Heart of The City

Waukegan, IL · Lake

Travel / Select

L5–L6highest team level

Heart of the City empowers under-resourced youth in Lake County through transformative soccer programs and exposure to academic, career, and leadership experiences, building skills for success on and off the field.

Plays in

IYSA USYS

Founded: 2014
Players: 320
Teams: 18
Ages: 5–19
Plays: Boys & Girls
Programs: 5

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The Roadmap report

Your options near Heart of The City

There are 27 other clubs within 30 miles. The report shows which ones fit your kid's age, level and budget.

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Where on the ladder

Level 5 to Level 6

Each level below lists the leagues this club plays in. Your kid's level depends on the team they make. The six levels are our own reading of public league play. They are not an official ranking.

Pre-Professional

National Elite

Competitive Regional

State & Premier

Travel / SelectIllinois Youth Soccer Association

Recreational

Sanctioned by Illinois Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer). The club’s site also lists US Club Soccer. We have not confirmed that from the body’s own member list, so we do not call the club sanctioned. It also lists Illinois Women's Soccer League (IWSL). We have not placed that league on the ladder, so it does not count above.

See how the whole ladder works

Programs

The programs, age by age

These come from the club's site, grouped the way the club groups them. Your kid starts in the one that fits their age.

Programs5 programs

Recreational Soccer Academy

Boys & Girls ages 4-14

Our recreational Soccer Academy is designed to teach youth the fundamentals of soccer in a safe, supportive environment. Sessions emphasize skill development, teamwork, communication and decision-making.

Grassroots Community Outreach Clinics

ages 5-14

Grassroots Community Camps & Clinics provide introductory soccer experiences for kids in Lake County at no cost. The progressive training curriculum focuses on player development and fun, free-flowing activities.

HOTC Elite Travel Soccer

U8 to U19

HOTC Elite is a competitive travel soccer program with year-round training, league play and tournaments. It also offers youth development and support, college soccer recruitment, educational field trips and life skills opportunities.

HOTC Elite U23 Women's Team

ages 18–22 · 11v11

The U23 Women's team offers competitive 11v11 league play in the Illinois Women's Soccer League U23 Division, with seven regular-season games and weekly training sessions.

IWSL

HOTC Elite Private Training

ages 10–22

HOTC Elite offers private and small-group soccer training with up to four players. Sessions are personalized to build on each player's strengths, improve skills and support individual goals.

Tryouts

2026-27 season

Tryouts decide which travel team a kid plays on. Confirm the details on the club’s page before you go.

No dates published for this cycle yet. Clubs usually post a few weeks out, so check the club’s page.

Cost

no cost to sign up

Coaching

Who coaches here

7 names from the club's own staff page. The titles and licenses are what the club lists.

Adrian Roman

Coach / Director of Coaching

U-10 Boys, U-12 Boys Black, U-18 Boys

Lincoln College (Assistant coach), Chicago Magic (2 years), Heart of The City (current)

Waukegan High School; Lincoln College (B.A. in Sports Administration)

USSF Grassroots Coaching License · USSF D Coaching License · USSF C Coaching License[email protected]

Alejandro Sotelo

Coach / Director of Academy

U-13 Boys, U-16 Girls, U-16 Boys Black

Graduate Assistant at Campbellsville University

Round Lake Senior High School; Trinity Christian College (played collegiate soccer)

USSF C Licensed Coach · USSF D Licensed Coach · USSF Coach Mentor[email protected]

Dean Smith

Sporting Director

Played professionally in England; coached at Derby County F.C. Academy; worked as a college coach, Director of Coaching, and staff member of Illinois Youth Soccer Association

[email protected]