OUR PURPOSE
The mission
LRFC MISSION STATEMENT
Lumber River Football Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and development-focused soccer opportunities for youth in Robeson County and surrounding communities.
Our mission is to use soccer as a vehicle for education, personal growth, community engagement, and character development, ensuring that every child—regardless of background or financial circumstance—has the opportunity to learn, play, and thrive.
We strive to build confident young people, strengthen families, and unite our community through a positive, safe, and inclusive soccer environment.
LRFC CLUB PHILOSOPHY
As a nonprofit youth development organization, LRFC exists to serve the community by placing the needs, safety, and long-term growth of every player above all else. Our philosophy is grounded in the belief that soccer can enrich lives, develop character, and create pathways for success both on and off the field.
Our guiding principles:
1. Soccer for All
We believe all children deserve access to positive youth sports. LRFC seeks to remove barriers—financial, social, or geographic—so more children can benefit from structured, values-based programming.
2. Long-Term Player & Personal Development
Player development is prioritized over wins and losses.
We focus on:
Technical and tactical education
Physical growth and injury prevention
Social-emotional development
Academic encouragement and leadership skills
We aim to develop not just better players — but better people, better teammates, and future community leaders.
3. Safety, Respect, and Well-Being
We provide a safe, positive, and supportive environment where:
Every player feels accepted
Respect guides all interactions
Coaches use age-appropriate, educational methods
Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities
Our goal is to cultivate confidence, resilience, and good sportsmanship.
4. Community-Focused Impact
As a nonprofit, LRFC is a community asset.
We operate to:
Strengthen families
Build community pride
Provide healthy alternatives for youth
Offer scholarships to players in need
Create partnerships with schools, municipalities, and local organizations
We measure success not just by scores — but by the positive impact we make in the lives of young people.
5. Unified Playing Style and Club Standards
LRFC follows a development-first style of play built on:
Ball mastery
Intelligent decision-making
Creativity
Confidence
Building out of the back
Teamwork
All coaches follow shared standards to ensure consistency across age groups and programs.
Program-Specific Philosophies
Recreation Program Philosophy
The LRFC Recreation Program exists to introduce players to soccer in a fun, inclusive, and affordable learning environment.
Our goals are to:
Foster a love for the game
Teach teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship
Promote physical activity and healthy habits
Ensure equal participation and enjoyment
Serve as an entry point for all children, regardless of experience
Recreation soccer supports our nonprofit mission by ensuring every child in our community has access to the game.
Classic/Travel Program Philosophy
The LRFC Classic Program provides a structured pathway for committed players seeking advanced development and competitive play.
We remain a development-first program focused on:
Long-term growth
High-quality coaching
Competitive character-building experiences
Academic encouragement
Leadership and personal responsibility
Competition is used as a tool for teaching — not as the measure of a player's worth.
