The Lake Wales Soccer Club is an affordable, fun way for kids of all ages and skill levels to play soccer. Though the club is a part of the Youth Florida Soccer Association, it differs from other clubs in that the eight board members are all volunteers. Additionally, the club emphasizes their recreational and 3 vs. 3 leagues for kids who want to learn the sport in a friendly low-key environment. “We really want to meet the needs of the majority of kids, not just the ones with the best skills,” said Robbie Shields, president of the club.

The 3 vs. 3 leagues allow each kid to get lots of touches on the ball and avoids the typical “bunch ball” game that you often see with beginner teams. “When kids are young it’s very important that there’s not too many people so they all get to touch the ball,” said Shields.