Mission

To develop complete soccer players. Ones that are prepared mentally, physically, and emotionally to compete at their highest level of competition at LMYA and beyond

Guiding Principles

• Skill Development: Coaches focus on the age-appropriate development of our players in four key areas of the game:
  • Technical: Players are taught the individual skills to keep and move the ball
  • Tactical: Teams learn to defend, transition, stay connected, move without the ball, and communicate as a team
  • Physical: Athletes build strength, speed, and endurance through their hard work and commitment to practice and training
  • Psychological: Learn that success is define success through improvement of skills and effort, not wins and losses, both within and beyond the sport of soccer
• Sportsmanship: Players are taught to pillars of good sportsmanship from the youngest ages:
  • Always play fair and play by the rules of the game
  • Respect teammates, coaches, officials, fans, and opponents
  • Be humble when winning. Enjoy hard-earned successes together, and
  • Be graceful when losing. Congratulate the other team and learn from the loss

General Information

• Travel soccer is a more competitive program open to kids born in 2018 and older (age 7+)
  • Players born in 2017 and 2018 are best served in our U7/8 Advanced Program
  • Players born in 2016 and older are able to tryout for one of our travel teams
• Tryouts are in the Spring (typically April and May) for teams that will be competing in the upcoming Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons
• LMYA strives to have at least one team at every age group for both boys and girls; in the past due to a shortage of players or coaches, some teams have had to fold. If a potential coach is interested in starting a travel team at an age group that does not have one, reach out to [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between travel soccer and recreational soccer?

Travel soccer is a more competitive program that gives players the opportunity to spend more time learning the fundamentals of the game. Unlike recreational soccer, travel soccer is a yearlong commitment that includes the fall and spring seasons. Some teams opt to train or play over the winter as well.

What about practices?

Most travel teams practice twice per week during the fall and spring at Creamery Park. Indoor practices are generally held once a week during the winter.

Is my child allowed to participate in other sports?

Absolutely! We encourage participation in all sports and extracurricular activities. Typically, soccer takes priority in the fall and other sports take priority in the winter and spring. The best way to manage schedules is by talking to your various coaches to align expectations (most of them have multi-sport athletes too).

How far is the travel for games? 

LMYA Travel Soccer plays a combination of home and away games. There are generally 7-10 games per season with half being played at home with the others played at the opponent’s’ fields. Most leagues are centered within about an hour of the Lehigh Valley, so away games are typically within that distance.

Is travel soccer more expensive?

Yes, because it is worth it. Registration fees are less than the rec soccer fees for the combined fall and spring seasons, plus, players need to purchase a uniform (typically worn for two years) and support league and referee fees.  Tournaments are additional cost as well. League costs range from $600 to $1,500 per year. Tournaments cost between $400 to $1,300 per team depending on tournament and age. Most fall $500-$800 for younger teams and $700-$1,100 for older teams. Those costs are divided across all players.

 

Families should estimate spending ~$400 above and beyond the LMYA registration fee cover the uniform and other expenses. Teams can obtain sponsors and/or hold fundraisers to offset these additional costs. Talk to the coach and team manager about ideas.

U7/8 Advanced

The Lower Macungie Youth Association Advanced Soccer Developmental Program fall under the umbrella of the travel program. The goal is to teach children in the U8 age group fundamentals of soccer and prepares them for Travel Soccer. This program provides additional and more advanced training above and beyond what the Rec program can. It is designed for players who are interested in playing travel program in the future.

Below are some common questions about Advanced Program to help you determining whether it’s the right fit for your player. If you have additional questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages are eligible for the Advanced Developmental Program?

The Advanced Developmental Program is intended for the U8 age group. However, we will also take some members of the U7 age group if numbers allow.

What is the difference between Recreational Soccer and the Advanced Developmental Program?

Unlike recreational soccer, the Advanced Developmental Program is a yearlong commitment that includes the fall and spring seasons.  There is also indoor winter training.  The Advanced Program will compete at higher levels and will place a deeper focus on building fundamental soccer skills.

How far will I have to travel for games? 

LMYA’s Advanced Developmental Program plays in “festivals” during the fall season. There are generally 3-4 festivals in the fall, usually within a 40-minute drive. We will also host one or two festivals at our home fields. During the spring season, players will take part in 7 v 7 games in a local league to gain experience on a larger field and give them a leg up when moving to U9.

Is the Advanced Developmental Program more expensive?

Registration fees are equivalent to the rec soccer fees except you will pay for both the fall and spring seasons up front. The club can make arrangements if this is a challenge for your budget. Uniforms are included for all players at this age.