2024 Spring Program Information

The Lakeland Recreational Soccer program provides a fun and educational youth soccer league for all members of the local community. Our Spring season runs from March through May. The program provides all children the opportunity to learn the game in a positive, fun, and productive environment. Our volunteer coaching staff receives continuous training and follows a specific curriculum overseen by our league director.

A typical season consists of 8 games and weekly training sessions with a team. In addition, other skills clinics and opportunities for players to develop may be offered throughout the season. Games and training sessions may be scheduled on weekends or weeknights. We do not keep league tables or records. Our recreational program is designed to offer every player at every level the opportunity to fall in love with the game in a fun and productive environment. By doing so and staying true to our mission, we hope to inspire even more players and their love for the game.

Divisions, Format, & Cost

All players are placed in Divisions based on their birth years. Players can not play down or up in a division based on their birth years unless special circumstances are needed to provide that player an opportunity to play. Any player requesting to play up or down must submit in writing to the league director for review. All 5U and 6U divisions are coed. 8U divisions may be coed or single-gender (SG). 10U and older divisions are single-gender (SU).

• DIV 6: (5U Coed) 2019/20 Birth Years (3v3 Format - No Goalkeepers) $100.00
• DIV 5: (6U Coed) 2018 Birth Year (4v4 Format - No Goalkeepers) $110.00
• DIV 4: (8U Coed/SG) 2016/17 Birth Years (4v4 Format - No Goalkeepers - Referees) $115.00
• DIV 3: (10U SG) 2014/15 Birth Years (7v7 Format - Referees) $125.00
• DIV 2: (12U SG) 2012/13 Birth Years (7v7 Format - Referees) $125.00
• DIV 1: (14U SG) 2010/11 Birth Years (7v7 Format - Referees) $125.00

*Teams in the 10U and older age groups may play games in other leagues such as Arlington or Bartlett as well as in-house games. Age groups may also be combined if needed to form teams for leagues. This will be determined by the director once all registrations have been received.

Uniforms

All Lakeland Soccer players are outfitted in quality apparel. The complete kit includes (1) Dri-Fit RED Jersey, (1) Dri-Fit NAVY Jersey, (1) BLACK Adidas Short, (1) RED Adidas sock, and (1) NAVY Adidas sock. The cost for the entire kit is $49.00 plus tax and shipping. Uniforms can be worn in multiple seasons. This cost is in addition to the registration fee. CLICK HERE TO ORDER UNIFORMS

All uniforms are ordered online through Soccer.com. Soccer.com is the official provider of all Tennessee Soccer Academy Lakeland Recreational uniforms, equipment, fan wear, and more. All items are available to purchase online through our club store and shipped directly to your doorstep ready to go. The Club Store is always open, and available to place orders anytime throughout the season. Soccer.com stands behind all of its products and guarantees your satisfaction. All uniform matters such as sizing, delivery, returns, exchanges, backorders, etc, are handled exclusively by Soccer.com. Use the link below to visit the store.

Equipment

We recommend that all players wear soccer cleats and shinguards for practices and games, bring water/snacks, and the appropriate size soccer ball for their age group. Ball sizes are below. Tennis shoes may be worn if needed. Uniforms are required for games but not for practices although many players like to wear them during practice. All other clothing items worn to practice should be appropriate. We do suggest gloves, hats, underlayers, sweatshirts, and pants when the temps are cold. 

• Size 3 Ball: 8U, 6U, 4U (Birth years 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016)
• Size 4 Ball: 10U & 12U (Birth years 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)
• Size 5 Ball: 14U (Birth years 2011, 2010)

Refund Policy

Once you have registered your child to play with Lakeland Recreational Soccer, the organization immediately incurs costs. We do a lot of work and incur many expenses weeks before the first day of the season. By registering your child, you have signed a contract with us to prepare a spot for your child in our program, and by doing so, means that we incur a significant financial obligation as well. We sign contracts and lease agreements with the city, purchase supplies, and equipment, pay for administrative, organizational, planning, and preparatory work, pay city and state registration fees, and take out insurance policies on your child.

If it turns out your plans change and your child is unable to participate, you will need to notify the Director immediately through email at sean@tnsocceracademy.com. If notified before the final date of open registration, you will receive a full refund. After online registration has closed and prior to 14 days before the first practice, we will refund the registration fee minus $50.00. The $50.00 is a recovery fee to pay for the time that has already been spent on your child's behalf as well as for the time that will be spent in taking the child out of the league and replacing/rearranging/scheduling their assigned team. Less than 14 days to the first official day of league practice, no refunds are issued. In the case that an age group does not form due to not enough players, a full refund will be issued. 

Inclement Weather Policy

Weather conditions can cause potentially dangerous situations for our players and participants. The Lakeland Inclement Weather Policy is in place to keep all involved as safe as possible. Lakeland coaches, players, and members work together by following the US Soccer's Environmental Conditions Guidelines to create a safe environment for our participants at all times. For full details about US Soccer's environmental conditions guidelines and recognize and recover actions, please click the link above.

Lightning & Severe Weather

Lightning is one of the top ten causes of sudden death in sports. As the majority of soccer is played outdoors, lightning and severe weather pose a threat to player health and safety. U.S. Soccer’s Recognize to Recover program, with the help of the Korey Stringer Institute, provides these guidelines for responding quickly and safely when lightning and severe weather threaten practice or a game. When it comes to making decisions to suspend or cancel play due to weather conditions, coaches, officials, athletic trainers, and administrators all share responsibility. These same individuals should be aware of close safe shelter locations and know how to evaluate when it is safe to resume play after severe weather leaves an area.

• No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. All activity should be suspended, even if lightning or thunder has not yet been observed, and everyone should get indoors. Communicate this information completely and quickly to all participants.
• Consult the National Weather Service, the Storm Prediction Center, or local media outlets for severe weather watches and warnings. Alerts can even be sent directly to your mobile device while you are on the field.
• Safe locations should be available with enough capacity to hold all who may need a safe shelter. A primary location would be a fully enclosed building with wiring and plumbing. A fully enclosed vehicle with a solid metal roof, like a school bus, would be a safe secondary option. Open fields and open-sided shelters are not safe. If there are no adequate safe shelters close to the field, play must be stopped well in advance of the storm to allow everyone to travel to a safe place or their home.
• If it’s been half an hour since the thunder, it’s safe to go outdoors. Outdoor activity may resume 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or flash of lightning. The 30-minute clock restarts every time lightning flashes or thunder sounds.

Severe storms are dangerous and can be upon us before we know it. High winds, heavy rainfall, hail, lightning, and thunder can cause serious threats quickly in any situation. If a severe storm is approaching the area, has been spotted on Radar, or is visibly nearby, activities will be suspended until the area is determined safe to play. Lakeland requires all participants to seek immediate shelter in their automobiles or a permanent structure such as bathrooms/concession buildings. Avoid any open structures, trees, tents, metal or other conducting materials, and unprotected open areas. The coach/staff will notify the team/manager when it is safe to return to the fields, or if the activity has been canceled.

The danger from lightning can persist for 20-30 minutes or more after a thunderstorm has passed. Lightning can strike from over 10 miles away and is considered a major threat to the safety of our participants. If lightning has been detected within 10 miles or any thunder has been heard, all game(s) and practice(s) will be suspended and all participants will need to seek shelter immediately. Game(s) or practice(s) will not restart for at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike has been detected or thunder has been heard. If lightning & thunder continue for longer periods, all game(s) and practice(s) will be canceled. The coach will notify the team/manager when it is safe to return to the fields, or activity has been canceled.

Hot Weather

Heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be serious and potentially life-threatening conditions. U.S. Soccer’s RECOGNIZE TO RECOVER program prepared this guide for coaches, referees, and players when training or playing in warmer climates, outlining recommendations for hydration breaks and participant safety during extreme temperature conditions. The information provided herein is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or other healthcare providers. For specific questions and concerns, please consult your healthcare provider or physician.

When the body can not continue to cool itself dangerous situations arise. Symptoms caused by body overheating can include fatigue, nausea, headaches, cramps, dry mouth, and a decrease in sweating. By monitoring and limiting outdoor exposure during extremely hot conditions and properly hydrating our participants, we can create a much safer playing environment.  Lakeland Hot Weather Guidelines

Cold Weather

The effects of cold weather can impact health and safety during practices and games. The definition of “cold stress” varies across the United States, depending on how accustomed people are to cold weather.  U.S. Soccer’s RECOGNIZE TO RECOVER program prepared this guide for coaches, referees, and players for training or playing in colder climates. Additionally, it serves as a guide for match play and participant safety during extreme temperature conditions. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or other healthcare providers. For specific questions and concerns, please consult your healthcare provider or physician. 

Cold weather conditions can be just as dangerous. The mix of cold air and hard playing surfaces can cause difficulty breathing, muscle pulls, loss of feeling in extremities, frostbite to exposed skin, and a greater risk for injury coming in contact with a harder/cold surface. By monitoring and limiting outdoor exposure during extremely cold conditions, we can create a much safer playing environment. Below are the guidelines for temp (air temp or wind-chill factor), amount of exposure, and suggested clothing during cold weather activities. Lakeland Cold Weather Guideline

Special Request Policy

Special requests must be made at the time of registration. Requests are granted on a first-come-first-serve basis. All requests are subject to review by the Director and are not guaranteed. Requests to play with a friend will be considered (only if that friend’s birth year falls into the same division). Requests for specific dates of practices and games can not be granted. Any special medical needs may require an exception to the policy.