THE LIGHTNING SOCCER CLUB

Mission Statement

AFC Lightning stands to provide a positive learning environment where players can develop to their full potential. All players are provided with a challenging environment where their technical, tactical, physical and mental skills are tested at varying degrees in accordance with age specific training. AFC's focus is complete player development. Players are regarded as individuals and are encouraged to maintain a positive self-image through healthy competitive spirit. We are a multi-cultural club with a vast array of staff and players. Our club is proud to represent Atlanta and sets out to achieve heightened recognition of our city and its neighboring areas.


We would like to introduce you to the Lightning Soccer Club. Please take a moment to see what the Club has to offer to you as a player.

The Lightning Soccer Club is committed to develop players and helping each player to reach his or her full potential. We feel that our Coaching Staff is the best in the Southeast and one of the best in the United States. We offer top level teams in every age group for those players who truly want to compete at the State, Regional or National levels. We offer intermediate teams for those players who love the game of soccer and want to develop their soccer skills, but who might want to pursue other interests as well.

Whatever your goals are as a soccer player, wheter you desire to play on a State Championship team, be a member of an Olympic Development Team, play College or even become a member of a MLS team, the Club has all the resources to help you attain those goals.

Our Coaching Staff is involved in teaching the basics of soccer to all age groups of our league's recreational players. The Club's older players assist with clinics and camps for the younger players, benefitting both the Lightning players and the recreational players.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • First club in Georgia to hire a full-time Director of Coaching.
  • First Club in Georgia to hire separate full-time Directors for both the Boys and Girls programs.
  • First Club in Georgia to hire a full-time Executive Director.
  • First Club in Georgia to have two first round MLS draft picks.
  • Our players have been awarded over $150,000 in college scholarships each year since 1990.
  • Full-time staff coaches and age-group coordinators with professional playing and coaching experience.
  • Three Lightning Teams have made appearances at the USYSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
  • Lightning 80 Gold under 18 Boys were the first team in Georgia to win a USYSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

STATE CHAMPIONS:

Lightning 74 Gold

  • Under 17 Boys State Champions 1990-91
  • Under 19 Boys State Champions 1991-92

Lightning 75 Gold

  • Under 19 Boys State Champions 1992-93

Lightning 76 Gold

  • Under 20 Boys State Champions 1995-96

Lightning 76 White

  • Under 18 Girls State Champions 1993-94, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 19 Girls State Champions 1994-95, USYSA Region III (South) Silver Medal
  • Under 20 Girls State Champions 1995-96, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze, Medal

Lightning 77 Gold

  • Under 16 Boys State Champions 1992-93, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 17 Boys State Champions 1993-94, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 18 Boys State Champions 1994-95, USYSA Region III (South) Gold Medal
  • Under 19 Boys State Champions 1995-96, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal

Lightning 77 White

  • Under 19 Girls State Champions 1995-96, USYSA Region III (South) Gold Medal

Lightning 80 Gold

  • Under 16 Boys State Champions 1995-96, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 18 Boys State Champions 1997-98, USYSA Region III (South) Gold Medal
  • 1998 U18 USYSA National Champions

Lightning 82 Gold

  • Under 12 Boys State Champions 1993-94

Lightning 82 White

  • Under 14 Girls State Champions 1995-96, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal

Lightning 83 Gold

  • Under 16 Boys State Champions 1998-99
  • Under 17 Boys State Champions 1999-2000

Lightning 84 Gold

  • Under 16 Boys State Champions 1999-2000
  • Under 18 Boys State Champions 2001-02, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal

Lightning 84 White

  • Under 16 Girls State Champions 1999-2000, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 17 Girls State Champions 2000-01, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 18 Girls State Champions 2001-02, USYSA Region III (South) Gold Medal
  • 2002 U18 USYSA National Silver Medal

Lightning 85 Gold

  • Under 16 Boys State Champions 2000-01
  • Under 17 Boys State Champions 2001-02
  • Under 19 Boys State Champions 2003-04

Lightning 87 Gold

  • Under 15 Boys State Champions 2001-02, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 18 Boys State Champions 2004-05, USYSA Region III (South) Silver Medal
  • Under 19 Boys State Champions 2005-06

Lightning 88 White

  • Under 13 Girls State Champions 2000-01
  • Under 14 Girls State Champions 2001-02, USYSA Region III (South) Gold Medal
  • Under 15 Girls State Champions 2002-03, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 16 Girls R3PL East Champions 2003-04, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal

Lightning 90 Gold

  • Under 13 Boys State Champions 2002-03

Lightning 91 Premier

  • Under 13 Boys State Co-Champions 2003-04
  • Under 16 Boys State Champions 2006-07

Lightning 92 White

  • Under 14 Girls R3PL East Champions 2006, USYSA Region III (South) Bronze Medal
  • Under 15 Girls R3PL East Champions 2006-07