Dear Players and Families,
We hope this message finds you well.
As we continue to grow and evolve as a club, we want to take a moment to acknowledge a recent change within our soccer community. The amicable separation between the Windsor Warriors and Lightning programs marks a new chapter for both groups. We extend our heartfelt best wishes to the Warriors as they embark on their new journey, and we remain proud of the shared history that brought us to this point.
For Future Legends and Lightning Soccer, this transition offers a unique opportunity to reset and refocus our soccer operations under the strategic leadership of our newly appointed Head of Soccer, Lisa-Marie Woods. With guidance built on her impressive background along with the rest of our staff, we are excited to introduce several important initiatives that will shape the future of our program.
For the hundreds of existing Lightning families who have used the Future Legends facilities, beautiful Hummel equipment and kits, and perks of the partnership: You will be able to continue to utilize your existing Hummel Lightning gear that you have already purchased, not requiring you to purchase any more equipment than you already have. On top of that, the facility and its perks along with access to a full ladder system as described below will continue to exist at the same price point you have been paying. We will not increase any prices or payments required to any existing families for this upcoming season.
Key Highlights of Our New Direction:
- Unified Curriculum & Playing Philosophy: A shared approach across all teams to ensure consistency, development, and identity on and off the field.
- A Club for All: Whether your aspirations are recreational, elite, or professional, we aim to support every player’s journey—from grassroots to the highest levels.
- In-House, Holistic Development: All soccer programming will now be managed internally, with a player-centric model that fosters technical, tactical, physical, and psychological growth.
- Elite Player Pathways: New opportunities will include college recruitment support, ID/combine events, and partnerships with top clubs across the state and country.
- Coach Development & Mentorship: A structured platform for shared learning and continuous development for coaches at every level of the game.
- Visible Club Identity: You’ll see increased integration and visibility of Hailstorm FC and Rain FC throughout all levels of our programming.
- Facility Use & Expansion Plans: While our current facility use remains unchanged, we are committed to expanding access and building out our infrastructure to support year-round programming as we grow.
Year one of this new chapter will be a foundational building phase—one that prioritizes development for both our players and coaches. We understand that our long-term vision—currently in its foundational phase—may not immediately align with all short-term goals. We genuinely appreciate your patience and support as we work diligently to develop each player to their fullest potential.
Despite some of our challenges, we’re excited about what lies ahead and look forward to working together with our soccer families to create something truly special.
Thank you for being part of the Lightning family. Here’s to a bright future together!