| Last champions |
Milwaukee Wave (2000–01) |
The National Professional Soccer League was a professional indoor soccer league in the USA and Canada. It was originally called the American Indoor Soccer Association.
After five years of study, a group called Soccer Leagues Unlimited, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, first unveiled its plans for an indoor league, composed exclusively of American players, in November 1983. The group's president, Bob Lemieux (later AISA commissioner), announced that Kalamazoo, Fort Wayne and Springfield, IL were already on board in what was he said was intended to be a sort of farm system, or developmental league, for the well established Major Indoor Soccer League. He added that groups in Indianapolis, Peoria, and Michigan cities, Saginaw and Flint; Kentucky cities, Lexington and Louisville; Ohio cities, Columbus Toledo and Dayton; Erie, PA; and Green Bay, WI were all interested in the prospect of being a part such a league.
Officially starting on April 18, 1984, the American Indoor Soccer Association's charter franchises were Chicago, Milwaukee, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne, however a Fort Wayne team did not actually materialize until the league's third season. Three other teams, Louisville, Canton and Columbus, all joined the league prior to the start of the first season in November 1984. The league changed its name to the National Professional Soccer League in 1990. Over the course of 17 seasons, a total of 30 unique franchises in 32 different cities were part of the league at one time or another. During the summer of 2001, the league disbanded and the six surviving teams formed the second incarnation of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
When the league began in 1984, game rules were almost identical compared to the larger and more popular MISL. Beginning with the 1988–89 season, however, the AISA changed their scoring system. Goals were now worth 1, 2, or 3 points depending upon distance or game situation. Basically, all non-power play goals scored from inside the yellow line were worth 2 points while non-powerplay goals from outside the yellow line (50 feet from the goal line) were worth 3 points. Any power play goal was worth 1 point, as was any goal scored during a penalty shootout. Before the 1994–1995 season, the three-point line was changed to a 45-foot arc. Eventually, power play goals were worth either two or three points, but penalty shootouts were still kept at one point.
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