Northwest Indiana Lions United are dedicated to providing the best soccer training in Northwest Indiana, and giving every player a unique opportunity to experience the world's most popular game.
- Players
- 500
- Plays
- Boys & Girls
- Programs
- 16
Where on the ladder
Level 2 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.
Sanctioned by Indiana Soccer (US Youth Soccer). The club also played in USYS NL. That league ended in July 2026 and merged into National 1, so it does not count above. 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 North Central/Northwest Indiana League, Indiana Youth Soccer Association, USYS Club Premier 1, Pre-ECNL League, USYS Club Premier 2, State League, E64, National League, E64RL. We have not placed those leagues on the ladder, so they do not count above.
See how the whole ladder worksFrom the league tables
NWI Lions United, every team.
Last season NWI Lions United fielded 10 teams in the leagues we track: 2 boys and 8 girls, from national elite down to competitive regional. The ladder tops out in Pre-ECNL from U11 up.
| lvl | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U17 | U18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECNL Regional, Pre-ECNL, Aspire, EAL | |||||||||
| ECNL Regional, Pre-ECNL, Aspire, EAL |
Each dot is one team in the 2026-27 season. We place it by the league the team actually plays in, not by the club’s own team names. A tap on a dot shows that team’s league, flight and record. The dots come from published league tables, so a team playing outside those leagues will not appear here.
Check the tables yourself
The link opens the event's flight list on Total Global Sports, where the ECNL family posts its tables. Your kid's birth year is one of the rows, and the Standings link beside the flight opens the table. Each season gets a new event page, so theecnl.com is the place to pick up a later one.
The link opens the event's flight list on Total Global Sports, where the ECNL family posts its tables. Your kid's birth year is one of the rows, and the Standings link beside the flight opens the table. Each season gets a new event page, so theecnl.com is the place to pick up a later one.
College & pro pathway
Where the players went next.
We counted these from public commitment lists and trackers, not from the club’s own claims.
The counts come from public commitment trackers, club lists, league records, player pages, and the rosters of 2,244 NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA programs. One player counts once per school. “Division unverified” means we matched the school but could not confirm the program level. We never print a current youth player’s name.
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.
Academy Program
8U-10U (2018-2014) · 4 vs 4
The Academy Program’s primary focus is on Individual Player Development, with age group training dedicated to individual skill and tactical development. The club offers an 8 & under 4 vs 4 Competitive Traveling Team and both Boys and Girls Teams for 9/10 & under.
IYSA
White Team
U11-U12
The club offers White Teams as one of its multiple levels of play, with teams grouped by similar ability so players can compete at appropriate levels.
White Team
U13-U14
The club offers White Teams as one of its multiple levels of play, with teams grouped by similar ability so players can compete at appropriate levels.
White Team
U15-U18
The club offers White Teams as one of its multiple levels of play, with teams grouped by similar ability so players can compete at appropriate levels.
Girls Yellow Teams
U11-U12
Girls Yellow Teams are offered for players born 8/1/2014-7/31/2016.
Pre-ECNL
Girls Yellow Team
U13-U14
Girls Yellow Teams are offered for players born 8/1/2012-7/31/2014. The club states that girls teams U13-U19 compete in the ECNL Regional League and USYS Club Premier 1.
ECNL Regional League · USYS Club Premier 1
Girls Yellow Team
U15-U18
Girls Yellow Teams are offered for players born 8/1/2008-07/31/2012. The club states that girls teams U13-U19 compete in the ECNL Regional League and USYS Club Premier 1.
ECNL Regional League · USYS Club Premier 1
Boys Yellow Teams
U11-U12
Boys Yellow Teams are offered for players born 8/1/2014-07/31/2016.
Boys Yellow Teams
U13-U14
Boys Yellow Teams are offered for players born 8/1/2012-7/31/2014.
USYS Club Premier 2
Boys Yellow Teams
U15-U18
Boys Yellow Teams are offered for players born 8/1/2008-7/31/2012. Boys teams U13-U19 compete in the USYS Club Premier 2, in addition to their State League and State/Presidents Cup platforms.
USYS Club Premier 2 · State League · State/Presidents Cup
Jr. Lions Rec Plus Academy
Pre K - 2nd Grade
This program is designed for players of all ability levels from “Beginner – Experienced” and focuses on skill development, positive attitudes and growing the love of the game.
Winter Academy Train & Play
U7-U10
This is a 7 week program incorporating 30 minutes of training and 30 minutes of small sided play.
Winter 5 v 5 League
2018-2008 · 5 v 5
The indoor league offers 5 v 5 play, with two games per night for 10 total games at Sparta Dome.
Summer Camps
The club hosts Summer Camps at its Chesterton Fields, with AM and PM camp sessions.
3v3 Tournament
2018-2008 Boys & Girls · 3 v 3
The tournament offers three games plus a final for the top two in each bracket.
PIP Season 2
The off-season program provides two sessions each week, including ball mastery and general activity videos, to improve individual technical ability.
Tryouts
2026/27 season
Tryouts decide which travel team a kid plays on. Confirm the details on the club’s page before you go.
Coaching
Who coaches here
17 names from the club's own staff page. The titles and licenses are what the club lists.
Mike Rance
Director of Coaching
USSF B License · USSF National Youth License · United Soccer Coaches Premier · USSF Director of Coaching License
Graeme Langford
Girls Technical Director
8U-10U
USSF B License · USSF National Youth License · United Soccer Coaches Premier · United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper Level 2
Steven Barnes
Boys Technical Director
8U-10U
USSF B License · United Soccer Coaches Advanced National · United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper Level 1 · United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching
Bradley Briggs
Staff Coach
FA Level 2
Will Fortenberry
Staff Coach
USSF Grassroots 4v4, 7v7, 9v9
Scott Hankins
Staff Coach
USSF C License · United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Level 3 · United Soccer Coaches High School Certification
Emma Lembcke
Academy Staff Coach
Jordan Likens
Staff Coach
USSF Grassroots 4v4, 7v7, 9v9
Where they play
11 fields
The fields the club lists as its own. Directions open in Google Maps, so you can check the drive before you sign up.
1450 S Court St
1450 South Court Street, Crown Point, IN 46307
Chesterton High School
CP YMCA Turf
Turf
Crown Point Sportsplex
1313 E North St., Crown Point, IN 46307 · Turf
Dean and Barbara White Community Center
Dowling Park
Imagination Glen West
2275 McCool Road, Portage, IN 46368
Lowell High School
NWI Chesterton Fields
650 Dickinson Road, Chesterton, IN 46304
Sparta Dome
1355 E North Street, Crown Point, IN 46307
Trinity Lutheran Church
6 fields aren’t located on the map yet.
Fees
What it costs
What the club charges, from its own price list.
Add-ons
Uniform Costs: $31.
Get in touch
How to reach NWI Lions United
PO Box 1252, Crown Point, IN 46307
Is NWI Lions United the right move for your kid?
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