Who needs indoor soccer when you have Team Handball, a fast paced, high scoring, Olympic sport that most Americans don't even know about. I would even dare to say that it is more exciting than basketball, primarily because it's more physical and more fluid, plus I have no idea the difference between a point guard and a shooting guard, but I can tell you the difference between a pivot and a playmaker. To see it in action go to www.ehftv.com
The Scottish league used to run a 6-a-side tournament during the winter in the late 80's, early 90's, called the Tennents Sixes. It was an indoor tournament that generally took a week to play, and it was always played in Glasgow. Growing up, i loved it, but it only lasted for a few years, before it turned into a reserve tournament and then quickly faded out. I would be all for an indoor event, but i think it would need to be a tournament played over a week to 2 week period, rather than a full on league.
Germany and Switzerland likewise had a long tradition of playing indoor tournaments during the winter break, but those turned into reserve tournaments as well before fading out in the late 90s. I enjoyed watching pro indoor soccer until the quality of players went down (largely due to MLS), and I'd be all for having something like an indoor tournament or a beach soccer tournament as exhibition events. But a full league schedule is simply unrealistic. An indoor tournament might work in preseason before the Arizona and Florida training camps start, when most of the teams in cold-weather cities are training indoors anyway. Might be a way to have preseason start a couple weeks earlier without unduly disadvantaging the more northerly teams. I really don't see it working any other way.
No.. although I'd like it if some indoor teams ran outdoor teams in MLS. San Diego Sockers have been around in one form or another since '78 and I have always liked the name, Baltimore Blast. Milwaukee Wave is another team that I like, although if we are talking teams from Milwaukee, I still have a soft spot for the old Milwaukee Rampage from the A-League days.
More futsal at the 4-16 age group and yes it will have spectacular results. For players past that I don't think it would help much. As much as I liked to watch it I'd say get rid of arena soccer. The boards discourage control.
the first NASL- 1970's, 80"s- ran an indoor league and all the teams had to be a part of it- lasted 2-3 years and sucked huge gobs of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ MLS is just getting its legs- adding indoor is NO
Only if it is futsal NOT arena with boards. I think it would be great for the B list players and youth to stay sharp over winter and improve their skills. If you don't think futsal works please read "The Talent Code". There is a whole chapter on it and why it works so great to improve players especially the youth. Keep it regional so travel costs are low. Usually a team will have 11 players so much smaller roster also keeps costs low. A national final with regional champs doing a "4 on the floor" type madness.
Should the National Football League operate an indoor league during the spring? No. In the case of Major League Soccer, the same principal applies.
My thoughts remain identical to what they were in 2014. A short tournament is justifiable if it enables preseason training to start earlier without placing cold-weather teams at an undue disadvantage. Nothing larger in scale than that.