NASL adopts Spring/Fall seasons for 2013

There were several reasons for making the move, Pugh said Wednesday. FIFA, the world governing body for the game, has long sought to encourage countries to move to a universal calendar, and while that has been complicated by weather considerations across North America, a compromise has been found.

In addition, the break coincides with the international transfer window, something some teams appear to be eager to use for squad building.

http://www.canada.com/Sports/NASL implements schedule shakeup/7195507/story.html

Anybody want to inform WSW that there are a multitude of different international transfer windows?

Actually there are 2 main windows.

January and June-August, some leagues do start before (December) or close after (September).

Well it looks like some of us were wrong, a cold weather team was one of the team making the proposal (Ottawa)

I can care less about Ted's wet Dream. But I will say for the NASL that this is a strong move to bring a true champion to the end of their season. Hope to see what happens and I don't give a damn about Ted's Wet dreams.

Save yourself the crazy. He's fine with no (actual) playoffs. Because, you know, Rest of the World. And by Rest of the World, he means England.

What do you call the Big Game at the End, then?

You said "semifinal and final."

Quit trying to move the goalposts and walk it back, jagov. You know what you meant, we know what you meant, you're wrong, you're a hypocrite and you know it. Just admit you're wrong, admit that your opinions are completely shaped by whether or not the NASL does it and that you're wrong. Also, that you're wrong.

There are two broad windows, but almost nobody uses the entirety of both windows. That's why the generic statement about it being the transfer window doesn't work without showing what leagues it lines up with.

I always love the notion of "true champion" that the non-playoff folks always spout. Personally, I think we should just ask Brian Strauss who he thinks is the "true champion," that seems to make him happy. We can dispense with any type of postseason. In fact, we can dispense with a season at all and just have him watch teams play for a week and pick one.

"True champion." That's ********ing hilarious. The champion of most leagues - as generally accepted - is the team that wins the between one and maybe 19 or 28 (or the right combination) games held after the regular season.

You are, of course, free to consider anybody to be a champion if you like. If you get off on the Purity of the Regular Season, good on ya. But most of the rest of us don't do that.

(Also, they're not doing this "to bring a true champion to the end of their season." They're doing it for a point of differentiation, alleged cost-savings and some probably minor TV concerns. The idea that this way or that way or the other way results in a "true champion" is ridiculous.)

Well you can also argue that those two windows are when all (practically all) leagues in the world are open for international transfers, even if it is only for a few weeks with each window.

International transfers being key, many can do domestic transfers after their international window closes, an also many can sign free agents outside those two main windows.

Well their you go I'm a futbol traditionalist and you are a Americanization fan.

I prefer a team to fight for every game during season, instead of playing just to get to playoffs.

If you want you still have USL to support they just need running PK's and countdown clock.
yes I know they did that in old NASL but then nobody did that.

I apologize for using the word "TRUE" next to the word "CHAMPION" I was trying to say it's a different way of making a champion of the league using this form of scheduling. I wasn't trying to get you upset.

I bow to the all mighty Kenn Tomasch and beg for forgiveness as I respect your wisdom.

No I am not trying to patronize you, I am seriously apologizing for the choice of words I used. Because I do respect your opinions on these issues.

It's an intriguing format, I'll say. I don't really lean in any direction for/against.

But I'm not too worried about the # of games getting out of hand. If anything they could just switch to single round robin + geographic rivals twice for 10-12 teams (meaning 26-32 games) and at 13+ teams (if ever) do a single round robin.

I think the main concern is what if a team wins the spring season they have nothing to play for?

Well first they can play for bragging rights and second they need to compete so they don't fall out of the groove, but it would be cool if the double-crown champion could get a semifinal-bye in USOC.

Doesn't the supporter shield champion in MLS qualify for CCL?

No qualify to semifinal.

Is it bad idea.... I mean how likely is it for a team to win 2 split seasons and if it was a "normal" D2 league the team would get promoted which will not happen here.

I don't know because our 2nd division is pretty weird, you can have a team from caribbean enter CCL, a team from canada enter CCL and US D2 teams get in CCL if they win USOC.

I don't know any D2 team that qualified for European Champions League.

I know that's what I mean we are a unusual case.

but what kind of incentive would you give a double season winner?

The best incentive for the Spring winner was already said in this thread. And it is the same incentive that should drive every NASL and USL player on every club. The players on these teams want to get the hell out of the NASL and make some money, challenge themselves against better players, and play on a much bigger stage. Of course not every player will reach that goal, but you always have hope. You can't coast when you are a minor league player since you pray someone in MLS is watching and will give you either a first, second, or even third chance.

but also for those players to get noticed it's good for a team to qualify for CCL.