Are you looking to sign your kids up to one of the best soccer clubs in Ohio? One that your child can call home? If so, you are at the right place! In this post, I’ve compiled a helpful list that highlights 10 of the best-known soccer clubs in the region, in no particular order. 

These options should fit any player’s needs, be it beginner’s or elite classes, recreational or competitive soccer, name it all. You’ll be spoilt for choice!

Let’s dive in…

Columbus United Soccer Club

Columbus United resulted when two friendly but rival teams, Spartans and Centurians, merged in 1988. Over time the club has had various men, women, and co-Ed teams and recently unveiled a youth soccer program. The program offers training to competitive boys and girls (U7 – U18) teams.

The club partnered with 3 Lions and FastTrack2. They currently benefit from FastTrack2’s facilities that include;

• indoor soccer turf
• new outdoor soccer field
• a media room
• fitness studio.

Apart from indoor and outdoor training sessions, they have media room sessions. Coaches together with  players, watch and analyse previous matches and training sessions.

This helps players understand the coaching points better. They use PlayerTek GPS devices on every player to have a greater detailed look into their performance.This training methodology sets them aside from other local soccer clubs.

They also offer annual England tours for U14 age teams over spring breaks. During the tour, the teams:

• Attend live premier league and other international games, 
• Play against English teams, 
• Train at premier league academies and 
• Tour England’s most wonderful sites. 

Age Range:

8 -15 + years

Location: 

7910 N Central Dr, Lewis Centre, OH 43035, United States

Website: columbusunited.org 

Age Group	Fees
U8-U9 (2015-2013)	$1,355
U10 (2012’s)	$1,555
U11-U12 (2011-2010)	$1,705
U13-U14 (2009-2008)	$2,105
U15 Trapped season summer/fall (2007’s)	$4,05
U15 and older teams (2007-2003)	$1,805

Lightning Soccer Club

Based in Canton, Lightning soccer club focuses on moving soccer players from recreational to competitive level. They do so by:

• Conducting a youth soccer program for 4-8 year olds who have an interest in the sport. The six week long classes are enriched with activities suitable for their age and attention span. The learners are trained by certified coaches who help them set specific goals in accordance to their ability levels

• The club has an academy that trains 7 – 14 year olds  foot skills and other technical skills of soccer. Learning occurs in a fun structured environment and is conducted by licensed coaches. Apart from learning soccer skills and techniques, learners also undergo conditioning and small sided scrimmages. 

• They also offer Summer Training camps to improve skills and allow participants more time to touch the ball. Campers who complete  at least one training session don’t have to schedule for tryouts during the competitive season.

The club has an indoor facility that allows training to continue when weather conditions do not favour outdoor activities.

Garnering a 5.0 Google star rating, the reviewers aren’t short of praises. All of them recommend the club to prospective members.   

Age Range:

Lightning Indoor soccer ( 7-14 years)

Lightning Academy (7-14 years)

Summer Training Camps (7-16 years)

Location:

4935 Sharonwood Ave NW Canton, OH 44718, United States

Website: lightningsoccerclub.net 

Soccer Fees

Program	Fees
Lightning indoor soccer	$195 (2 sessions)
Lightning Academy	$ 90 (1 session)
Lightning Bugs Youth Soccer Academy	$60  (1 session)

Summer training camps

7 – 10 year olds	$50 ( 1 week)$80 ( 2 weeks)
11 – 16 year olds	$55 ( 1 week)$90 ( 2 weeks)

Fairfield Optimist Soccer Club

Fairfield Optimist club began in 1978 with an aim to provide youths with an opportunity to build and nurture skills and confidence in the game.

FOSC runs an academy for 5-8 years old players. Their experienced youth staff  introduce the players to the fundamental aspects of the sport. They are involved in fun competitive games against each other and against other clubs to allow them to use the skills taught in class. 

The club also offers a competitive team training program for ages U8-U18, during which they train 2 times a week for the spring and fall seasons and 1 night a week for the winter season. The spring and fall season classes are outdoors while winter classes are indoors.

Their recreational soccer program is conducted through a partnership with SAY Soccer. The recreational teams practice 1-2 times a week at various parks and playgrounds within the area. They are coached by volunteers and compete in fall and spring seasons.

They also offer other developmental opportunities including camps and winter training. Check out their website’s updates on upcoming events.

Age Range:

Competitive program (U8 – U18)

Academy (5-8 years)

Location:

1091 N. Liberty Keuter Rd Lebanon, OH 45036, United States

Website: foscsoccer.com

Soccer Fees 

Not available. Contact the club for more details

Ohio Elite Soccer Academy

Ohio Elite Soccer Academy was started as an idea by a small group of people in the spring of 2002. They wanted to start a youth soccer club in Cincinnati that would be run by business and soccer professionals, different from the ones run by parent volunteers in the area. They purchased a property in 2006, developed it and in August 2008 the facility became a home for Ohio Elite teams.

The academy provides professional training, high-quality facilities, and an optimum environment for competition to elite soccer players. They take part in the highest level competitions, leagues, and age-appropriate tournaments available in the area.

Junior level teams (6-10-year-olds) undergo a training program that introduces them to the sport and helps them develop a love for it. The coaching staff has a detailed methodological process used to develop the players both individually and as a team. Training is conducted in a fun-structured learning environment. 

Apart from training, the club also exposes its senior teams (15-19 years) to college coaches. They provide opportunities for the teams to attend college events and showcases conducted throughout the country. 

Age Range:

6 – 19 years

Location:

5226 Rialto Rd, West Chester Township, OH 45069, United States 

Website: ohioelite.com

Soccer Fees

program	1 session	8 sessions
Individual training (1 person)	$50	$325
Personal training (2-6 people)	$75	$540
Small group training (7-12 people)	$100	$720

FC United Club

F.C United (Four Counties United) is an all-girls team that was created in the spring of 2014 when various independent teams in the Dayton area merged. 

The club is focused to provide young girls with excellent opportunities and support to grow and develop holistically. They select great talents in the Northern counties of Dayton area to create  competitive teams based on age and abilities.

The teams undergo training and participate in high level competitions to sharpen their skills. The training includes teaching the fundamentals of soccer as well as the importance of teamwork. The coaching staff strive to help the teams develop not only soccer skills but also the social, communication, problem solving and decision making skills required for everyday life. 

The club has an all-volunteer coaching staff that teach the European style of soccer.

Members boast of the club’s friendly trainers, good-conditioned and beautiful fields as well as clean parking.

Age Range:

U8 – U18

Location:

3580 S Dayton-Lakeview Rd, New Carlisle, OH 45344, United States

Website: fcunited.club

Soccer Fees

Age Range	Estimated Annual Cost
U8	$500 – $600
U9	$500 – $650
U10 – U11	$650 – $750
U12 – U14	$750 – $850
U15 -U19	$750 – $950

Ohio Premier Soccer Club

Ohio Premier (OP) Soccer Club provides the first environment for both male and female soccer players in central Ohio.Their training services cater for all skill levels and abilities of players from age 4-23.

They offer the following programs:

• OP Juniors (4-7 years) – a program that focuses on developing the foundations of soccer and sportsmanship in children. It is conducted in a fun environment. The program is based in Dublin and upper Arlington. 

• OP Youth Academy (6-10 years) – tailored to focus on individual development in a fun-structured, skill-based and competitive environment. During fall and spring seasons, the team trains 3 times every week, participates in the local league and competes in 2 tournaments. They also have winter training to ensure development is sustained throughout the season. 

• OP Youth Teams (10-14 years) – are selected at the end of tryouts and trained on advanced soccer skills and tactics. They participate in 5 tournaments during the fall and spring seasons and play in a league. They also undergo comprehensive indoor training during winter.

• OP Girls Pre-ECNL ( 10-12 years) – a program designed to prepare girl teams for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and competitions.

The club also offers both team and goalkeeper’s camps in Dublin and Upper Arlington areas.

Adult amateurs (U23)  aren’t left out. The club has a program that develops them with a central focus for the Ohio Valley Premier League ( OVPL)

For senior players who are college prospects, the club helps them build a college recruitment profile that includes;

1. Effective communication skills with college coaches. 
2. Education about the junior college system, NAIA and NCAA.
3. Financial aid options to consider 
4. Any other needs pertaining to college recruitment. 

Age Range:

4 -23 years

Location:

560 Metro PI S, Dublin, OH 43017, United States

Website: opsoccer.com

Soccer Fees

Age Range	Annual fees
U8 Academy	$1200
U9 Academy	$1400
U10 Academy	$1500
U11 – U12	$2000
U13 – U14	$2500
U15 – U 19	$2400

Star Soccer Club

The operations of Finneytown, Winton United and Wyoming soccer clubs combined in the spring of 2003 to form Star Soccer Club. It now provides training services and other programs to the youths of Springfield Township including communities of Finneytown, Greenhills, Wyoming and more.

Star SC has an academy that trains participants in 3 categories;

• Rising STAR Juniors: 3 and 4 year olds are introduced to the basics of the sport through fun, engaging and story-based lessons. The staff focus on developing general motor skills and other aspects including maximum participation, ball touches, coordination, confidence and technical soccer skills. 

• Rising STAR Academy: offers a development program for 5-9 year olds players who are ready to learn soccer. The curriculum is age-appropriate and focuses on skill building and improvement, ball work and teamwork. 

• Elite Academy: it’s an invite-only academy that allows players to train with  experienced Star SC coaches and participate in scrimmages throughout the season. The training advances the tactical and technical skills of soccer. 

The training can also be in small groups (2:1 or 3:1) or individual (1:1). This is designed to maximise the development and cater for the needs of an individual.

The club also offers seasonal soccer camps and training. They provide more details on this in their website at the start of every season. Make sure to check it out.

Age Range:

Tryouts (13 – 20 years)

Academy ( 3-9 years)

Location: 

7428 View PI Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45224, United States

Website: starsoccerclub.org

Soccer Fees

Program	Cost
Tryouts	Free
Camps and training	$115 per player per session
Academy	$ 475 per player

Warrior Soccer Club

Warrior Soccer Club was born in 1982 out of a purpose to bring total development to a player. This not only includes developing the technical and tactical aspects but also leadership and sportsmanship aspects in a player. 

The club has a Junior Warriors/academy program that introduces 4 – 8-year-olds to the sport. They meet 1 – 2 times a week to learn the basic soccer skills that form a foundation for the technical skills. 

The club has partnered with Huber Heights Recreational Soccer League to bring a recreational soccer program to its members. The program provides a good foundation for those that’ll want to graduate to the club’s Select Soccer program. 

To join the Select Soccer program, players are selected through a try-out system and put in either fall or spring season teams. The teams are trained by experienced and licensed coaches. They take part in weekend tournaments and 8 games in each season. 

The annual fees required per player covers;

• tournaments
• league/ referee fees
• indoor training
• professional trainers and staff.

Age Group: 

Select soccer (9 – 19 years)

Junior warriors/academy (4 -8years)

Location:

4110 Fishburg Rd Dayton, OH 45424, United States

Website: warriorsoccer.com

Soccer Fees

Age	Annual Fees	Or 9 Installments of
U9 -U10	$525	$55
U11 – U12	$850	$91
U13 – U14	$900	$97
U15 – U19	$800	$87

 Junior warriors Academy

Age	Fees ( 5 weeks)
4 -5 years	$45
6 – 8 years	$60

Cleveland Select Soccer Club 

Cleveland Select was founded during spring of 1995. Over time, they’ve built a good reputation for providing high quality training to players of all ages and abilities in the area.To date, they provide team training to girls and boys of ages U8 – U18.

The club offers indoor group and private classes in the following categories:

• Foot skills classes  –  focus on the general playing techniques
• Finishing classes –  focus on striking techniques to easily score goals.
• Goalie classes –  focus on the correct techniques for diving and catching the ball, hand and kicks distribution, communication with your team, dealing with angels and crosses among others.

The private classes include individual and small group training for both general players and goalies. This is a fantastic way to develop skills in specific areas and work on mistakes that coaches might miss during team training. 

The club also offers a Mini Lyons program that helps little children to develop a love for soccer. They teach them using sided fun games.

They also have a winter/summer camp program. For specific updates on registration and scheduling, visit their website. 

Age Range:

Mini Lyons program ( 3-7 years)

Footskills/ indoor classes (U8- U18s)

Location: 

9945 Bainbridge Rd Auburn, OH 44023, United States

Website: clevelandselect.com

Soccer Fees

Program	Cost
Mini Lyons	$110 for 9 dates

Indoor Classes

Age	Annual Fees
U8	$315
U9 – U14	$385
U15 – U18	$410

Private Classes

No. of Players	1 session	4 sessions
1	$75	$250
2	$100	$360
3	$120	$420
4	$140	$480

Cusa Soccer Club

Located in Forest Field park, CUSA is Centerville’s premier soccer club. It has served the community for over 45 years, offering year-round soccer and other programs to players of all skill levels- be it beginner, recreational, or elite, and competitive levels.

The club runs a Little Legends academy for children between 3 and 6 years. The sessions last between 45-60 minutes during which they learn basic soccer skills while having fun with their soccer friends. The trained staff teach using game-like activities designed for each age group.

The players graduate from Little Legends Academy and join CUSA Select (U7-U14) academy program. Here, they are provided with outstanding opportunities to develop at a competitive level.

The training primarily focuses on developing the tactical and technical aspects of a player. It involves small-sided games and activities that develop problem-solving and decision-making aspects of soccer.

Under the High School Select and Elite Competitive programs, players between 15-19 years get the opportunity to play in the Ohio Soccer State league and The Great Lakes Conference Regional league. This group also has year-round training as well as winter training.

The club also has a Goalkeeper Training program that provides elite-level training to goalkeepers.

Every year top U14 girls and boys teams get a chance to go and play at the Disney President’s Soccer Festival at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. A great chance to play with pros.

The club also offers various camps including:

• Summer fun camp
• Spanish Soccer camps and,
• Summer Select Elite goalkeeper camp.

Age Range:

3-19 years

Location:

2100 E Centerville Station Rd, Washington Township, OH 45458, United States

Soccer Fees

Program	Cost
Little Legends (3-6 years)	$75 ( 8 weeks session)
Summer Fun camp	$150 (1 week)
Spanish Soccer Camp	$ 150 (1 week)
Summer Select Elite Goalkeeper camps	$150 (1 week)

Competitive Programs

Age	cost
U6 & U7	$499
U8	$699
U9	$1,049
U10 – U12	$1,329
U13 & U14	$1,429
U15 -U19	$1,399

Elite Programs

Age	Cost
U11 & U12	$1,579
U13 – U19	$1,649

Finally…

Just like any other sport, soccer should be fun for a child to develop a love for it . Finding the right club for them is therefore important. We hope this post offers a great start for your search and that soon your child will have a soccer family.

Kindly note that information such as fees and scheduling may be subject to change over time. Make sure to check out their websites for updates and more information. For clarity, feel free to contact them.