Can a player request to “play up” into the next older age group?

No, requests to play up are not entertained. Invitations to play up are made by the coaching staff when it is determined that it is in the best interest of the player's soccer development. Playing up for one season does not guarantee that the player will play up again during the next season. For evaluations each year, all players should plan to attend their actual age group tryout sessions (even if the player did play up the season before), unless the player has been specifically instructed to do otherwise by the Director of Coaching. 

When are Evauluations?

LSC holds player evaluations each June for our club teams U9-U14. We will hold evaluations in November for U15-U19 players after the completion of the high school season. Players interested in trying out should review the tryout information posted on the LSC website and register in advance for tryouts. Please see our evaluation process page for more info.

How and when are we notified about tryout results?

Players will be notified of their status via email after tryouts that they made either a) Travel Team, b) Alternate, c) Player Pool, or d) that there is no position available for them at this time.

What is an Alternate? 

Alternate players are qualified players who are registered and listed on the official league roster, trains with the team and will play in games, chosen by the head coach. They may be invited to play in additional games if needed plus any tournaments.

What is Player Pool?

Players invited onto Player Pool train with the team, but do NOT compete in any games during the season as they are not registered on an official league roster and thus are not eligible to play in a game. ​​The benefit of the Player Pool position is the exposure to the team training environment and developing team tactics.

What is Lightning Academy?

Lightning Academy, formerly the Advantage Program, uses the pool training concept to ensure your player is consistently in a high quality training environment. Pool training shifts the focus away from team development and prioritizes individual player development. During pool sessions, academy players will be grouped together with players who have similar skill levels with the understanding that players develop at different stages.

How many players make it on to a Club Team?

U8-U12 teams may roster up to 16 players and U13-U15 teams may roster up to 18 players. U16-U19 teams may roster up to 22 players, but only 18 players are allowed to dress for each game. This applies to all teams participating in the New Hampshire Soccer League (NHSL). 

How will I know where and when practices will take place?

As a general rule, fall training begins in late August and runs until just after Halloween. Spring training begins indoors in January and ends in mid June. The club works out field rentals with its various lessors, works out schedules with coaches, and then creates the entire club schedule. Once the training schedule has been finalized, you will be contacted via email with your team's training schedule. Team Sports Engine sites are updated with training and game schedules as quickly as possible. If you ever have a question about the training schedule, ask your team manager or coach (contact information is on the home page of your team Sports Engine site).

What league do we play in?

Lightning teams play in the New Hampshire Soccer League (NHSL) The NHSL is NH's primary league for competitive travel soccer. It hosts more than forty clubs from around the state who come together in the spring and fall to compete. The NEP league is a premier level league hosting teams from the most competitive clubs around New England. 

Is there winter training?

Lightning Soccer Club offers indoor winter training opportunities to players. Winter training provides continuity during the winter months between the official fall and spring seasons, helping players solidify their skills and continue to grow. We offer winter training opportunities for all players (non-Lightning players included) ages 11-19.

What are the fees for Lightning?

Fees are $925 per season. Lightning SC aims to keep fees as reasonable as possible while still covering our costs. LSC is able to provide a quality experience for less than half the price charged by other elite soccer clubs throughout New England.

Can I sponsor Lightning Soccer Club?

Yes, we actively pursue sponsorship to help defray the costs we incur for field rentals, uniform costs, referee and league fees, tournament fees, coach fees, etc. so that we can keep our costs as low as possible for our families, and also so that we can offer financial assistance to players in need. 

Why do you need a photo and a copy of a birth certificate?

We must be able to verify the ages of all our players. When a player is invited to join a Lightning team, we ask for a copy of that player's birth certificate (or passport), which we are required to upload into each player's Got Soccer account for NHSA player registration and into the KYCK registration for all players participating in the NEP League. We also require a color head shot for their player identification cards, which are shown to a referee at the beginning of each match, and proves that a player is who we say he/she is and that he/she is the proper age to be competing on that team.

Are mouth guards required? Are other protective devices required?

Mouth guards are not required by NH Soccer Association, US Youth Soccer, or US Club Soccer. However, shin guards and cleats are required. No other protective gear is required.

Can I also play Recreational soccer?

While it is possible to play on both a Rec team and a Lightning team, players and families should understand that if they choose to participate in both in the same season, a player's commitment to their Lightning team must be their first priority. If a player or a family is not prepared to make Lightning a priority over Rec, it is likely a better fit for the player to play Rec instead. If a Rec coach (of any sport) is understanding of your commitment to your travel team, it can work. Lightning coaches are generally very understanding of attending a Rec soccer game over a Lightning practice, but would expect players to attend Lightning practices over Rec practices. If this is agreeable to your Rec coach, the combination can work. Please discuss this with your Lightning coach.

Can I play other sports, be in a play, etc?

It is important for a coach to know if a player has another major commitment (school plays, musical commitments, another sport at a high commitment level, etc.) in putting a team together. Obviously, if the entire team has other major commitments, it will be very hard to ensure that enough players are available to run optimal training sessions and to compete in games. If it's just a few players, then it can work well. It's a challenging balancing act for everyone: the coaches, the players, the club and the families. Our goal as a club is to serve players who are passionate about soccer and willing and able to make a strong commitment to their team. Players on Premier teams must be held to a higher level of commitment to their team. If players participate on another team, sport  or activity, their commitment to their Lightning soccer team must come first.

Does Dartmouth Soccer run Lightning Soccer Club?

Lighting Soccer Club was started in 1983 by a Norwich, VT dad, Jerry Ireland. In 1985 Dartmouth head men's coach Bobby Clark suggested they combine their talents. Bobby Clark's phenomenal soccer background (Scottish National team member, coach of Highlanders FC) and his love for teaching soccer to youths made this association a natural. Dartmouth Soccer ran Lightning Soccer for many years until the club grew beyond the size the college soccer office could operate, while still overseeing (and recruiting for) a Division 1 soccer team. Lightning Soccer Club became a totally independent entity in 2000, forming its own nonprofit corporation with a board of directors. However, the two organizations continue to cooperate extensively with one another.