September 8th- October 17th 2025
For Players Ages 4 to 10+ (U6-U11) Location: Sports Park at CCBA- 1 Taylor St. Lebanon, NH 03766

little sparks (u5 and younger)

Two sessions per week:

• 1 hour session during the week

• 1 hour session on Saturday

Where Soccer Journeys Begin

Little Sparks is our magical introduction to soccer for our youngest players, aged 5 and under.  Through storytelling and imaginative play, children explore fundamental movement skills while learning to play alongside peers in a nurturing environment.

Building Blocks for Life

Sessions focus on developing physical literacy through age-appropriate activities that build running, jumping, kicking, balance, and coordination.  These foundational skills serve children not just in soccer, but in all physical activities throughout their lives.

Learning Together

In Little Sparks, children discover the social joys of sports – sharing space, taking turns, celebrating together, and building friendships.  We welcome parent and guardian participation, creating special bonding moments while supporting each child's comfort and confidence.

The LSC Academy (U6-U11)

3 sessions per week:

• Two 1 hour training sessions per week between 4:00-7:00

• 1 hour “Game day” on Saturday

The Heartbeat of LSC

Welcome to LSC Academy – where young players learn to fall in love with the beautiful game. As the heartbeat of our club, the Academy pulses with energy, curiosity, and the joy of discovery that comes when children lose themselves in play.

We serve as a vital bridge between local recreational programs and our Lightning Club travel team program, creating a clear developmental pathway while building essential physical literacy that will serve players throughout their athletic lives.

Our Innovative Approach

At the core of the Academy is our commitment to the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) methodology.  Rather than drilling isolated skills, we place players in game-like situations where they learn to think, adapt, and problem-solve.  This approach develops not just technical ability, but soccer intelligence – helping players understand the "why" behind every touch, pass, and movement.  

To build confidence, the Lightning Academy 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 these sessions, Academy players are grouped by age, ability, and gender, creating optimal learning conditions in which every participant is appropriately challenged.

A note on groupings: We maintain a flexible approach at the Academy, and we're in the process of slowly moving all Lightning programs toward grade-based groupings. That said, we'll always work with individual families based on your availability and ability to get to Sports Park — if a group above doesn't quite fit your schedule, reach out and we'll figure it out together.

We could use your help: Finding great coaches is always a challenge, and this year is no exception. If you know anyone who'd love to coach, or if you're able to help out during your own child's session, please reach out to us — we'd love to have you.

Questions? Reach out to Konrad Mitchell at konrad@lsc1983.com.

Please see our LSC Refund Policy, which applies to the Lightning Academy Program.