times.

Ultimately the Founders Cup was undone by something seemingly mundane – insurance. After struggling to find a way to make sanctioning as part of the NPSL work, the Founders Cup sought sanctioning independently. The United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) both turned down the opportunity to sanction the Founders Cup because of liability insurance issues around having a mix of professional and amateur players in a league. Sanctioning the Founders Cup would have been a major coup for USSSA and their turning it down demonstrates how big an obstacle this insurance issue became. This is despite the fact that pros and amateurs face off every year in the US Open Cup, and that many USL teams have players on amateurmay seem to have the upper hand at the moment, a closer look shows how much the fledgling pro circuit needed the teams from the Founders Cup to be viable. Of the eight markets announced for sanctioning, only five appeared on the NISA Fall 2019 schedule. Three former Founders Cup teams slotted in instead, Miami FC, Oakland Roots and California United Strikers FC. Their arrival allowed the Connecticut and Providence teams to take more time to get ready. The prospective Baton Rouge club may not happen at all.

With the three ex-Founders Cup clubs in the fold and Detroit City, Chattanooga and a brand new, second Georgia-based team close to joining for the Spring, NISA is growing stronger, but it is best to remember how tenuous the existence of