Overview
The Lexington United Soccer Club is a private, non-profit youth sports organization based in Lexington, Massachusetts, delivering more than 25 unique soccer programs during the year that generate over 4,000 unique registrations from more than 1,900 Lexington children of all abilities from Pre-K to 12th grade. LUSC is primarily a volunteer-led organization with more than 200 Lexington parent volunteers serving in leadership and coaching roles. LUSC also employs a highly-qualified professional coaching staff that oversees the soccer development program, including managing the soccer curriculum and training volunteer coaches as well as coaching LUSC players directly in skills development clinics and player development academy programs.
LUSC employs a full-time Director of Coaching, Brendan Donahue. Brendan began work with LUSC during the spring of 2006. He has implemented a variety of exercises and lesson plans, and manages the external professional coaching in order to provide the most favorable playing and practice environment for all age groups.
Mission Statement
To develop lifelong soccer players among Lexington youth
While we always want to win, winning is not our top priority. We strive to create a fun, nurturing, learning environment that leaves players with the desire to come back for more. It’s only through keeping players engaged that the lasting benefits of the game can be realized. In addition to developing a love of soccer, we hope to instill valuable life skills such as resilience, grit, integrity and good sportsmanship through playing the game of soccer. Our ultimate hope is that players will still be playing soccer as adults and enjoying the benefits of exercise, teamwork and community throughout their life.
Coaching Philosophy
See these presentations from our DOC to learn more about LUSC’s coaching philosophy:
Programs
The programs offered by LUSC can be divided into four separate areas:
In-town
Fall and spring soccer for Kindergarten through 4th grade. K-2 meets once a week on Saturdays, and 3rd-4th graders practice twice a week with a game on Saturdays. Teams are balanced and the atmosphere is non-competitive. Teams are coached by volunteers, under the supervision of the LUSC Director of Coaching.
Travel
Fall and spring soccer for 3rd-12th grade. (Third-grade and high school players play travel only in the spring.) Teams practice twice a week with a game on Saturdays. Teams are created based on the skills of players, and the teams are entered in the BAYS (Boston Area Youth Soccer) league divisions and their placement is based on their capability relative to teams from other town soccer clubs. Teams are coached by volunteers, under the guidance of the LUSC Director of Coaching.
LPDA
The Lexington Player Development Academy is a professionally coached program for skilled players looking for additional competitive play beyond the Travel program. The program serves players from 5th to roughly 10th grade. Teams play outdoors in the fall and spring against private club teams in the Northeast Soccer League (NSL), and they play indoor futsal in the winter in the Massachusetts Futsal League.
Clinics
Weeklong vacation clinics are held in April, June, July and August. Weekly clinics are held in the fall, winter and spring seasons. In addition, TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer), which runs in the fall and spring, is a community-based program that is designed to meet the needs of children and young adults that have physical and/or intellectual disabilities.
Also, there are opportunities for paid referees 13 years and older, and for high-school students to mentor younger-aged teams.
