by David Falk

It’s time for the Premier Arena Soccer League to evolve in the Northwest. It’s time to allow local club operators more of a say in decisions made for their division. It’s time for Commissioner Kevin Milliken to share the burden of running his league as it pertains to our area. It’s time for more democracy and transparency.

This is clear to me after listening behind the scenes for the last few years, and then following some of that talk to the front pages as local owners are becoming more and more willing to go public with their challenges and gripes.

It’s clear to me Milliken could use a hand because the season kicks off on November 23, but the official season schedules for the PASL-NW are not even online yet.

MORE: Shock blocked in Tacoma, TSC operator opens up

The Wash is David Falk’s take on the world of soccer in The WA.

Read previous columns here.

There are eleven clubs in the PASL NW for 2013. It’s growing. Last season coverage on goalWA.net was well-received, and attendances and interest climbed. Milliken has done a lot of work over the years to get things this far. Now it is time to have a conference call with all of the operators and begin forming committees and documented rules.

There is an option for clubs in the Northwest, of course, if Milliken and the PASL won’t evolve. Forming their own indoor league has been on the minds and lips of several clubs over the past two seasons. It’s certainly more than possible for a local league to sprout up, one that has a “by us, for us” mentality. While such movements have not often worked in other parts of the PASL world, here it just might. Here, there are long-standing clubs and a sense of indoor culture and pride in the game. Here we already have the example of the Evergreen Premier League, where twenty-two interested parties looked into joining what will be Washington’s own outdoor circuit in 2014.

Should there be a EPLWA-Indoors? Nothing is impossible, but that league has more establishing to do right now and is concentrating on year one and the best-possible launch.

Maybe a stand-alone indoor league could draw interest in BC, Washington and Oregon. I’ve talked with several owners about what would be called the “Western Indoor Soccer League,” or “WISL” for short (“whistle.”) It could be a league run by clubs, promoted and covered through goalWA.net, and adapting itself to Northwest needs, such as scheduling, rivalries, travel, split season, etc. Maybe things are inevitably moving this direction. Only time will tell.

I think what is best for indoor soccer at the elite adult level in the Northwest is for the PASL to remain the big brand. Momentum is there. Our clubs just need to be given the reigns to take it all to the next level.

It is worth the risk for Milliken to hear more voices, even if he sometimes does not like what they say. Letting clubs run the division by committee will strengthen the sport and the league in our area.

If the PASL won’t budge, and clings to outdated operational modes where one or two people have most all of the say? Then Washington, it could be time to whistle.



goalWA.net Local Soccer News is sponsored by Pro Roofing Northwest, Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville, Federal Way, Everett, Snohomish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Bothell, Edmonds Washington roofing company.