In July 1991, the North Esk Tennis Centre in Racecourse Crescent, Launceston, (next to the K-Mart) became The Launceston Indoor Sports Arena, (L.I.S.A.), under the ownership of Denis and Liz Tucker. They also operated the Sunnyhill Tennis Centre.
Indoor Soccer was identified as an activity that could be successfully conducted within the Indoor Centre. The sport had been tried previously at local Indoor Cricket Centres but the courts were too small for the game to operate successfully.The L.I.S.A. artificial grass surface was very suitable and with the construction of dividing nets and portable goals, four indoor courts of 36 metres by 20 metres were created.
The operation of Indoor Soccer was subsequently leased to the Sport - Event - Facility Management business, PlaySport Enterprises.
The inaugural competition began on Sunday 3rd November 1991, with eighteen teams of men graded into three divisions.The initial sixteen game roster concluded with Grand Finals on Sunday 29th March 1992.The inaugural Premiers were: Division 1 - Juventus All Stars; Division 2 - Globals; Division 3 - Purple Warriors
The competition was gradually refined and restructured into three competitions annually, comprising of fourteen rounds of games and a Finals Night.
It was not until the Summer roster of November 1994 that nominations were received, and competitions began for Mixed and Womens teams in addition to three or four divisions of Men’s teams.
From the initial eighteen teams in 1991 the competition gradually expanded to thirty teams and then forty teams by July 1996. In 1998 a growth spurt in Mixed teams saw competition numbers grow very quickly from forty teams to sixty teams.
By July 2001 half of the sixty plus teams participating in each roster were Mixed teams, playing in three graded divisions and this trend has remained.
The success story of the past has been the performance of one of the inaugural teams Globals, later renamed Ajax. At the time of their retirement in January 1999 they had won fourteen out of a possible twenty Division 1 Premierships, a performance unlikely to be beaten for some time.
Competition numbers peaked at 92 teams in the Winter roster of 2006.Courts at L.I.S.A. and the Elphin Sports Centre now regularly accomodate over 70 teams each Sunday. Two courts were developed at the Elphin Sports Centre in 2004 in anticipation of increased participation. This expansion gives Sunday evenings the capacity to accomodate upto 100 teams and increases flexibility in rostering, to meet the individual requirements of teams, in regard to playing times and team combinations.
Indoor Soccer at L.I.S.A. appeals to a wide range of males and females in the local community as it offers a safe, friendly, and fun environment for participants with the emphasis on fair and equitable competitions for all skill levels.The opportunity to play all year round, and play indoors is an added bonus.
A Junior League for Grade four to Grade six, boys and girls,is played Wednesday evenings from October to December at the Elphin Sports Centre. This competition provides an option for junior players during their off-season.
A further development has been FUTSAL of a Thursday evening at the Elphin Sports Centre.This competition is conducted from October to the end of February.
As the competition has expanded, so has the need for a dedicated crew of Referees and a Referee development program has ensured that adequate Referees are available to assist with the competitions growth.
As of January 20th 2008 the ownership and operation of Launceston Indoor Soccer transferred from PlaySport Enterprises to the owners of the Launceston Indoor Sports Arena.
The development of this Web site is seen as a method of providing improved communication to players. They will be able to keep track of their teams performance and the general community can become better informed of what Indoor Soccer is offering.
This web site provides information about the available competitions and teams can enter the competition by following the simple entry details.
We trust that you will find this site extremely valueable and a useful tool in being involved in the exciting and popular sport of Indoor Soccer.
updated January 2008
