The NWSL’s board of governors is considering changing the competition calendar to a fall-to-spring season, according to an ESPN report.
The schedule change would mirror that of European leagues and be aligned with FIFA’s international windows. This overhaul would impact a multitude of aspects of the game including media rights, weather considerations, transfers, player availability, and venue scheduling.
The NWSL Players Association told ESPN that most members oppose the switch and question whether the league can ensure safe conditions if the change is made.
“Just getting all the information from [the NWSLPA,] I know that people like how [the schedule] is at the moment,” Casey Murphy told The Blazing Musket Thursday.
That sentiment is largely shared by the Legacy locker room, according to the veteran goalkeeper. Many of the team’s players and staff have played under a similar calendar.
While Aleigh Gambone enjoyed having summers off when competing in Scotland, she acknowledged that one of the players’ main qualms is about how colder climates would affect operations.
“I think a lot of concerns are about facilities more up north that won't really be able to facilitate games in that part of the winter,” she told The Blazing Musket. “Even for us, we were gone for January and February because of the weather [during preseason], so I couldn't really imagine having games then.”
Rookie Sophia Lowenberg, a native New Englander, believes the current system works well and a modification would be unnecessary.
“I think it would create some sort of unfairness,” she said. “Just because the weather is unpredictable here, and there are so many teams in the north, too, that [would also be] affected.”
The Legacy can at least mitigate some weather concerns if there is an overhaul. Its Brockton training facility, which is still under construction, will have a bubble dome for year-round practice, as well as a heated field.
Under the current White Stadium stadium usage agreement, the team is responsible for maintenance of the grass field and has some say in how it is used. The city is also legally bound to “avoid use of the [field] in weather that would overly burden [it].” Conversely, there are also scheduling limitations that could complicate match weather delays or rescheduling.
Head Coach Filipa Patão previously coached at Benfica in Portugal and is familiar with the proposed schedule. She likes the fall-to-spring model but understands that it could have repercussions when applied to a country as big as the United States.
However, having the same timeline as other leagues and international windows would be useful for transfers and loans, she said. Considering the current roster, a switch could be beneficial for the team’s talent scouting efforts.
The Legacy recruited 11 players from international clubs for its inaugural season, seven of which played in a schedule opposite to the NWSL. Domestically, the shift would also align with the first division USL Super League’s (where Laurel Ansbrow was recruited) fall and spring format.
Ultimately, as many things are for the coach, it’s about adaptability. If the league votes in favor of the change, the team would just need to adjust its process.
“I'm not going to be the person saying, ‘This is not going to work,’ without trying,” she said. “I think it's important to understand why they make these decisions, and try to [make it] work the best way possible.”
The league is expected to vote on the issue at the end of the month, according to ESPN.
