History of Indoor Soccer1885 The first recorded "indoor soccer" match (the first of three in a series) takes place between the Western Football Association of Ontario and the O.N.T.'s of Newark on December 2nd in the Newark Roller Skating Rink. The series is part of a challenge cup including both outdoor and "rink" games. The rink games are at night, beginning at 9:00 p.m., played under "electric lights." Among the largest in the country at that time, the rink measures 165 by 80 feet, with goals 8 by 15 feet. The field is bounded by the first few rows of empty seats, the crowd being protected by netting. Each team has six players, and no substitutes. The referee initiates most restarts by tossing the ball into the air, and there are off-sides. At the end of two twenty-minute halves of regulation play, the Toronto Globe (December 7, 1885) reports, "...the score stood one to nothing in favour of the Canadians, who thus won one of the fastest, most exciting, as well as most novel games in the history of football." Canada goes on to win each of the rink games, and the series, before a largely partisan, Canadian crowd. 1923 The world's first indoor soccer league with 11 players per side open the winter season at the Commonwealth Calvary Armory in Boston, MA. Mid-1920's An indoor league forms in New York City, with games taking place at Madison Square Garden.
1939 The American Soccer League hosts occasional indoor soccer matches at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 1950 The National Soccer League stages a complete season of indoor soccer games, including some local television. 1958 The American Soccer League stages an all-day indoor soccer tournament, played on dirt and with boards, at Madison Square Garden, attracting over 14,000 fans. 1970 The North American Indoor Soccer League begins to organize periodic indoor soccer games and tournaments. 1973 The World Indoor Soccer Association, a 6-a-side league consisting of 6 U.S. and Canadian teams, featuring international stars along side of local talent, and offering a glimpse into the following year's World Cup, holds its first contest at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada.
1985
The NASL folds. 1986
Southwest Indoor Soccer League, the precursor to today's USL (A-League
and D3), forms with 5 teams. In 1988 the league changed its name to
the Southwest Independent Soccer League and expanded to include outdoor
soccer in 1989. The SISL became the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League
in 1990, the United States Interregional Soccer League in 1991, the United
States System of Independent Soccer Leagues in 1994 and the United Soccer
Leagues in February 2000. In 1996, its indoor soccer component became
known as the I-League. At its height, the indoor league reached 18 teams
in 1990. 1988
The AISA (NPSL) institutes a multi-point scoring system 1990
MISL changes its name to Major Soccer League in an attempt to position
itself as a Division I outdoor league in time for the 1994 World Cup. 1992
Having reached as many as 14 teams (with some occasionally reaching average
attendance near 10,000) the MSL (formerly MISL) folds, largely
due to bidding wars over players both with the NASL and NPSL
and within its own league. 1993
Continental Indoor Soccer League begins its first competitive season
with seven teams, including one from Mexico. Play takes place during the
summer. 1995
Inaugural North American Indoor Soccer Championships (having changed
its name in 1999 to National Indoor Championship) held for youth
players (U9 through U18, boys and girls) and adults (men and coed). 1997
Eastern Indoor Soccer League forms in the southeastern United States
Having
dropped to 4 teams, the I-League goes dormant. The
EISL folds after two seasons. 1999
On the heels of its World Cup Triumph, the US Women's National
Team takes part in a 12 city "Victory Tour" in the US vs a team
of World All-Stars. USIndoor is named the "Official Referee
and Rules Provider." 2000 USIndoor broadcasts on its sister site USIndoorTV.com the first-ever "live" video webcast of an indoor soccer game. The broadcast features simultaneous audio, video, and chat - another first in all of sports. GOAL
Indoor, the Official Magazine of USIndoor and the only national publication
exclusively dedicated to indoor soccer, begins circulation. 2001
NPSL reorganizes, bringing back the moniker, Major Indoor Soccer
League, and begins play with 6 teams. 2002
The WISL folds and 2 teams join the MISL for the 2002-2003
season. 2002
The American Indoor Soccer League kicks off its first season as a six-team regional league, based in the northeastern US. The league positions itself a a "grass-roots" league for top local players. PRESENT The MISL is a professional league consisting of 6 US teams -- from Stockton, CA to Baltimore, MD. The American Indoor Soccer League has 5 teams in the central and northeastern US. The National Indoor Championship (youth and adult) continues to be held in the United States, with over 1,200 teams. If you have something to add to the indoor soccer history page, please e-mail postplease@usindoor.com. |
1930
Juan Carlos Ceriani, from Uraguay, devises the first set of rules of
"futsal," played on a basketball court with five players per side.
1974
North American Soccer League All-stars plays the Soviet Red Army
in the hockey rink at Maple Leaf Gardens on astroturf with goals 4 feet
by 16 feet, the first televised
indoor soccer game, appearing on ABC's Wide World of Sports. After three
20-minute periods, the NASL All-stars fall 8 to 4 in front of 11,535 fans.
The NASL goes on to stage indoor tournaments in 1975, 1976, and 1979. 
1978
Major Indoor Soccer League begins play with 6 US teams,
coinciding in 1979 with the NASL's
indoor league, comprised of 10 teams. Games are played in four 15-minute
quarters. Goals are 6 1/2 feet by 12 feet. Average attendance reach 6,000
to 8,000 over ensuing seasons. 
1984
National Professional Soccer League (known as the American Indoor Soccer
Association until 1990, initially established as a minor league) forms,
consisting of 6 teams, chiefly in the northeastern United States. Play
takes place during the late fall and winter. The number of teams reaches
a height of 15 teams in 1996. 
1998 The Premier Soccer Alliance (having changed its name in
1999 to the World Indoor Soccer League), consisting of some owners
common to the former CISL, begins its inaugural season with four
teams and a revitalized business plan. Play takes place during the late
summer and fall. League play includes competition against foreign teams.
