 | |
| 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 U.S. and Canada. It was originally called the American Indoor Soccer Association.
In November 1983, a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based group called Soccer Leagues Unlimited unveiled a plan for an indoor league composed exclusively of American players. The group's president, Bob Lemieux (later AISA commissioner), announced that Kalamazoo, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Springfield, Illinois, were 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, Wisconsin, were all interested in joining the league. [1]
Officially starting on April 18, 1984, the American Indoor Soccer Association's charter franchises were Chicago, Milwaukee, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne; [2] however, a Fort Wayne team did not materialize until the league's third season. Three other teams, Louisville, Canton and Columbus, all joined the league before the first season began in November 1984.
In 1990, the league changed its name to the National Professional Soccer League. [3] Over its 17 seasons, a total of 30 franchises in 32 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. [4]
When the league began in 1984, game rules were almost identical compared to the larger and more popular Major Indoor Soccer League. Beginning with the 1988–89 season, [5] 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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| SEASON | CHAMPION | RUNNER-UP | SERIES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–85 | Canton Invaders | Louisville Thunder | 3–1 |
| 1985–86 | Canton Invaders | Louisville Thunder | 3–0 |
| 1986–87 | Louisville Thunder | Canton Invaders | 3–2 |
| 1987–88 | Canton Invaders | Ft. Wayne Flames | (Challenge Cup) |
| 1988–89 | Canton Invaders | Chicago Power | 3–2 |
| 1989–90 | Canton Invaders | Dayton Dynamo | 3–1 |
| 1990–91 | Chicago Power | Dayton Dynamo | 3–0 |
| 1991–92 | Detroit Rockers | Canton Invaders | 3–2 |
| 1992–93 | Kansas City Attack | Cleveland Crunch | 3–2 |
| 1993–94 | Cleveland Crunch | St. Louis Ambush | 3–1 |
| 1994–95 | St. Louis Ambush | Harrisburg Heat | 4–0 |
| 1995–96 | Cleveland Crunch | Kansas City Attack | 4–2 |
| 1996–97 | Kansas City Attack | Cleveland Crunch | 4–0 |
| 1997–98 | Milwaukee Wave | St. Louis Ambush | 4–1 |
| 1998–99 | Cleveland Crunch | St. Louis Ambush | 3–2 |
| 1999–2000 | Milwaukee Wave | Cleveland Crunch | 3–2 |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee Wave | Philadelphia KiXX | 3–0 |
| TEAM | TITLES | SEASONS | RUNNER-UP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Invaders → Columbus Invaders → Montreal Impact | 5 | 84–85, 85–86, 87–88, 88–89, 89–90 | 86–87, 91–92 |
| Cleveland Crunch | 3 | 93–94, 95–96, 98–99 | 92–93, 96–97, 99–00 |
| Milwaukee Wave | 3 | 97–98, 99–00, 00–01 | – |
| Atlanta Attack → Kansas City Attack | 2 | 92–93, 96–97 | 95–96 |
| Louisville Thunder | 1 | 86–87 | 84–85, 85–86 |
| Chicago Power | 1 | 90–91 | 88–89 |
| Detroit Rockers | 1 | 91–92 | – |
| Tulsa Ambush → St. Louis Ambush | 1 | 94–95 | 93–94, 97–98, 98–99 |
| Dayton Dynamo → Cincinnati Silverbacks | 0 | – | 89–90, 90–91 |
| Fort Wayne Flames | 0 | – | 87–88 |
| Harrisburg Heat | 0 | – | 94–95 |
| Philadelphia KiXX | 0 | – | 00–01 |
The Tampa Bay Rowdies were an American professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida, that competed in the original North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1975 to 1984. They enjoyed broad popular support in the Tampa Bay area until the NASL folded in 1984, after which the team played in various minor indoor and outdoor leagues before finally folding on January 31, 1994. The Rowdies played nearly all of their outdoor home games at Tampa Stadium and nearly all of their indoor games at the Bayfront Center Arena in nearby St. Petersburg, Florida. Although San Diego played indoors until 1996, the Rowdies were the last surviving NASL franchise that played outdoor soccer on a regular basis.
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. After the 1995–96 season, the team relocated and became the Columbus Invaders.
The Kalamazoo Kangaroos were an indoor soccer club based in Kalamazoo, Michigan that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association.
The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986–1989.
Peter Hattrup is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in Major League Soccer and the USL A-League.
James Swanner is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper and current soccer coach. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1984. He spent his entire professional career playing indoor soccer.
Keith Tozer is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He is currently the commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League.
James Michael Gabarra is an American retired soccer forward who coached the Washington Spirit National Women's Soccer League team, and previously coached Sky Blue FC and the Washington Freedom women's soccer teams. He played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance.
Paul DiBernardo is a retired Argentine-American soccer midfielder who coaches youth soccer. He played professionally in the American Indoor Soccer Association and earned one cap with the United States men's national soccer team.
Gino DiFlorio is a Canadian former professional soccer player who had an extensive indoor career in North America during the 1990s. Since 2001, he has been the director of coaching at the youth soccer club in Eastern Pennsylvania called HMMS.
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Dan O’Keefe is a retired American soccer forward who played over ten seasons in the U.S. indoor leagues. He led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring in 1989.
Kia Zolgharnain is an Iranian-American soccer coach and former player who is the current head coach and technical director of Akron City FC. As a player, Zolgharnain was a forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986–1987 season. He coaches youth soccer in Cleveland. During his playing days, he was known by his first name alone.
Ed Puskarich is a retired U.S. soccer defender who had an extensive career which began in 1984 in the United Soccer League and ended in the Premier Development League. In between, he played in the American Indoor Soccer Association, National Professional Soccer League, USISL and Major League Soccer. He has coached at the youth, college and professional levels including four as an assistant coach and scout with the Dallas Burn.
John Dolinsky is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association where he was the 1989 Coach of the Year.
Chris Hellenkamp is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.
The 1989–90 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the sixth season for the league. Before the season, Atlanta was added, Ft. Wayne changed their name to Indiana, and Memphis changed their nickname to the Rogues. After the season, Indiana moved to Albany, New York. Because of mounting debt, on June 23, 1990, the AISA expelled Memphis from the league and repudiated its line of credit. After the season, the league also changed its name to the National Professional Soccer League.
The 1987–88 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the fourth season for the league. Only four teams returned from the previous year, which made for a very brief, 24-game season that ended in early February. The 1988 All-Star game had been scheduled for Tampa Bay, but with the Rowdies leaving the league to play outdoors in the American Soccer League, and three other clubs folding, the game was canceled altogether.
The 1986–87 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the third season of the league. The Columbus Capitals and Kalamazoo Kangaroos did not return after the 1985–86 season. Four teams, including former NASL stalwarts, Tampa Bay Rowdies, joined the league in 1986–87. The Fort Wayne Flames, Memphis Storm and Toledo Pride were all newly formed expansion teams. The addition of Tampa Bay in particular, and Memphis to a lesser degree, marked the AISA's first clubs outside of the Midwest. Rudy Pikuzinski of Canton won the league scoring title en route to his first of three straight MVP awards, while Memphis boss Terry Nicholl took home Coach of the Year honors.
The 1985–86 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the second season for the league. The only change in teams from the inaugural season was that Chicago changed its name from the Vultures to the Shoccers. Zoran Savic of Louisville won the scoring title, but Canton’s Kia Zolgharnain netted the most goals with 52. League assists leader, Don Tobin, also of Canton was voted MVP, while his coach Trevor Dawkins took home Coach of the Year honors.
