The Heart of Soccer in the Upper Valley

At Lightning SC, soccer is about more than the game. It’s about community, growth, and the people who make this club special. As we head into an exciting summer of tryouts, camps, and World Cup celebrations, we want to thank every player, parent, coach, volunteer, and supporter who continues to make Lightning SC the heart of soccer in the Upper Valley.

This month’s newsletter includes exciting announcements on our upcoming World Cup Fan Fest and Watch Party, highlights from our Little Sparks program, Mother’s Day celebrations across the club, important information from Sasa regarding the new age groups, and a special spotlight on Konrad Mitchell in our “People of Lightning SC” series.

Thank you for being part of Lightning SC 💚

Celebrating Another Season Together 💚

In partnership with Salt Hill Pub & CCBA

⚡ Celebrate the Season with Lightning SC

To celebrate our community and share the excitement of the World Cup together, we are excited to announce two special events taking place on June 12th. We hope to see Lightning families, players, and supporters come together for a memorable evening of soccer, community, and celebration this summer.

1️⃣ Lightning SC Fan Fest

📍 Sports Park at CCBA
🕔 5:00–8:00 PM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Youth & Family Focused

Join us for an evening of soccer, community, and World Cup excitement at the Sports Park. This event is designed for players and families of all ages to come together, play, connect, and celebrate the game.

Small-Sided Games Schedule

• Grades K–3: 5:00–6:00 PM

• Grades 4–7: 6:00–7:00 PM

• Grades 8 and up: 7:00–8:00 PM

Additional Activities

• Grill station / concessions

• Music

• Raffles and giveaways

• Classic World Cup matches shown on an outdoor screen

2️⃣ Lightning SC World Cup Watch Party

📍 Salt Hill Pub – Lebanon
🕘 9:00 PM Kickoff

After the Fan Fest, continue the celebration with the Lightning SC community as we gather to watch the USMNT World Cup match together.

If you and your family plan to attend the events (both or just one), please register by completing this form 📋. All completed registrations will automatically be entered into a raffle to win a USMNT jersey 🇺🇸⚽

We hope to see you all there!

2026-2027 TRYOUTS

📅 Dates: U9-U11: June 1 - June 4 / U12-U15: June 8 - June 11
📍 Location: Dresden Athletic Fields, Norwich, VT 05055

2026–2027 LSC Tryouts Are Coming

Registration is still open and closing soon for our 2026–2027 Lightning Soccer Club tryouts. We’re excited to welcome both returning players and new families ready to be part of a competitive, development-focused environment.

Tryouts are open to boys and girls from U9 to U15.

Evaluations focus on technical ability, game understanding, athleticism, mindset, and commitment.

If your child is ready to challenge themselves, improve, and be part of a strong soccer community, we encourage you to register and attend.

👉 Learn more and register here: https://www.uvlightning.org/2026-2027-tryouts

This spring, our Little Sparks program continued to bring energy, smiles, and excitement to the field as our youngest players took their first steps into the game of soccer. Through imagination, movement, and play, players are introduced to fundamental skills while building confidence, coordination, friendships, and a love for being active.

Mother’s Day

On May 10th, the Lightning SC community celebrated Mother’s Day by recognizing all the incredible moms who support our players throughout the year. From long drives and early mornings to rainy game days and unwavering encouragement on the sidelines, their energy, sacrifice, and unconditional support are a huge part of what drives our club forward.

A Note from Director of Coaching Sasa Cirovic

What is Changing, and Why?

​Beginning with the Fall 2026, teams will be formed by players’ school grade year, not their birth year. US Soccer and all state associations are moving to this new structure. The idea is to align the soccer environment to better reflect the social and academic realities of young athletes.

This is a significant shift for youth soccer nationwide. Change can be hard, especially if your child has played with the same teammates for years. Still, I strongly believe this is a positive development for our club and for our players.

​

What This Means for Our Club

Here is what matters most: We know our players.

That is not something every club can say. We have a highly engaged and caring coaching staff. We have watched these kids grow up on the fields. We know who lights up when given a new challenge, who is ready to lead, who needs a little more time to find their footing, and who has been quietly waiting for the right moment to shine. That understanding does not disappear with a change in age groupings. In fact, it is exactly what we will rely on to guide us through this transition.

Every player affected by this change will be reviewed individually. There is no blanket approach here. We are going to sit down, talk through each situation, and make decisions that are right for each player in the context of what makes sense for each team.

​

The Opportunities We are Excited About

​Depending on where a player lands in the new structure, this change opens up some really meaningful possibilities:

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• More time with the people they are already playing with. For some players, the grade-year shift means they stay right where they are; for others, it means a move to a better developmental environment. In some cases, it might mean double-rostering players to make the transition easier and make sure teams are in good shape. Whatever the case, the result will mean more soccer, more development, more fun. That is a win.

• A chance to step into a leadership role. Some players will move into a group where they are one of the more experienced voices on the field. That is not a demotion, but an invitation to lead. We have seen firsthand how much a player can grow when they are the one others look up to.

• A better competitive fit. For some kids, this change puts them in an environment where they are competing at a level that matches where they actually are as a player right now. That is good for confidence, for development, and for the love of the game.

• A brand new challenge. And for some players, the new grouping means stepping into a more competitive environment than they have been in before. One of the best ways to spark growth and passion for the game.

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What Happens Next

At tryouts in the first two weeks of June, we are asking all players to try out with their new age groups. This will allow us to better assess player fit and the impact of the change on each team. After the tryouts, we will review each player's situation and reach out directly to every family whose player is affected by this transition. We will set up a time to discuss the details with you, answer your questions, and explain any changes being considered. You will have a chance to share your perspective before anything is finalized. If you want to talk before we initiate contact, please do not hesitate to reach out. My door (and inbox) is always open.

Coach Sasa

sasa@lsc1983.com

People of Lightning SC

Konrad Mitchell

1. What’s your role within LSC, and how long have you been involved?

My role with LSC is primarily as one of the Academy Managers. Alongside Ned and Lucas, we work to make sure our program is fun, challenging, rewarding, and—most importantly—welcoming to players of all levels right from the start. I also coach the 2017 Boys Green Team, which I’ve been with since the fall. I’ve been involved with Lightning on and off for the past five years, and have taken on a more consistent role this winter. Before coaching with the club, I also played for Lightning as a kid, which makes being part of the program now especially meaningful to me.

2. What motivates you to coach in the LSC Academy?

One of my biggest motivators as a coach is watching each player grow—not just in soccer, but in the friendships they build, the confidence they gain, and their overall love for the game. As a former educator, being able to mentor players on and off the field is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

3. How did your experience as a player at LSC shape the coach you are today?

My time with Lightning was really special. I had my dad as my coach, which meant a lot, and I was lucky to play under some incredible coaches like Jeff Cook, Rob Grabill, Charles Muhlauri, and a few others who really shaped how I think about the game.

My team came from different schools, different backgrounds, and soccer was the thing that brought us all together. Those friendships have lasted over a decade since I last put on that jersey, and I still keep in touch with some of those guys. I think that experience is actually a big part of why I care so much about what we do at the Academy now. I learned that the game doesn't have to be about trophies or tryouts to mean something. It can just be about the people you share it with. And that's something I want every kid who comes through Lightning to feel, regardless of which team they're on.

4. What was your first ever jersey, and why did it matter to you?

I’ve had quite a few jerseys throughout my soccer journey, but a couple stand out. The first was my U9 Lightning jersey back in 2005—the first one with my name on it, which my parents still have. Another meaningful one was a Mesut Özil Germany World Cup jersey my grandfather gave me after Germany won the World Cup in 2017.

5. Your prediction for the FIFA World Cup 2026 winner?

So with that… you can probably guess my World Cup prediction —Germany!

Save The Date

May 26, 2026 - Don’t miss the registration deadline for our 2026–2027 tryouts! Learn more about schedules, age group changes, and what to expect here

June 4, 2026 - 6:00-7:30 PM @ Salt Hill Pub, Lebanon - Compete for a chance to win a pair of World Cup 2026 tickets at Gillette Stadium. More dates and locations here

🎉 June 12, 2026 🎉 - World Cup Kickoff Fan Fest 5-8 pm @ Sports Park at CCBA and USMNT vs. Paraguay 9-11 pm @ Salt Hill Pub. More information here

June 16–20, 2026 - Our first soccer camp of the summer is just around the corner! Registration is still open - click here to secure your spot

June 22, 2026 - Summer Training & Fitness High School Camp begins and runs through August 6. This program is designed to provide consistent soccer training throughout the summer. Don’t miss out - learn more and register here

August 10–13, 2026 - Preseason Prep Camp kicks off as a focused, high-energy program designed to sharpen players ahead of the season - learn more and register here

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