As originally reported by Equalizer Soccer yesterday, NWSL has added a 4th international slot per team for the 2015 season. However, this additional slot is, initially at least, intended to be a temporary move as team’s look to cope with the extended absence of players during the World Cup next season.

Houston Dash head coach Randy Waldrum confirmed the added spot and the short-term nature of it by telephone this afternoon, “They added a 4th for this year only and then it will go back to three again.”

The roster struggle that teams face heading into next season is significant. In the case of the Dash, of their current listed roster it is likely that 8 players will be away for the World Cup period (up to half of the season) including: Osinachi Ohale, Meghan Klingenberg, Lauren Sesselmann, Ari Romero, Kayln Kyle, Teresa Noyola, Erin McLeod and Carli Lloyd. Toss in probable #1 draft pick in the college draft, Morgan Brian, and that total reaches 9 out of a maximum roster size of 20.

The added international slot provides the opportunity to bring in experienced players from overseas to supplement rosters for this year. Of course, how helpful it is depends on how it is deployed. As Waldrum noted, “It helps, but at the same time depending on that international you choose to use it on you may or may not have them half the year.”

Other temporary rule changes could be in the works as well. The situation the Dash will face of having close to half of their roster away at the World Cup is hardly unique; all teams will face the same issue to varying degrees. Under normal circumstances over the past two season teams have had to play a small handful of games missing a few players to international duty and have brought in a couple of international players to round out the bench. Missing close to half your team for half of the season is difficult to manage through amateur players alone.

Waldrum noted the current importance of those players and the challenge presented by such strong demand, “The important thing is going to be those amateur players that you can call in during that time period. That’s not going to be easy either because the top amateur kids are going to be picked up in the college draft.”

NWSL essentially defines an amateur player as one who has not played professionally in at least 30 days. For example, when the Dash waived Dominique Richardson last season and she continued to train with the team, after a period of 30 days she regained her amateur status in the eyes of NWSL and could be brought into the side as a replacement.

This system works just fine when teams rely on amateurs occasionally for 1-2 roster spots. On the other hand, when close to half the roster needs to be filled for an extended period of time, the challenges in trying to rely on amateur players are plentiful. Given the salary cap, that leaves little flexibility for NWSL sides to field a full roster during the World Cup period unless there are additional temporary rules changes; as a result, it would not be surprising to see further modifications.

As to the temporary nature of the 4th international slot; teams started in the inaugural season with two slots then had a 3rd added for season two. It is, therefore, not out of the question that following the 2015 season NWSL will decide to retain the 4th international slot. For now, all we know for certain is that the intent is that the added slot is temporary.