full-time job in soccer, but it has not benefited NPSL very much.

A better option for NPSL would be a partnership with NISA in which NISA teams place development squads in full season amateur NPSL. The additional teams would help bolster NPSL full season in the same way that the MLS partnership benefited USL by increasing the number of clubs, which in turn allows for greater regionalization and a reduction in travel costs for the independent teams. In addition to developing their own players, NISA teams would benefit from a closer look at talent in the NPSL that could be signed to a pro contract with the club’s NISA squad.

A partnership would also provide NISA teams an option in case their time as a professional club does not workthe two leagues could offer each others’ teams discounted fees to incentivize staying within the overall system. NISA could discount its league dues for a period of time to help an NPSL team transition to pro, and NPSL could waive its expansion fee for NISA teams placing a development squad in the league.

Alternatively, NISA could make this type of partnership with the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). The advantage the NPSL has over the UPSL is that appears to have more clubs that are better positioned to evolve into the professional ranks. While it may not have been a willing participant, NPSL has a stronger track record of clubs who have evolved into the pro ranks with USL. An advantage of working with UPSL instead of NPSL is