a non-MLS or USL league subject to the USSF’s PLS is until it reaches an unimpeachable quantity of clubs. The bar for a Division III league is substantially lower in several aspects than the Division II requirements that tripped up the North American Soccer League. There are no time zone regulations and the league needs only 8 teams that play in stadia of more than 1,000 seats. NISA appears likely to have 12 clubs for the Spring, but the more that sign up for Spring and Fall 2020 starts, the safer the league will be from USSF intervention since USSF’s lawyers made it clear in the antitrust case that league-level PLS waivers are far more serious concerns than team-level waivers.

While many might be disappointed that there will beno “NPSL Pro”, a full season NPSL amateur league is a great development for that organization and its clubs. The classic NPSL short-season league is good for clubs that are content to provide summer soccer for out of season college players. Like most of USL League Two (formerly PDL), these clubs are providing the soccer equivalent of the Cape Cod wood bat league in baseball. It is also a wonderful place for new teams to get started and test their market viability. However, there are a number of NPSL teams that ready for something more, but not quite ready for professional soccer and/or do not have the ability to meet the arbitrary $10M lead investor threshold of the USSF PLS. The rumored full season NPSL amateur league will