LNYSA – Rooted in Community. Built for the Future of Soccer.

LNYSA is more than a soccer league—it’s a movement built by local families, for local families. What started as a community-driven, self-governed recreational program has grown into a comprehensive, multi-tiered development pathway offering opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels.

From MiniKickers at age 3 to competitive youth, Select, Club, and MLS NEXT players, LNYSA provides a home for every player—right here in Laguna Niguel.

With a focus on community-based player development, LNYSA delivers year-round programming and services for residents of Laguna Niguel. 

More Than a Game: A Culture of Growth

Our culture is grounded in teaching a unified soccer and leadership style, instilling lasting values of: Teamwork, Commitment, Humility, Work Ethic , Community Pride. 

At LNYSA, players don’t just learn how to pass, shoot, or defend—they grow into confident, respectful teammates, leaders, and citizens of the game.

TEAMWORK. COMMITMENT. COMMUNITY.

Not just words—values we live by. Evolving great players and even greater people.

Participation to Performance: A Progressive Pathway

From participation-based beginnings to progression-focused development, our player pathway supports growth, fundamentals, advancement, and greater exposure in the continued pursuit of soccer excellence.

For many families, the first introduction to soccer is fun, friendly, and exploratory. At this stage, the goal is participation, building friendships, and discovering the joy of the game.

As players grow and demonstrate the desire, readiness, and ability to take on more challenges, we provide opportunities to progress through the levels of play, from recreational Play to competitive club Play. .

Our entire model is player-centric, designed to support development across the four key pillars:

• Technical

• Tactical

• Physical

• Psychosocial

We place high value on individual growth, emphasizing skill development and long-term potential at every step of the journey.

A Development Pathway for Every Player

We understand that players develop at different stages of their soccer journey—based on age, physical ability, technical growth, tactical understanding, and psychosocial readiness. That’s why LNYSA offers a complete pathway, covering: 

• MiniKickers – Starting as young as 3 years old

• Recreational Play – For ages 6 through 12+, with age-based divisions

• Select & Club Play – Beginning at age 8

• Skills Clinics, Goalkeeper Training, and Open Play Fridays – For fun, unstructured development

• MLS Next – The highest level of youth soccer development in North America

Throughout the year, we offer Club Coach–supported Skills Clinics, goalkeeper training, and our very popular Open Play Fridays Program during the off-season—where players enjoy the game with friends in a no-pressure environment:
No coaches. No laps. No lines. Just fun and touches on the ball.

MLS NEXT – Elite Development, National Opportunity

As part of our competitive pathway, we are proud & excited to announce LUFC's official admission into MLS NEXT's New Competition Tier—the elite youth development platform in the United States and Canada, created and operated by Major League Soccer (MLS).

MLS NEXT is designed to identify, develop, and elevate the top youth soccer players in North America. It serves as the primary pipeline to:

• College soccer programs

• Professional academies

• U.S. Youth National Teams

Through this prestigious platform, LUFC players gain access to a clear and direct development pathway—one that begins right here in Laguna Niguel and can lead to the highest levels of the sport.

With exposure to elite-level coaching, advanced training environments, national scouting, and high-level competition, MLS NEXT's New Competition Tier represents the future of American soccer—and LUFC players are already part of that future.

A Homegrown Story: From MiniKickers to U.S. Open Cup

Our commitment to community-based player development came full circle when our UPSL team qualified for the first round of the U.S. Open Cup—a historic achievement.

We faced off against the LA Galaxy Second Team (MLS NEXT Pro), and while it was a tough match, it was also a moment of pride:

• Three players on this squad came through our program—starting as MiniKickers

• Several others began their journey in LNYSA Recreational

• The majority of our UPSL roster is made up of current youth players

• Five alumni returned to represent the club where it all began

It was a true homegrown effort, powered by every layer of the LNYSA pathway—proof that the system we’ve built works, and it starts right here in our backyard.

It’s Bigger Than Soccer

LNYSA is about more than what happens on the field. We are proud to support:

• City-wide community events, like the Sea Country Festival, Christmas Parade & more...

• Volunteer days, like Make A Difference Day

• International outreach, donating soccer gear to players as far away as Costa Rica

Our heart is in Laguna Niguel, but our impact reaches far beyond.

Join the LNYSA Family

When you join LNYSA, you’re not just signing up for soccer.
You’re joining a family—built on community, driven by passion, and committed to developing well-rounded players and people.

Come play with us.
LNYSA – Rooted in Community. Built for the Future of Soccer.

LNYSA News - Edition 2.6

Typical Sample of a Weekly Skills Clinic

During the Spring  & Fall Seasons we host age specific skills clinics for players to help them pick up new skills in a fun  , supportive environment. They learn new skills and get to hang out with friends! Free to Spring Players. Fun for all!  Enjoyed by our Recreational Coaches. 

Example of Special Friday GoalKeeper Clinic

Behind every great soccer team is a world-class goalkeeper, but playing between the sticks is not easy. Playing in Goal is  arguably the most underrated position in Soccer, goalkeepers are often overlooked for the more glamorous spots in the team. It is one of the toughest jobs on the field that requires concentration, composure and the ability to pull off saves at any given moment in a game. So we want to give them some special attention and offer a Clinic just for them - Just for our Goalie's! We really appreciate the Goalkeeper.