RGV Barracudas announce affiliation with Monterrey Flash

Two long-time pro indoor soccer franchises are joining forces as the Major Arena Soccer League 2 RGV Barracudas have entered into an official affiliation agreement with the Monterrey Flash of the Major Arena Soccer League.

The Barracudas trace their roots to 2004 as an amateur outdoor team, and joined the MASL in 2014, playing five seasons in the league with a roster that featured indoor stars like Moises Gonzalez and Mitchel Cardenas. The team went on hiatus indoor during the pandemic, but rejoined MASL 2 for the 2021-22 season where they went 10-2, losing in overtime to the eventual league champion San Diego Sockers 2 in overtime in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Flash go back to 2011 as part of the Liga Mexicana de Futbol Rapido Profesional and also joined the MASL in 2014, winning the league; s inaugural title. They are now playing their sixth season in the MASL, having going on hiatus most recently for two years because of the COVID pandemic.

“These are two franchises committed to winning, with a solid history and many cultural similarities, so having them become official partners in the MASL’s professional three-tiered pyramid approach to development of players and the sport overall is a very positive step forward,” MASL 2 Commissioner Chris Economides said. “Many M1 players have already dressed for their M2 teams or affiliates so far this season which is exactly how the relationship is designed to work. It’s great for fans, great for the players and great for the sport."

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With a renewed emphasis this season on integrating the vision, goals and working relationship between Major Arena Soccer League and MASL 2, the leagues have adopted a formal player agreement that allows for players in M2 to move to the MASL and vice versa. There are three parts to the agreements covering players on M2 teams that already have MASL sides, players that play for M2 teams that have a formal affiliation with a MASL team, and players who play for M2 teams with no MASL affiliation at the current time. Following are the highlights of the player agreements for each situation.

MASL team that owns MASL 2 team

MASL teams that own an M2 team(s) will be allowed to have up to five (5) players sign a dual contract at the beginning of the MASL season. This contract will allow the player(s) to be signed with both their MASL and M2 teams.

Two of those five players will be considered their MASL/M2 Designated Players (DP). These two (2) Designated Players (DP) will be allowed to play with either their MASL or M2 team for an unlimited number of games throughout the regular MASL/M2 season and/or playoffs. Once these two Designated Players (DP) are selected they cannot be changed on the MASL/M2 rosters unless they have a season ending injury, are traded, or have been released by either or both clubs.

The other three dual contract players will become the Limited Designated Players (LDP) and will be allowed to play for both their MASL and M2 teams up until their twelfth (12th) MASL game played. Once they have played in their 12th MASL game, they must be replaced on the LDP list and can no longer play any M2 games.

MASL teams with official MASL 2 team affiliations

MASL teams that have an affiliation with any M2 teams will be allowed to have up to five players sign a dual contract with both their MASL and affiliated M2 teams at the beginning of the MASL season.

Two of those five players will be considered their MASL/M2 Designated Players (DP). These two Designated Players (DP) will be allowed to play with either their MASL or affiliated M2 team for an unlimited number of games throughout the regular MASL/M2 season and/or playoffs. Once these two Designated Players (DP) are selected they cannot be changed on the MASL/M2 rosters unless they have a season ending injury, are traded, or have been released by either or both clubs.

The other three dual contract players will become the Limited Designated Players (LDP) and will be allowed to play for both their MASL and M2 affiliated teams up until their 12th MASL game played. Once they have played in their 12th MASL game, they must be replaced on the LDP list and can no longer play any affiliated M2 team games.

MASL team with no MASL 2 ownership/affiliation

If during the MASL season a MASL team wants to sign a loan for a registered M2 player from an M2 team that is not a direct affiliate to that MASL team, the MASL team must pay to the M2 team a transfer fee and cover the M2 player expenses. To be accepted, the M2 team must agree to the terms of the loan before the M2 player will be allowed to join the MASL team.

The M2 player may be loaned for a minimum two game week period, and/or maximum four games. While under this loan agreement, the M2 team must gain approval from the MASL team should they want their loaned M2 player to also play in an M2 game(s) during the duration of the MASL loan period.

The M2 player may be loaned for a maximum of two loan periods. The M2 player will only be allowed to play in a maximum of eight MASL games while on loan. If the MASL team intends to extend past the eight MASL game loan, then the MASL team will need to pay an additional transfer fee o purchase the M2 player contract from their prospective M2 team.

If an MASL team wants to buy a non-affiliated M2 player directly without a loan, then the transfer fee is paid by the purchasing MASL team to the selling M2 team.