Leagues that play during the Summer

[wufc]

The MLS fans here have a tough time every year when the top stars have to miss like 1/4th of the season because of all the national team duties during the summer. MLS goes from April to November, and if there isn't a World Cup, then there are qualifiers and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Plus we're distracted by all the international club friendlies that have started to grow in number the last few years here. Plus, whatever Champions League there is here ends pretty much at the start of the MLS season.

My question is, how does the summer schedule affect fans of leagues that play through the entire summer? I don't know which leagues but I know that some leagues do follow the spring through fall schedule.

[ExpatSwede]

Due to the climate, the Nordic/Scandinavian leagues are played in the summer, the Swedish "Allsvenskan" being one example. (From April to October)

During major competitions, like the Euro or WC, the short summer break is extended a bit.

[Elninho]

Other than MLS, the Scandinavian leagues, and Russia, leagues that play through the summer are generally of a low enough level to not have many international players, so they are usually completely unaffected by major international tournaments. Many Latin American countries, as well as Japan and South Korea, have calendar year seasons, but they typically split the season into two stages with a 1-2 month break in the middle.

[Andy TAUS]

The old AUS NSL and the new A-League both play in the S/H summer, in order to align with the N/H winter leagues. I think also to avoid the local competition of Rugby Union, Rugby League & Aussie Rules, which are played in the S/H winter. ;) There's a lot of overlap as the two seasons go for more than 6 months.

[Revelian]

League of Ireland, "Summer Soccer," is more exciting than a motherphuka.

Come on Cork City.....then mop it up with tissues.

Revelian

[Paul.eta]

Other than MLS, the Scandinavian leagues, and Russia, leagues that play through the summer are generally of a low enough level to not have many international players, so they are usually completely unaffected by major international tournaments. Many Latin American countries, as well as Japan and South Korea, have calendar year seasons, but they typically split the season into two stages with a 1-2 month break in the middle.

Generally South Korea has a pre-season tournament called Hauzen Cup (Spring)
Then K-League 1st/2nd Stage (Summer-Fall) - About a month of break w/an All-Star Game near the start of the 2nd Stage
Playoffs (Fall-Winter)

[unclesox]

Many Latin American countries... have calendar year seasons, but they typically split the season into two stages with a 1-2 month break in the middle.
Don't forget that for the CONMEBOL nations, south of the equator has their summer when we northerners are in winter. ;)

[schafer]

The Canadian (read: Ontario) Pro Soccer League plays during the summer, but most of those guys don't worry about international call-ups

[Andy TAUS]

Don't forget that for the CONMEBOL nations, south of the equator has their summer when we northerners are in winter. ;)That applies to ALL S/H countries, not just CONMEBOL ones. ;)