MISL Announces Affiliation Agreement with the Premier Arena Soccer League
Published on October 11, 2007 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release
WESTPORT, Conn. (Thursday, October 11, 2007) - The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL), the largest International indoor soccer league (amateur) in the world, jointly announced on Thursday that they have formalized a multi-year affiliation agreement, according to MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan and PASL Commissioner Kevin Milliken. Through this formalized agreement, the MISL will utilize the PASL as its affiliate for developing MISL players, developing on-field game officials and referees, and serving as a competitive platform to evaluate potential rules and equipment changes.
"We are very pleased to have formalized our relationship with the PASL," said Commissioner Ryan. "We have had a strong working relationship with Kevin Milliken and the PASL since 2003 and this agreement will help all involved grow this great game of indoor soccer. Cleary, our roadmap to success is driven by exposing our product to a rapidly growing market segment of soccer enthusiasts across the country. On behalf of the MISL, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim Rachels, California Cougars Investor/Operator, for his diligence in ushering the MISL through this process."
"This is a landmark affiliation agreement for the sport of indoor soccer," commented Commissioner Milliken. "Indoor soccer is now connected at all levels, from adult and youth recreation, to youth camps and clinics, to competitive adult play, to the professional ranks. I believe that this is the first time there is such a connection on a national scale where a recreational fan can touch the MISL through the PASL. Indoor soccer is the sport of the future and we have taken a major step forward with this affiliation agreement."
As part of player development, the PASL, in coordination with MISL member clubs, shall conduct player combines in regional areas for MISL scouting and potential drafting of PASL players. Additionally, MISL clubs may participate in the PASL league via a development team, similar to the Stockton Pumas, the official development team of the MISL California Cougars.
"The PASL has been the perfect setting for us to evaluate the best amateur 'indoor' soccer players in our region," stated California Cougars Head Coach Bernie Lilavois, who selected several players from the PASL during the 2007 MISL Expansion Draft. "We have benefited a great deal by having such a large group of PASL teams on the west coast. The PASL made my job of scouting local talent a lot easier, and it will do the same for all of the other coaches in the MISL. Our reserve team, the Stockton Pumas, won the PASL summer national tournament and many of the players we faced were invited to our training camp. While coaching the Pumas, I was able to work with younger, 'up-and-coming' talent and teach them the system that we use at the pro level. This affiliation will greatly benefit not just our team but the League as well."
As part of the development of on-field game officials and referees, the top performing referees for PASL matches shall be given the opportunity to be included in the pool of referees for MISL matches. As it relates to the competition rules of the game, the PASL shall play by modified MISL playing rules as approved by the MISL Competition Committee. The PASL shall be represented on the MISL Competition Committee. Wherever possible, the PASL shall use the MISL multi-point scoring system.
Further, the MISL and PASL will collaborate to develop comprehensive co-promotional platforms to, not only increase the exposure of both leagues, but to rapidly grow the game of indoor soccer.
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