Philosophy & History

Interestingly, the LMVSC was born at a baseball game. During the summer of 1969, three gentlemen, John Walker from Hybla Valley, Dennis Smith from Hayfield and a mutual baseball friend from Hayfield, Walt Ulica, were discussing the need of youth soccer in our area. A consensus emerged that soccer didn't limit participation for lack of size or height and could be a tool for more participation by individual team players than some other youth sports. With this agreement, the Lee-Mt. Vernon Soccer Club was born.

 

The league is organized into Boys, Girls, 1st/2nd Grade (D Division), and Kindergarten (E Division) divisions. LMVSC teams are organized by the following grade groupings:

 

Kindergarten	E Division
1st Grade	D1 Division
2nd Grade	D2 Division
3rd/4th Grade	C Division
5th/6th Grade	B Division
7th/8th Grade	A Division
9th/10th Grade	AA Division
11th/12th Grade	AAA Division

LMVSC is unique in that its teams are formed on the basis of neighborhood. This recognizes the importance of community and school on the social development of children. The spring of 1999 will usher in the fielding of teams to continue to participate in the Old Dominion Soccer League and now with The Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS) League and The National Capital Soccer League, which will provide a higher level of play for those children who are interested in focusing more on the sport. This will provide options to meet the needs of the community. The tremendous growth and size the Club can be attributed, in part, to the ability to respond to community needs and to the guaranteed participation of every player among his or her neighbors and friends.

Throughout its history LMVSC has contracted with independent assigners to obtain professional referee services. LMVSC has developed an in-house program for providing FIFA/USSF certification for adults and youth who are interested in becoming referees. These referees then work with the LMVSC assigner to officiate the league recreational as well as travel games. The funds for the referee pay as well as player uniforms and equipment are derived each year solely form the registration fees and donations paid by the players. Some major milestones of the Club are:

 

1969	LMVSC founded
1971	Girls Division organized
1972	High School Division started
1973	Games under the lights
1976	1st/2nd grade clinic groups organized
1983	Spring season added
1986	1st/2nd grade clinics become D Division and play regular games
1987	D Division and High School Added to the Spring schedule
1989	D Division split into Boys and Girls teams
1995	E Division (Kindergarten) added to provide small sided soccer
1996	Small sided soccer extended up through the C Division
1998	Teams compete for the first time in the Old Dominion Soccer League Formalized end-of-season tournaments of A, B, and C divisions
1999	LMVSC admitted to the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS) The "Ben Willey" Sportsmanship Award created LMVSC admitted to the National Capital Soccer League (NCSL)
2002	Director of Player Development position created
2006	Organization name changed to Lee – Mount Vernon Soccer Club
2006	Mini Kickers - U-4 receive professional age appropriate training/games
2007	Developmental Academey for U-8 players - professional training two days a week

Each of these milestones is a response of the LMVSC to the wishes of the players and parents.

In the Travel program, the objective is to groom the player for competition at a higher level than that found in the Recreational program. The program forms teams based upon a "try out" system which encourages players who have the desire, to compete against the finest teams in the Washington Metropolitan area and the nation. The objective of the LMVSC is to strike a balance between the Recreational and Travel programs that will enable all players to compete, to learn, and to enjoy the sport to the level that they desire.

Our number one priority is to romance the youngsters, to make them love the game. Let them enjoy every minute for its own sake. Let the rewards be the sheer joy of the play. Wherever feasible, keep the emphasis on winning or losing out of their way. Let them just fall in love with the ball and the comradery and with the challenges they represent. Let them work for the magic touch with the ball and the teamwork which gives unbelievable satisfaction. Skill proficiency becomes their pride and joy.