Our Mission

Lightning Soccer Club is committed to providing our community with a model of high-quality, youth development through soccer. We aspire to excellence in soccer in a manner that challenges young athletes, regardless of previous experience, to reach their highest potential in the sport of soccer while fostering their growth as individuals. 

philosophy

LSC is committed to developing a program where learning is free from the pressure of the outcome, but focuses on process and performance. We believe excellence arises from a strong growth mindset where players and coaches are comfortable taking risks, making mistakes and learning from their experience to improve as athletes and humans. LSC encourages players to be creative and to play without fear of mistakes.

core values

Our Core Values represent the connection between the individual, the club, our history and the community we serve.  Our Core Values shape what we do every day at the club.

  • Community and Inclusivity

    • LSC services 40 different rural towns in the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire. Our community is economically and socially diverse. We are attuned to our location and aim to serve all members of our community. LSC is committed to its scholarship program ensuring all kids in our community have an opportunity to thrive in our club. We must engage our entire community to be successful.

    • LSC is a 90-minute drive to large population centers. Players improve with more time on the field with peers and less time in the car. The Sports Park at the CCBA serves as our club gathering spot for all ages.  More touches, less travel.

  • Creativity leading to Growth

    • The Upper Valley is full of creative and innovative for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. We are the home of Dartmouth College, the Upper Valley Community College, The Center for Cartoon Studies, and Colby-Sawyer College. The Upper Valley is also full of innovative companies such as Hypertherm, King Arthur Flour, Global Rescue, Red River, TomTom and many more. We are fortunate to have Grassroot Soccer in our backyard, with its innovative use of soccer to deliver important adolescent health curriculum.

    • LSC is inspired by the creativity and innovation of such organizations to think differently about club soccer.  We strive to design programs, such as Lightning Academy, which blend the best of soccer development with our community’s sensibilities and dynamic. LSC’s alumni remain involved with the club and our older players lead our giving back effort every season. 

  • Fun leading to Excellence

    • The Upper Valley is home to a rich soccer history and community.  The local high schools have won countless state championships and produced 100s of players who have gone on to play at higher levels.  LSC founder Bobby Clark, and his initial Lightning staff, planted the seeds of our soccer culture in 1983.  From the start, Coach Clark nurtured the love of the game from every participant and the joy of competing with good friends. That spirit carries forward to every season and every session.

    • As we say, “if the kids have fun, they will come back tomorrow and have another chance to learn soccer.”  Fun in this context involves hard work, uniting with teammates, leaning into failures and celebrating achievement. Our job is to meet the kids where they are and help them grow into excellent players and individuals all while keeping it fun.

Our Core Values come from the community we serve and shape the behaviors and identity of Lightning Soccer Club.