History of WISL

The Washington International Soccer League (WISL) was founded in 1980 by Delbert R. "Chip" Terrill, Jr.  WISL is an adult men's soccer league (although a few women with high level experience have played).   In 2003, the Premier Division of WISL was moved from WISL to form a separate league, the Washington Premier League (WPL).  WPL teams are members of the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association (USASA)/U.S.S.F.  WPL has the most competitive 10 team Premier Division from NYC to Miami and perhaps on the entire East Coast. The WPL has included the: 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 National Amateur Cup Champions for Maryland; the 1998 and 1999 Over 30 National Amateur Cup Champion for Maryland; and the 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, National Amatuer, Open and Over 30 National Amateur Cup Champion for MetroDCVaSA as well .  WPL teams began participating in these cups for the first time in 1997. 

WISL is separate from the WPL and is an independent league not affiliated with USASA.  WISL goes 40 teams deep at the highly competitive level.  WISL organizes generally weekend soccer matches in and around the Washington, D.C. metro area. The league started out as a soccer league for predominantly the many foreign embassies and international organizations prominent in the D.C. area (hence the name Washington "International" Soccer League).

Since inception, WISL has expanded to encompass a broader group of players while maintaining its international flavor. Two teams (World Bank and IMF) of the original six still remain active [although having passed through four or five generations of players.]  Of the original 90 players in the WISL, only one dinosaur remains active: Chip Terrill (InterAmericans, Suomi/USA, Internationales, Replay Galaxy and now coach of Fraternum Magnum). The other senior statesmen who have been in the WISL for over fourteen or more years in order of seniority are Pierre Nadji (1983: Les Miserables, Maison Blanche, CF France, Legion Francaise, MIGA, and Les Bleus), Giulio deTommaso (1984: Italian Embassy, Inter-Italia and now World Bank, Azzurri and World Bank Casuals), Jason Steinbaum (1985: Falcons); Jim Sadowski (1986: Arlington Tigers, GW Alumni), Chris Hauser (1986: Falcons), Gary Ewart (1987: Agent Orange, FC Arlington, and Falcons); Chris David (1988: Agent Orange, FC Arlington, and Falcons); Philip Robinson (1990:  FC Washington, Ristorante Piccollo, Best Temps, and AC Montgomery Masters); and Gustavo Minc (Argentina and Ferro Carril Oeste).  Another league stalwart deserving recognition for his long term service in support of the league is Peter Accolla who assigned referees to WISL games for a number of years and who has been refereeing WISL games since 1987.

Of the original six teams, only half of one team (8% of the overall league) was U.S. native born. During its over 25 year history, in excess of 80 different nationalities have played in WISL. Today, WISL is the largest men's adult league in the Washington metro area with nearly 80 teams while sporting the best overall level of competition in this area. While the demographics of the league have changed drastically reflecting the explosion of soccer in the U.S. such that 70% of the current players are now native U.S. born.   Nevertheless, every WISL player is still today, exposed to numerous styles of play from around the world -- particularly given that many of the U.S. native born have maintained the style of their parents' homeland. As well as being a dynamic league (i.e. grown 1500% in the past 25 years and 50% within the past five years), WISL is also a league with stable teams.  Over 40 of the current teams (or their successor teams) have been in the league for eight or more years. The WISL vision statement provides for the eventual expansion of the open divisions to 80 teams at which point no new teams will be added unless existing fold or sellout their membership.  The vision statement also contemplates the addition of an over age 30 night playing division that will complete the growth to 100 teams.

The WISL was incorporated by its founder, Chip Terrill, as the Washington International Soccer League, Inc., in August 1998.  Chip is a convert to the sport having been a recruited college quarterback  --- and you know what they say about converts.  Chip brings to WISL a B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and  a B.S. in Business and Management from University of Maryland.  He has worked as an Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. government in its economic regulation of  the electric, oil and gas industries at the FERC and its international patent, trademark and copyright infringement cases at the USITC.  He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Colonel on July 1, 2000, having received the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medals, among others, for his service.  In his spare time, Chip has written the history of the development of outer space law which he signed at the Paris Air Show in France in 1999 and at the Air Fete, RAF Midenhall, in England in 2000 and as a result is one of the nation's leading experts in the early evolution of outer space law.   He also lectures on the Roman influence on the development ANglo_saxon law and the value of diversity in the marketplace and as such was recognized to give the 18th Annual Hackley Distinguished Lecture.

WISL Field Fund Foundation, Inc.

What is the WISL Field Fund Foundation, Inc.?

It has become progressively more difficult every year to find fields for our teams to play on. Not only are existing fields deteriorating, they are becoming less numerous as they have been taken away from us by local public authorities. The point has been driven home even more forcefully in the past two years, when traditional WISL venues have been taken away for the purpose of building monuments, and allowing other sports groups sporadic (and destructive) use. Next year, we will only be granted permits for 25% of our games to be played on our usual sites. Ft. Belvoir will be lost almost entirely come the fall of 2005.

Devising a long-term solution to the problem of field scarcity has become a priority for the League and its member teams. The WISL Field Fund Foundation, Inc. (WISLFFF) is one of such initiatives. (The WISLFFF is a non-profit entity incorporated in the state of Virginia and has obtained non-profit status from the IRS.) The field fund is an initiative on the part of all teams to collect funds to purchase land (or long term lease thereto) and develop soccer fields for adult use in the metro D.C. area and preferably the Virginia suburbs.

Who is part of the WISL Field Fund Foundation?

The fund was created in July 1997 and was initially made up of 27 member teams. Now it is composed of all WISL and WPL teams who contribute to the WISL field fund on an annual basis at the rate of $ 310.00 per year. Those teams (who do not have their own field and have been part of the league for at least two seasons) are required to make an additional contribution of $ 400.00 to the WISL field fund after completion of their first two seasons in order to continue to participate in League play; their second $ 400.00 contribution is then due one year later after completion of another two seasons.

What will happen to the funds?

The funds raised from teams are kept in an interest bearing account, and will be used only if matching funds are raised and/or a land purchase is completed or a lease arrangement is entered. If the Field fund is unsuccessful in acquiring long term access to the necessary land and funds, the money will be returned.  Once funds are expended to obtain access to a field(s), no funds will be refunded.

Who manages the WISL Field Fund?

The fund is managed on a daily basis by a WISLFFF Board of Directors. The officers of the group and their functions are described below:

Ramón MADAN, President

Giulio de TOMMASO, Vice President

Willie IRIARTE, Treasurer

Pierre NADJI, Secretary

At large members:

Chip TERRILL, WISL League founder

Anyone wishing to participate in the work of the group is welcome and encouraged to participate. The WISLFFF Board of Directors meets once a month.  If you wish to participate please email to Giulio  gtommaso@worldbank.org

What does the WISLFFF do?

1. Write grant proposals:

In order for the field fund to be successful, financing will have to come from different sources including USSF, the local World Cup Committee and the MDCVASA of USSF. In addition, grant proposals to philanthropic foundations and various foundations and corporate sponsorships will also be sought.

2. Create a regulatory framework for the fund and the league:

Because the WISLFF handles money - your money - it’s important that rules are set up to regulate its use and protect your contributions. It is all the more important if the WISLFFF is successful in gathering funds from other sources. 

3. Promote community outreach and involvement, promoting improvements in amateur soccer in the area.

In agreeing to seek contributions from USSF and other soccer organizations in the area, the WISLFFF has undertaken a series of responsibilities on behalf of the league to promote and improve soccer in the area.

Initiatives such as an outreach program for under privileged youth, referee mentoring program, a WISL gender initiative, etc have been proposed and work will be done in the context of the WISLFFF to ensure that these promises are kept.

The financing plan:
(see powerpoint presentation).

Want to know more?
email Giulio at gtommaso@worldbank.org