National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001)
The National Professional Soccer League was a professional indoor soccer league in the USA. It started out as the American Indoor Soccer Association in 1984 but changed its name to the National Professional Soccer League in 1990. During the summer of 2001, the league disbanded and the six surviving teams formed the Major Indoor Soccer League, which would later absorb three teams from the World Indoor Soccer League.
Beginning in 1989, the NPSL had a unique scoring system, almost identical to basketball, where goals were 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 powerplay 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.
Teams
Championships
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 |
1999-00 |
Milwaukee Wave |
Cleveland Crunch |
3–2 |
2000–01 |
Milwaukee Wave |
Philadelphia KiXX |
3–0 |
Championships won
TEAM |
TITLES |
SEASONS |
Canton Invaders ( -> Columbus Invaders -> Montreal Impact) |
5 |
84–85, 85–86, 87–88, 88–89, 89–90 |
Cleveland Crunch |
3 |
93–94, 95–96, 98–99 |
Milwaukee Wave |
3 |
97–98, 99–00, 00–01 |
(Atlanta Attack -> ) Kansas City Attack |
2 |
92–93, 96–97 |
Chicago Power ( -> Edmonton Drillers) |
1 |
90–91 |
Detroit Rockers |
1 |
91–92 |
(Tulsa Ambush -> ) St. Louis Ambush |
1 |
94–95 |
Commissioners
- Steve M. Paxos 1988–2000
- Steve Ryan 2000–01
Defunct soccer leagues in the United States
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