The AFC Middle GA Lightning 13U-19U Select program is designed to offer players with the highest level competitive club soccer in the Middle Georgia area. Moreover, our program provides a solid foundation of training and development for serious competitive players to excel to the apex of his or her ability. The program emphasizes the progression of soccer skills necessary to prepare and advance players to higher-level programs such as regional leagues, collegiate, semi-professional, and professional soccer. We offer a variety of opportunities, recruitment, and exposure to colleges through our ability to participate in AFC Lightning’s College Identification Camps and College Showcase events at their Peachtree City Athletic Complex (PAC) and McCurry Park locations and by providing opportunities for collegiate coaches to train our players during regular practice times.

Our directors and staff coaches are dedicated to creating an environment that challenges players to grow their technical, tactical, psychological, and leadership skills in order to reach their goals both on and off the pitch.

FAQs

• When are Tryouts?                                                                             Tryouts for Fall will occur on May 27-29 and Supplemental Tryouts for Spring rosters occur in early January.

• Who is eligible for the 2025-2026 seasonal year?                                Any player whose birth date falls between 2013 and 2007 are eligible to play in the 13U-19U age groups for the 2025-2026 seasonal year.

• In what leagues do your teams compete?                     Though most of our teals play in the SCCL, our teams or affiliated AFC teams may play in any of the leagues linked below.

• Girls Academy League (13U-19U most competitive girls teams)

• MLS Next (13U and 14U most competitive boys teams)

• Development Player League (13U-19U second most competitive girls teams)

• National Academy League (15U-19U most competitive boys teams and 13U and 14U second most competitive boys teams)

• Southeastern Club Champions League (SCCL) (13U-19U boys and girls third and fourth most competitive teams and 15U-19U second most competitive boys teams)

• When and where are training sessions?                                          Most select teams will train 2-3 times per week on weekdays for 90 minutes per training session at the Macon Soccer Club complex on Raley Road. Some teams will train at other, Macon-based locations. Precise training days, times, and location may vary from time to time depending on the schedules of the coaches and field availability.

• When and where are games?   

• Girls Academy League, Development Player League, MLS Next and National Academy League will have approximately half of the games held on our home fields in Macon and the other half will consist of games in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and/or Alabama.

• SCL – Approximately half of the games will be home games held in Macon and the away games will be held in the metro Atlanta area.

• 13U and 14U teams participate both a fall and spring league seasons and tournaments.

• 15U-19U teams participate in fall leagues in addition to tournaments/showcases in both fall and spring seasons.

• What other training opportunities does AFC Lightning Middle GA offer?                                                                     AFC Middle Georgia players enjoy the open training policy available to all AFC Lightning players who desire to train more frequently, as they are permitted to drop in on practices at affiliate clubs so long as they are maintaining attendance with their assigned team. Additionally, training clinics and other special training sessions may be scheduled on an ad hoc basis and offered to small additional fee.

• How are teams formed?                                            Players are selected and teams are formed through an evaluation process that takes place prior to the beginning of the fall season. Our coaching staff evaluates players based on the four components of soccer:                                                                                                 1) Technical, 2) Tactical, 3) Mental, 4) Physical                 Players are encouraged to attend all tryout sessions for maximum exposure Player selection may begin prior to, during and immediately after the formal tryout period. Players will be selected in order by level of play. Beginning with the most competitive team, the coach will select and contact players for verbal commitment and acceptance of a position on the team. Once the most competitive team is complete, the process repeats with the next most competitive teams. This process takes several days and it is the goal of the coaching staff to complete the process by the Monday after tryouts. Players not selected for a team will be notified after all teams are selected and confirmed. 

• What is the difference between Recreation and Select Soccer?                                                                                                Deciding whether or not your child should play recreational soccer or competitive (“select”) soccer is often a daunting task for parents not familiar with the world of competitive sports. The primary deciding factor that parents should consider when making the select verses recreation decision is whether or not one wishes to accelerate a child’s soccer development in a professionally guided training environment. In recreational soccer, the focus is most often on social interaction, “having fun” with friends, which often comes at the expense of instruction. In select soccer, the focus in on teaching in an enjoyable manner that is appropriate for the child’s age level. Individual skills and team tactics are taught by high- level, professionally licensed coaches in order to more fully develop the child’s level of play. When it comes to playing at a select level, the end result is young athletes that know how to play soccer at a much higher level than corresponding recreational players.