Looking for a youth soccer club or team in Lancaster, PA? Lancaster County has options ranging from recreational, travel, and academy programs. This guide breaks down the major soccer clubs and programs in the Lancaster area to help parents find the right fit for their player.
Choosing the right club depends on your child’s age, skill level, goals, and how much time and money your family wants to commit. Below, you’ll find information about local clubs, their programs, estimated costs, and how to decide which level is right for your child.
Quick Comparison of Soccer Clubs in Lancaster, PA
| Club | Main Programs | Best For |
| PA Classics | Recreational, travel, academy, MLS NEXT | Players of all ages and competitive levels |
| Lancaster FC | Recreational and competitive travel | Players looking for recreational or competitive soccer |
| Lancaster Inferno FC | Girls’ recreational and competitive pathways | Girls looking for recreational or competitive soccer |
| Local Recreational Clubs | Recreational soccer and, in some cases, lower-level travel | Beginners and players looking to have fun |
Competitive Soccer Clubs
Competitive clubs are best for kids who have a passion for the game, want to put in the time, and want to compete at a higher level. These programs generally require a greater time and financial commitment than recreational soccer.
PA Classics
Website: www.paclassics.org
PA Classics is one of the major soccer clubs in the area and offers a wide range of teams for different ages and skill levels. This is the hometown club of USMNT star Christian Pulisic.
Located in Manheim, their programs include:
- Penn Legacy Rec: A low-cost option for beginners and players just looking to have fun. ($155–$180)
- Futures: Ages 3–8, with varying skill levels. ($75–$120)
- United: Similar to travel soccer, but with less competition, time commitment, and cost. ($600)
- Premier: Lowest-level travel teams. ($1,200–$2,200)
- Elite Blue and Green: Teams below the academy and MLS NEXT levels. ($1,200–$2,200)
- Academy and Pre-MLS NEXT: Higher-level teams below MLS NEXT Homegrown for boys.
- MLS NEXT Academy: Competitive teams for U16, U17, and U19 players.
- MLS NEXT Homegrown: The top level of the boys’ youth pathway at the club, with teams competing in MLS NEXT. U16, U17, and U19. ($2,500–$3,500)
Girls’ teams have a similar range of competitive levels, with Girls Academy and Girls Aspire among the top pathways. ($1,200–$2,300)
Costs are estimated and do not include travel, lodging, or additional fees.
Lancaster FC
Website: www.lancasterfc.com
Lancaster FC is a soccer club founded in 2022 that offers recreational and competitive soccer programs. It is similar to PA Classics in providing opportunities for players at different ages and skill levels, but does not offer the same MLS NEXT pathway.
Its programs include:
- Recreational: Operating as Manheim Township SC: A low-cost option for beginners and players just looking to have fun. ($115–$195 per season)
- Premier Black and Red: Lower-level travel teams. (Approximately $1,200)
- Elite Black and Red: Teams below the academy level. ($1,200–$1,450)
- Academy: Top-level teams for boys and girls across age groups. ($1,450+)
Costs are estimated and do not include travel, lodging, or additional fees.
Lancaster Inferno FC
Website: www.lancasterinferno.com
Lancaster Inferno FC is an all-girls competitive soccer club located in Landisville. It is a smaller club, but offers teams for a wide range of ages and competitive levels.
Its programs include:
- Inferno Pre-Travel: Beginner travel teams for younger players, offered as a bridge to competitive travel soccer. U8–U10. ($175 per season)
- Academy: Competitive teams, with the level depending on age group. U9–U19. ($1,200–$2,000+)
- Inferno USL Academy: Higher-level youth teams competing in competitive leagues. U15–U19. ($1,500–$2,500+)
Costs are estimated and do not include travel, lodging, or additional fees.
Recreational Soccer Clubs in Lancaster County
Recreational clubs are best for kids who are just learning the game or want to have fun without the time and financial commitment of competitive travel soccer.
The following clubs offer recreational programs in Lancaster County. Some also have lower-level travel teams for players looking for more competition.
| Club | Website | Estimated Cost |
| Penn Legacy Rec | Website | $155–$180 |
| Manheim Township SC | Website | $115–$195 |
| Lancaster Youth Soccer Club | Website | $325–$375 |
| Conestoga Valley Youth Soccer Club | Website | $95–$120 |
| Crusader Youth Athletic Association | Website | $325–$375 |
| Penn Manor Soccer Club | Website | $50–$110 |
| Warwick Soccer Club | Website | $50–$100 |
| Donegal Youth Soccer Club | Website | Contact club |
| Elizabethtown United Soccer | Website | $50–$100 |
| Ephrata Youth Soccer Club | Website | $135–$180 |
| Cocalico Youth Soccer | Website | $90–$110 |
| Lititz Youth Soccer Club | Website | $85–$150 |
Some of these clubs also offer lower-level travel teams. Estimated costs include:
- Penn Manor Soccer Club: Approximately $400–$900.
- Warwick Soccer Club: Approximately $400–$900.
- Elizabethtown United Soccer: Approximately $170–$300.
- Lititz Youth Soccer Club: Approximately $400–$900.
Recreational costs are estimates for the 2027 season and include jersey fees. Travel-team costs are estimates and may vary by age group and team. Contact each club for current pricing and additional fees.
How to Choose the Best Soccer Club for Your Child
Choosing the right soccer club depends on your child’s age, skill level, interest in the sport, and willingness to commit more time to soccer. Here is how I would approach the decision at different stages.
Beginners
At a young age, when your child is just learning the game and experimenting with different sports, it is usually best to choose the closest local recreational club.
Recreational teams are great options for players learning and enjoying the game without the commitment of money, time, and effort required from competitive travel teams.
Recreational teams should generally focus on development, enjoying the game, and splitting playing time evenly between players, regardless of age or skill level. Winning games should not be the top priority, which makes recreational clubs a lower-stress environment for players to have fun and develop.
Intermediate
After your child has played the game for a few years, it is time to consider whether moving to a competitive travel team is the right choice.
Travel soccer is a bigger time and financial commitment than recreational soccer. However, it can be the right choice if you are willing to make the commitment and want your child to have more opportunities to improve and compete.
Travel clubs generally have more experienced coaches and better competition than recreational leagues. If your child really likes the sport, is one of the better players on their recreational team, and is interested in committing more time and effort, it may be the right time to try moving to a travel team.
However, if your child just likes soccer for the social aspect and does not seem interested in making it a priority, it is probably better to continue with recreational soccer.
Travel soccer at young ages should still focus on development. Rather than automatically choosing the highest-level team, look for a team with good coaching, meaningful playing time, and an appropriate level of competition.
If your child has a negative experience with a team or a coach who barely plays them because of too much of a focus on winning, it may be time to consider switching teams or even clubs.
Advanced
If your child is very committed, is one of the better players on their competitive travel team, and is on a U13 team or older, it is worth helping them think through whether they want to take soccer more seriously and try to reach the highest competitive levels.
For boys, this may mean pursuing an MLS NEXT pathway. For girls, it may mean pursuing Girls Academy or another high-level competitive pathway.
This means even more time and financial commitment, and it may involve giving up playing school soccer depending on the club’s schedule and the player’s goals.
However, higher-level soccer generally comes with better competition and opportunities to work with experienced coaches. It can also provide greater exposure to college coaches, although playing at a particular level does not guarantee college recruitment. A player’s ability, academic fit, recruiting outreach, and finances still matter.
In my personal experience, I was coached by my dad on a travel team until I switched over to PA Classics at U15. My goal was to play on the U17 and U19 academy teams, so joining the U15 pre-academy team gave me an opportunity to prove myself to the coaches rather than relying solely on having a great tryout the following year to make the academy team.
It can be difficult to try out for a new club at older ages and make the top-level team right away, so I would recommend considering a similar approach unless the player is a complete standout.
There are many different player pathways, but this worked out well for me as I was able to develop for a year with a new team and smoothly transition to playing academy for the following years. It also gave me many options of D1, D2, and D3 colleges to choose from without having to do proactive outreach or ID camps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Youth Soccer in Lancaster, PA
How much does travel soccer cost in Lancaster, PA?
Travel soccer costs vary depending on the club, age group, and competitive level. Based on the estimates in this guide, many lower-level travel programs cost several hundred dollars to around $1,200 per year, while higher-level competitive and academy programs can cost $1,200–$3,500 or more. Travel, lodging, uniforms, tournaments, and other fees may add to the total.
What age should my child start travel soccer?
There is no single right age to start travel soccer. Some players begin at younger ages, while others benefit from spending more time in recreational soccer before moving to a competitive team. Consider your child’s interest in the sport, skill level, and willingness to commit more time before making the decision.
Is travel soccer worth it?
Travel soccer can be worth it for players who really enjoy soccer and want more competition, experienced coaching, and opportunities to develop. However, it requires more time and money than recreational soccer. For players who mainly want to have fun and play with friends, recreational soccer may be the better choice.
What is the difference between recreational and travel soccer?
Recreational soccer generally focuses on learning the game, having fun, and giving players meaningful playing time. Travel soccer involves more competitive teams, more frequent training and games, and a greater time and financial commitment. The exact differences depend on the club and age group.
Does my child need extra soccer training outside of their club?
Not every player needs private training. Team practices are important for learning tactics, working with teammates, and competing. However, players benefit from individual or small-group training to get more repetitions, work on specific skills, build confidence on the ball, and have an experienced coach give them focused attention and guidance. Whether it makes sense depends on the player’s goals, schedule, and current training environment.
Supplemental Soccer Training in Lancaster, PA
Choosing the right soccer club is an important step in your child’s development, but team practices are only one part of the process. Players benefit from additional individual or small-group training to improve their technical skills, build confidence on the ball, and get more repetitions outside of regular team practices.
1 Touch Training provides individual and small-group soccer training in the Lancaster area for players of different ages and skill levels.
Whether your child plays recreational soccer, competitive travel soccer, or at an advanced academy level, supplemental training can provide an opportunity to work on individual skills that may not receive as much attention during team practices.
The goal is to help players improve their skills, become more confident in games, and get more out of their time on the field.
Interested in helping your child improve?
Visit 1 Touch Training to learn more about our soccer training options in Lancaster, PA.
Train better. Play better. Enjoy the game more.
By Ike Hollinger
Last updated: October 2026
Club programs, age groups, and costs are subject to change. Contact individual clubs to confirm current information before registering.
