The 2022 NISA season is the fourth season of the National Independent Soccer Association's third-division soccer competition. After three years of split seasons, NISA switched to a full season format, with a single table and a playoff competition to determine the 2022 champion.[1]
The season started on March 26, and will see each team play 26 games over 30 weeks: four times against each opponent in the same division and two times against each opponent in the opposite division.
Updated to match(es) played on August 20, 2022. Source: nisasoccer.com Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head
Updated to match(es) played on August 20, 2022. Source: nisasoccer.com Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head Notes:
^Valley United FC withdrew from the league and their playing record of P9 W1 D1 L7 GF4 GA21 was expunged.[7]
Standings (August 27–October 15)
Due to Bay Cities FC's withdrawal from this season, NISA has revised the 2022 schedule and table with the eight remaining clubs. As a result, this standings had been condensed into a single table format and used an average-points per game total (points earned divided by matches played).[8]
Source: nisasoccer.com Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Playoffs
The playoffs began on October 21, and featured the top six teams from the regular season. The top two teams from the regular season table received a bye into the league semifinals. Teams finishing third through sixth played in the quarterfinals, with the winners being re-seeded before playing in the next round. The 2022 Final took place on November 6. All postseason games were broadcast online on Eleven Sports.
Originally, the East and West division winners would have been assigned the top two seeds and received byes to the semifinals. The second place teams in each division were to be seeded 3 and 4, while the third place finishers would be seeded 5 and 6. Following the restructuring of the table on August 27, the division aspect was dropped.
The NISA Independent Cup will start on June 25. It features nine of the ten NISA clubs, with California United Strikers FC opting not to participate the tournament. They will be joined by 27 invited amateur teams and divided geographically into nine regions of four clubs each. Each region will play a single round robin tournament between three amateur teams using a 10-point system. The winner of that round-robin will play against the NISA teams for the regional championship. Like last year, there will be no interregional play or national champion.
Participating Clubs
Nine NISA teams play in nine regions respectively, as California United Strikers FC did not participate. Midwest, New England and South Central region replaced with Empire, Northeast and SoCal region due to lack of NISA teams (despite Michigan Stars based from Midwest but plays in Great Lakes as NISA's 2022 season did not have Midwest based clubs other than Michigan Stars).
Note: Due to Valley United FC suspended all operations for the balance of the 2022 season including southwest regional final between Valley United FC and Valley FC Raiders, Valley FC Raiders was awarded the southwest regional title as a group stage winner.[7]
^Bay Cities played its home match vs Flower City on June 1 at Cañada College
^Flower City Union played its home matches of May 4 vs California United Strikers and June 15 vs Los Angeles Force at Vandetta Stadium in Batavia, New York due to date conflicts.
^LA Force played their first home matches at Garey Stadium, second home at Orange County Great Park Turf 10, third hone at Ayala Park Stadium at Chino, fourth home at Championship Soccer Stadium and now fifth, and sixth home at Covina District Field at Covina. The seventh match, also meant for Covina, was postponed and is listed as of August 22, 2022 as to be decided. The final four matches, excluding the postponed match, are to be held at Los Angeles Harbor College.
^Valley United withdrew from 2022 season after roster controversy around a club. As a result, a team who against Valley United in previous matches will not take a result and points for standings.[7]
