While some of the news around NISA has been less than thrilling, particularly in Syracuse with the player payment issues and the forfeiture of last weekend’s match with Michigan, one of the bright aspects of the league was on full display this week. As announced by the Southwest Premier League (SWPL) on Monday, LA Force has made a solidarity payment to Inland Empire when the NISA professional club signed Jonathan Garcia, a 24 year-old midfielder. Garcia has played with Inland Empire since 2019 until the beginning of the 2022 NISA campaign when he signed with LA Force.

In a press statement from the SWPL, LA Force Head Coach Leon Sharf discussed the move. “Jonathan has the right attitude to succeed. He’s coachable, hard-working and humble. He’s earned everything he’s got and he’s just someone you want on your team because of the energy he brings and his drive. I want guys like that on my team. The connection between NISA and its affiliates creates a lot more opportunities for players who may have gone under the radar or didn’t get a fair look. I think there’s a different opportunity here, and what players do with it falls on them, but we at L.A. Force are very open to giving those opportunities and I’m always looking for a diamond in the rough. That player could be on any club in the SWPL, and it’s inspiring to know that the next player will see this.”

Jonathan Garcia, playing for his college team, CSUSB.

LA Force has put Garcia to use right away, playing him in all four of the club’s 2022 matches. According to league-provided statistics, the midfielder has played already played 180 minutes for LA Force in NISA regular season play. Garcia credits his former club with his growth into a professional player. “Inland Empire FC helped me in so many ways that I am truly grateful. Mentally and physically, IEFC helped me and when the moment came to try out, I was able to go out and give my all.”

NISA is currently the only Professional League in the United States offering solidarity payments to its affiliates. The SWPL is a NISA affiliated league, and SWPL clubs have the opportunity to receive solidarity payments from NISA Pro clubs. This is the first such payment to a SWPL from a professional NISA side. While the amount of the payment is not public, the importance of a professional side compensating an amateur side for training of a player should not be lost on the public. Most professional clubs in the United States pay nothing to amateur sides when signing their players.

Dennis Pope, Vice President of Communications and SWPL Media Director, was focused on the relationship between the amateur league and NISA. “It's crucial to build that connection between the SWPL and NISA do it in such a significant way. Solidarity payments are essential in a healthy system, and we know it's a sign of things to come in the future.”

- Dan Vaughn