The 5U-8U Recreational League provides a fun, safe, and developmentally appropriate soccer environment for 4- to 8-year-olds. The 5U-8U Recreational program is designed to help players continue to grow in the sport of soccer by introducing them to formalized games. The specialized curriculum helps players grow in their technical skills and learn the rules of soccer at a developmentally appropriate level for their age. Players will receive a solid foundation of coaching needed to continue into the 9U-10U level and onward.

  • Teams play small-sided games (4 v 4) with no goalkeepers, as we focus on improving each player’s technical ability with the ball.
  • Teams are coached by parent volunteer coaches with the guidance and help of the club’s director, Clint Shade.  Teams generally consist of 6-8 players.
  • 5U practices once a week.
  • 6U – 8U practice twice a week.
  • Games are played at a centralized location.
  • 5U Teams play 8 games each season.
  • 6U-8U Teams play 14 games each season (Weeknight and Saturday’s)
RISE (Rapids Integrated System of Excellence) is a one-of-a-kind youth soccer development platform that houses our club’s curriculum. RISE provides an online space where coaches, players, and members can interact, creating a living and growing classroom. By connecting the CRYSC community online, RISE will open up new educational opportunities for players and coaches, offer a more rewarding CRYSC experience for members, and ultimately enhance the level and consistency of soccer being played across the Club.

GO TO RISE

The Whole-Part-Whole (WPW) philosophy is a learning model used by the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club to train age-appropriate curriculum aimed at the long-term development of a soccer player. The WPW philosophy was first outlined by Malcolm Knowles in 1973 and is used in many learning situations, both practical and theory based. When added to a well-planned and well-thought out pedagogy, the WPW philosophy will put players in realistic situations, that should always includes decision-
making elements.

When coaching soccer, this can be used in a variety of ways to break down a technique, skill, or tactic. Most commonly the players are taken from a practice with high game context to a low one, before returning back to the original practice. When possible it is best to practice the game, or elements of the game, in their entirety. An example of this could occur in a topic such as ‘Defending in the Direct Game Channel’. What do you do if the individuals or units in your squad don’t understand how to defend 1v1 or 2v2? You break it down.

‘Whole’ doesn’t necessarily mean a game. Actually in this theory, a ‘whole’ practice could be a series of complex skills that can be broken down into more discrete skills. The ‘whole’ element should be as realistic to the game as possible, then the coach looks to pull actions or components of the game and break them down into chunks so the players can understand and digest the information. The coach will then pull those elements back together into the game situation.

References: Swanson, R.A. & Law, B. (1993). Whole-part-whole learning model. Performance Improvement Quarterly. 6(1), pp 43-53.

@coachdanwright. Coachdanwright.blogspot.co.uk

5U- One practice a week.  This practice is with their volunteer coach and the Director of Coaching.  We call this Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from: Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Wednesday nights at 5 pm.  Trail Winds which has Age Group Training on Thursday nights at 5 pm.  Games are Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

 

6U- One practice a week.  This practice is with their volunteer coach & Director of Coaching.  This is referred to as Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from: Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Monday at 5 pm.  Trail Winds has Age Group Training on Tuesday at 5 pm.  There will be two games per week, one weeknight and one Saturday.  Northwest Open Spaces weeknight game is Wednesday at 5 pm.  Trail Winds weeknight game is Thursday at 5 pm.  If you select either the Trail Winds or Northwest Open Spaces location, both have games Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

 

7U/8U Girls- One practice a week. This practice is with their volunteer coach and the Director of Coaching.  This is referred to as Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from:  Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Monday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds has Age Group Training on Tuesday at 6:15 pm.  They then have 2 games per week, one weeknight and one Saturday.  Northwest Open Spaces weeknight game is Wednesday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds weeknight game is Thursday at 6:15 pm.  If you select either the Trail Winds or Northwest Open Spaces location, both have games Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

 

7U/8U Boys- One practice a week.  This practice is with their volunteer coach and the Director of Coaching.  This is referred to as Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from:  Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Wednesday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds has Age Group Training on Thursday at 6:15 pm.  They then have 2 games per week, one weeknight and one Saturday.  Northwest Open Spaces weeknight game is Monday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds weeknight game is Tuesday at 6:15 pm.  If you select either the Trail Winds or Northwest Open Spaces location, both have games Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

Fall Registration Opens: First week of May

Fall Priority Deadline for Returning Players: July 16th

Fall Late Fee Begins: August 1st

Fall Registration Closes: August 15th

Practices Begin: Week of August 30th

 

In House Fall Schedule:

**Please note these are the anticipated game days. If games are canceled or delayed due to weather and/or COVID-19 they will be moved to either the end of October or the beginning of November. Reschedules can take place on Sundays as needed.

September 2021

Game Day 1: September 11th
Game Day 2: September 18th
Game Day 3: September 25th

October 2021

Game Day 4: October 9th
Game Day 5: October 16th
Game Day 6: October 23rd
Game Day 7: October 30th

November 2021

Game Day 8: November 6th

Clint Shade
Recreational Director
[email protected]syouthsoccer.org
303.399.5858 ext. 242

Overview

The 5U-8U Recreational League provides a fun, safe, and developmentally appropriate soccer environment for 4- to 8-year-olds. The 5U-8U Recreational program is designed to help players continue to grow in the sport of soccer by introducing them to formalized games. The specialized curriculum helps players grow in their technical skills and learn the rules of soccer at a developmentally appropriate level for their age. Players will receive a solid foundation of coaching needed to continue into the 9U-10U level and onward.

  • Teams play small-sided games (4 v 4) with no goalkeepers, as we focus on improving each player’s technical ability with the ball.
  • Teams are coached by parent volunteer coaches with the guidance and help of the club’s director, Clint Shade.  Teams generally consist of 6-8 players.
  • 5U practices once a week.
  • 6U – 8U practice twice a week.
  • Games are played at a centralized location.
  • 5U Teams play 8 games each season.
  • 6U-8U Teams play 14 games each season (Weeknight and Saturday’s)
Curriculum
RISE (Rapids Integrated System of Excellence) is a one-of-a-kind youth soccer development platform that houses our club’s curriculum. RISE provides an online space where coaches, players, and members can interact, creating a living and growing classroom. By connecting the CRYSC community online, RISE will open up new educational opportunities for players and coaches, offer a more rewarding CRYSC experience for members, and ultimately enhance the level and consistency of soccer being played across the Club.

GO TO RISE
Philosophy

The Whole-Part-Whole (WPW) philosophy is a learning model used by the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club to train age-appropriate curriculum aimed at the long-term development of a soccer player. The WPW philosophy was first outlined by Malcolm Knowles in 1973 and is used in many learning situations, both practical and theory based. When added to a well-planned and well-thought out pedagogy, the WPW philosophy will put players in realistic situations, that should always includes decision-
making elements.

When coaching soccer, this can be used in a variety of ways to break down a technique, skill, or tactic. Most commonly the players are taken from a practice with high game context to a low one, before returning back to the original practice. When possible it is best to practice the game, or elements of the game, in their entirety. An example of this could occur in a topic such as ‘Defending in the Direct Game Channel’. What do you do if the individuals or units in your squad don’t understand how to defend 1v1 or 2v2? You break it down.

‘Whole’ doesn’t necessarily mean a game. Actually in this theory, a ‘whole’ practice could be a series of complex skills that can be broken down into more discrete skills. The ‘whole’ element should be as realistic to the game as possible, then the coach looks to pull actions or components of the game and break them down into chunks so the players can understand and digest the information. The coach will then pull those elements back together into the game situation.

References: Swanson, R.A. & Law, B. (1993). Whole-part-whole learning model. Performance Improvement Quarterly. 6(1), pp 43-53.

@coachdanwright. Coachdanwright.blogspot.co.uk

Logistics

5U- One practice a week.  This practice is with their volunteer coach and the Director of Coaching.  We call this Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from: Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Wednesday nights at 5 pm.  Trail Winds which has Age Group Training on Thursday nights at 5 pm.  Games are Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

 

6U- One practice a week.  This practice is with their volunteer coach & Director of Coaching.  This is referred to as Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from: Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Monday at 5 pm.  Trail Winds has Age Group Training on Tuesday at 5 pm.  There will be two games per week, one weeknight and one Saturday.  Northwest Open Spaces weeknight game is Wednesday at 5 pm.  Trail Winds weeknight game is Thursday at 5 pm.  If you select either the Trail Winds or Northwest Open Spaces location, both have games Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

 

7U/8U Girls- One practice a week. This practice is with their volunteer coach and the Director of Coaching.  This is referred to as Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from:  Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Monday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds has Age Group Training on Tuesday at 6:15 pm.  They then have 2 games per week, one weeknight and one Saturday.  Northwest Open Spaces weeknight game is Wednesday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds weeknight game is Thursday at 6:15 pm.  If you select either the Trail Winds or Northwest Open Spaces location, both have games Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

 

7U/8U Boys- One practice a week.  This practice is with their volunteer coach and the Director of Coaching.  This is referred to as Age Group Training.  We have 2 locations to select from:  Trail Winds in Thornton off 136th and Holly or Northwest Open Spaces in Northglenn off 112th and Pecos.  Northwest Open Spaces has Age Group Training on Wednesday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds has Age Group Training on Thursday at 6:15 pm.  They then have 2 games per week, one weeknight and one Saturday.  Northwest Open Spaces weeknight game is Monday at 6:15 pm.  Trail Winds weeknight game is Tuesday at 6:15 pm.  If you select either the Trail Winds or Northwest Open Spaces location, both have games Saturdays at Northwest Open Spaces usually between 9 am and 3 pm.

Dates & Deadlines

Fall Registration Opens: First week of May

Fall Priority Deadline for Returning Players: July 16th

Fall Late Fee Begins: August 1st

Fall Registration Closes: August 15th

Practices Begin: Week of August 30th

 

In House Fall Schedule:

**Please note these are the anticipated game days. If games are canceled or delayed due to weather and/or COVID-19 they will be moved to either the end of October or the beginning of November. Reschedules can take place on Sundays as needed.

September 2021

Game Day 1: September 11th
Game Day 2: September 18th
Game Day 3: September 25th

October 2021

Game Day 4: October 9th
Game Day 5: October 16th
Game Day 6: October 23rd
Game Day 7: October 30th

November 2021

Game Day 8: November 6th

Contact

Clint Shade
Recreational Director
[email protected]
303.399.5858 ext. 242

5U-6U Recreational Leagues

Beginner to Advanced
$110 Per season
  • 8-9 Week Season

  • 7-14 Games

  • Beginner/Advanced

  • Proven Curriculum

  • Uniform Separate

  • Volunteer Coaches

7U-8U Recreational Leagues

Beginner to Advanced
$140 Per season
  • 8-9 Week Season

  • 12-14 Games

  • Beginner/Advanced

  • Proven Curriculum

  • Uniform Separate

  • Volunteer Coaches

Fall Registration Closes…

2021/08/15 01:59:00

Uniforms

Rapids Youth Soccer partners with Soccer.com for all uniform needs. All CRYSC recreational players are required to purchase the uniform kit (white top, burgundy top, black shorts, and black socks) before the first game. We recommend ordering at least three weeks prior to ensure they have it in time. Players are required to wear the official CRYSC jersey combo for games. This uniform kit is usable throughout all recreational programs.

Recreational members can click here to be brought to the CRYSC uniforms page. This page details the ordering process for each program with specific links and a FAQ section to help answer the most common uniform questions. If your player already has a recreational uniform they do not need to order a new one until they have outgrown it.

It is important to note that uniforms are NOT included in registration costs.

Rapids Youth Soccer =

REGISTER NOW

Coach Expectations

  • Communicate clearly with the team throughout the season.
  • Lead every practice session or find a substitute if they cannot be present.
  • Coach every game or find a substitute if they cannot be at the game.
  • Find a practice location and time that works for them and their team.
  • Warm-up team and meet the opposing coach before every game.
  • Update LeagueApps with the practice schedule and other team events

Coach Education Opportunities

  • Rapids Youth provides coaching sessions for all coaches throughout the season.
  • A website with additional coaches resources available to all coaches.
  • One-on-one support to talk through drills and game setup.
  • Pre-season meetings and coaching educational meetings.
GO TO RISE

Team managers are a very important piece to the success of any youth soccer team. In order to take some of the responsibilities off of the coach’s plate, teams are requested to have a team manager volunteer to organize the team for the season.

Team Manager Responsibilities

  • Working with the coach to communicate with the team about sessions and games.
  • Setting up a snack rotation for the season.
  • Setting up pictures with the club’s photographer on picture day.
  • Setting up an end-of-season party for the team.
  • Work with Coach Volunteer to make sure LeagueApps is updated

Club Support for Team Managers

  • One-on-one support if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Educational opportunities at meetings and in person about next steps for the team.
  • An administrative staff to provide any support you need.

Game Facilitator Expectations

Every team is required to provide a game facilitator for half of every game. The game facilitator will act as the referee for the game, and should referee in a way to help the players learn and understand the rules.

  • Tell which team should kick the ball in after it goes out of bounds.
  • Call any fouls that happen during the game and explain to players why it is a foul.
  • Provide education on the game to player during games.
  • Keep players safe and the game under control.
GAME FACILITATOR CARD
Coach

Coach Expectations

  • Communicate clearly with the team throughout the season.
  • Lead every practice session or find a substitute if they cannot be present.
  • Coach every game or find a substitute if they cannot be at the game.
  • Find a practice location and time that works for them and their team.
  • Warm-up team and meet the opposing coach before every game.
  • Update LeagueApps with the practice schedule and other team events

Coach Education Opportunities

  • Rapids Youth provides coaching sessions for all coaches throughout the season.
  • A website with additional coaches resources available to all coaches.
  • One-on-one support to talk through drills and game setup.
  • Pre-season meetings and coaching educational meetings.
GO TO RISE
Team Manager

Team managers are a very important piece to the success of any youth soccer team. In order to take some of the responsibilities off of the coach’s plate, teams are requested to have a team manager volunteer to organize the team for the season.

Team Manager Responsibilities

  • Working with the coach to communicate with the team about sessions and games.
  • Setting up a snack rotation for the season.
  • Setting up pictures with the club’s photographer on picture day.
  • Setting up an end-of-season party for the team.
  • Work with Coach Volunteer to make sure LeagueApps is updated

Club Support for Team Managers

  • One-on-one support if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Educational opportunities at meetings and in person about next steps for the team.
  • An administrative staff to provide any support you need.
Game Facilitator

Game Facilitator Expectations

Every team is required to provide a game facilitator for half of every game. The game facilitator will act as the referee for the game, and should referee in a way to help the players learn and understand the rules.

  • Tell which team should kick the ball in after it goes out of bounds.
  • Call any fouls that happen during the game and explain to players why it is a foul.
  • Provide education on the game to player during games.
  • Keep players safe and the game under control.
GAME FACILITATOR CARD

Understanding Your Time in the 5U-8U Recreational League

The 5U-8U recreational league is the first time players will begin having practices during the week and games on the weekend. It’s important for parents to understand what is available to their child during their time in the 5U-8U program including any supplemental programs and what to expect as players move into the 9U league. Parent Volunteer Coaches decide with the input of other parents on the team when and where to practice for the season. Practices are held at local parks across North Denver. All 5U-8U recreational teams are given approximately 20 yards by 30 yards to practice. Team schedules can be found on your LeagueApps account.

Rapids Youth Soccer posts all our game schedules on LeagueApps two weeks before the first scheduled game. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to your LeagueApps account.

Player Centered Success Model

The Player Centered Success model puts the best interests of the player first. This is done by understanding each and every players definition of success and helping them achieve it. Every player at every level of their soccer career has different levels of success.

Rapids Youth

Provides operations and oversight for kids to have a great soccer experience.

Rapids Pro

Provides curriculum and educational resources for players.

Parents

Work in conjunction with Rapids Youth to support kids’ desires.

Coaches

Educate, inspire, and help all children excel at the level they desire.

Referees

Keep the game safe and fun for kids at all levels.

Rapids-South

SOCCER CAMPS

Rapids Youth Soccer runs some of the best soccer camps in the region and nation. Click through to learn more about Rapids camp opportunites.

Rapids-Soccer-Mountains

WHAT'S NEXT

After the 6U-8U league, players move in to the 9U/10U league where they have a choice of staying recreational or moving into more advanced programming. Get more info now.

Rapids-FC

WINTER TRAINING

Join us indoors at the Rapids North office for technical soccer training from November through March.

Are Uniforms Required to Play?

Yes, uniforms are required for players to play.

www.soccer.com

What Does My Player Need for Practices?

Players need shin guards, socks, and cleats, a size three soccer ball, water, and weather appropriate clothing.

Can My Child Play with Their Friends?

Absolutely, we hope players are able to play with their friends. Please request this when registering your child for soccer.

Can I Request a Coach?

Yes, you can do this when registering. We’ll do our best to make it happen.

When Does the Soccer Year Run?

The Fall season is from August-November and the Spring season is form March-May