THE Island Soccer League kicks off its second season on Monday evening with two games at the National Sports Centre and ISL commissioner David Bascome said he and his colleagues have learned from last summer's opening season.

"One of the biggest things I have learned is that I have to adapt and be patient," said Bascome this week.

The long-time indoor pro said: "Last year I could have easily become discouraged with what was going on. This year I am coming in with a totally different mentality. We are changing some things ¿ little simple things like dealing with ticket sales. Last year we spent a lot of money on getting tickets for each game but we now realise that this is Bermuda and that nobody is going to buy a ticket for an outdoor game way ahead of time since it may rain.

"What we have done this year is to have open tickets. Now there is no date on the tickets so when you buy one from (main sponsors) CellularOne it is $10 ($12 at the gate). If it rains on Monday they can use it for Tuesday night. We are slowly getting into a different process. If I know I have 16 nights I may buy 10 tickets and use them whenever."

Bascome played for 17 years in the United States and even though he would come back to Bermuda during the summer to conduct his clinic, he said it did take a while to adjust to living and working here.

"Face it," he said, "there is a different mentality here compared to the US. It did take time to adjust but coming back every year was good for me. The mentality in the US is more aggressive.

"Last year was a test. Last year I had to trust people a lot. And also last year we had a small staff while this year we have more. Last year we had a staff of seven running the league and this year we will have 12 to 14 staff and 20 volunteers. It will make my life easier ¿ in fact it will make everyone's job easier. So this season my main focus as the commissioner of the league will be moving the process forward and making the event better.

"I am going to be meeting with a lot of commissioners in the US from different sports. I want to make sure we are going in the right direction. One of the biggest things in Bermuda is that I am not trying to sell the game to them, it is the purpose of the game and why we are doing it that I am trying to sell."

Bascome also thinks that it is a new day for football in Bermuda in general.

There is his ISL, the Bermuda Hogges who are in their second season and a new technical director of the Bermuda Football Association.

"All three have to work together. I have met (technical director) Derek Broadley and also talked to Shaun (Goater, Hogges president) as well. We have 400-500 players (in Bermuda) and the more we can get in the professional environment the better. The ISL can help bring them in and groom them and give them some drive and then perhaps they can be selected for the Hogges and the national programme. We have to work together for the game in Bermuda."

Bascome said the league will have 144 players and 16 coaches this season along with referees. "We have 57 new players coming in as well," he said adding that the different rules used in the ISL takes a little while to get used to.

"We saw the players adjust last year and not only the players but the fans as well. After one or two games the players get used to the new rules," he said.

And Bascome said he is in this for the long run. "This boat has to be maintained ¿ it has to continue to go forward with everyone on the same page and singing the same song. This year we will have a strong push against drugs and violence. We need players with not only a passion for the game but also a love for the game."

Monday will see the first action as Arsenal take on Kings in the opening match followed by Royal v Union.

On Tuesday Storm will take on Titans while the second match will see Apex go against Kings.

"We want the players to get a professional attitude. We want to change the mentality of the players in Bermuda because once you fall into a good structure and a professional mentality it makes things a lot easier. We will have a lot of things going on this year ¿ this is a long-term thing."