About Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. CRYSC is Colorado’s premier youth soccer experience and the only club in Colorado to offer opportunities from three-years-old to professional, from beginner to Major League Soccer with year-round youth soccer programs of all levels serving 10,000 children across the Front Range seasonally.
CRYSC provides top-quality leagues, camps, and tournaments that serve beginner- to elite-players locally, regionally, and nationally. As a Top 100 Youth Soccer Club in the U.S. and a consistent winner of Colorado’s Top Youth Soccer Club by Colorado Parent Magazine, CRYSC values holistic child development as ‘The Heart Behind the Crest’ and cultivating remarkable coaches. The club prides itself on supporting players and coaches through a number of other programs such as the nation’s largest college placement program, an integrated relationship with UCHealth Sports Medicine, an online digital education platform that serves players, coaches, and parents, and a fully integrated sports psychology program.
With satellite leagues, camps, and tournaments across Colorado, we are confident we can provide your child a fun and enriching home to play soccer.
Rapids Youth Highlights
University of Regis Partnership
CRYSC + Regis University: Elite Training Facility Access Posted by: Rapids Youth Soccer CRYSC Partners with Regis University to Create the Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center @ Regis University!…
READ MORE
University of Regis Partnership
CRYSC + Regis University: Elite Training Facility Access Posted by: Rapids Youth Soccer CRYSC Partners with Regis University to Create the Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center @ Regis University!…
University of Regis Partnership
CRYSC + Regis University: Elite Training Facility Access
Posted by: Rapids Youth Soccer
CRYSC Partners with Regis University to Create the Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center @ Regis University!
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) and Regis University are excited to announce a new partnership that will expand player access to top-of-the-line, local facilities and create a new home for Rapids Elite programming.
Colorado youth soccer players seeking to compete at the highest levels of the game nationally now have access to train and compete at one of Colorado’s best soccer and futsal facilities, the Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center @ Regis University. CRYSC has engaged in a long-term partnership with Regis University to provide another important step towards building a fully-integrated, nationally recognized Elite program, creating new training and competition opportunities for ECNL Boys and Girls, WPSL players, local and national Futsal leagues, Elite Development Squad (EDS) teams, as well as access to Colorado’s top residential soccer and futsal camps. Regis University facilities are some of the best in the country with pro-level match pitches, synthetic turf fields with state-of-the art floodlights and winter plowing, indoor futsal courts, classrooms and auditoriums, locker rooms, offices, and concessions. It is a privilege to begin offering these collegiate-level resources to CRYSC athletes starting in spring and summer of 2022.
“As an organization that strives to compete at the highest levels in the nation alongside building great experiences and cultures, this partnership with Regis University provides our players and coaches the resources to achieve new heights of success on and off the field,” said Aaron Nagel, Executive Director for the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club.
Establishing Regis University as the home base for Rapids Elite programming will create a convenient central location CRYSC’s Elite practices, competitions, futsal training, education, and much more. This partnership furthers the Club’s vision of connecting youth athletes across the Front Range with the top soccer and futsal training environments in the state.
“We are excited to welcome Rapids Youth Soccer to our campus so the kids and their families can enjoy competing at our new state-of-the-art facilities,” said Cody Teets, Interim President of Regis University. “Having youth, professional, and collegiate athletes all playing here will enhance an already vibrant community in Northwest Denver. Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is a wonderful addition.”
Regis University has committed to individual scholarships for Rapids Youth Soccer players, up to $100,000 over four years, providing greater access to education for students across Colorado. Regis recognizes that sports participation is often a catalyst for greater academic achievement and college enrollment opportunities. For more information, contact [email protected].
“There are many exciting components to this partnership, but the one I’m most proud of is that Regis and Rapids Youth Soccer will be partnering to offer academic college scholarships – worth up to $100,000 over four years – to qualifying youth participants at the Club when applying to Regis University,” said Tommy Gilhooly, Executive Director, Higher Learning Partners of Regis University. “At Regis University, our top priority is human development (Cura Personalis) ‘the caretaking for the whole person’. In that spirit, it is important that dedicated student-athletes have access to scholarships to attend an institution like Regis University, regardless of what level team they play on at CRYSC.”
The Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center at Regis University will be located at Regis’s historic Northwest Denver campus on Federal Boulevard between Interstate 70 on the south and Interstate 76 on the north.
Rapids Youth Soccer is proud to call the new Elite Performance Center at Regis University home in 2022 and look forward to watching this partnership grow alongside our athletes. For further Rapids Youth Soccer + Regis University partnership details, check out the full press release and visit Regis.edu through the links below.
Elite Performance Center @ Regis University
The Elite Performance Center will be located at Regis’s historic Northwest Denver campus, conveniently located on Federal Boulevard between Interstate 70 on the south and Interstate 76 on the north, and only minutes from downtown Denver.
Explore the Campus Layout
Two Synthetic Turf Playing Fields with Lights
Two new synthetic turf fields with lights will house the majority of all Elite soccer programming, with plowing capabilities that limit days off. State-of-the-art field lights will showcase the fields and our training and game capabilities, along with stands for spectators, scoreboards, and concessions.
Match Day Pitch
The Match-Day Pitch will provide overflow for programming with one of the best fields in Colorado for training and game-day, with a scoreboard and stands for spectators with plenty of parking.
Futsal Facility
The Berce @ Regis University will be the only futsal-designated facility in Colorado, housing two full-size futsal pitches with futsal-specific lines to develop Colorado’s top futsal talent across the Front Range, with year-round programming and summer and residential futsal camps.
Office Space & Team Classroom Education
On-site offices @ Clarke Hall for our Elite staff provide an overlooking view of the two synthetic turf fields along with classrooms dedicated to player education at our convenience.
Auditoriums
Education is a priority for our players, coaches, and parents. With auditorium access, we look to host on-site player, coach, and parent education.
On-Site Dining and Residential for Camps and Traveling Teams
CRYSC is looking to develop one of the nation’s best residential camp experiences for soccer and futsal at Regis. With access to residential dorms and on-site dining, CRYSC will host Elite-level residential camps alongside Regis University and its staff.
Regis Scholarships
Regis University has committed to individual scholarships for Rapids Youth Soccer Club players for up to $100,000 over four years, providing greater access to an excellent education for students across the Front Range. Regis recognizes that sports participation is often a catalyst for greater academic achievement and college enrollment opportunities. For more info, visit regis.edu/rapidsyouth or contact [email protected].
Fellowships / Internships
As part of Rapids Youth Soccer and Regis University’s commitment to providing academic advancement opportunities for local students, our organizations are working together to create internship and work experiences within Rapids Youth Soccer for Regis students in fields like finance, marketing, leadership, health and wellness, event management, coaching, and more. Students will work alongside Rapids Youth staff to gain real-world experience and help shape the organization for future Rapids Youth players.
More Details On The Partnership | FAQ
Who will this affect?
While we are incredibly excited about the opportunities that this partnership will create for players in Rapids Elite programs, we recognize that some members will be more impacted by the move than others. In particular, families residing in our Castle Rock and South regions who have players that participate in Elite programming will now be asked to travel further than in previous years. This change will be felt in different ways across the Club, but the core goal is to offer our players access to the highest quality Elite experience, environment, and facilities possible.
We are here to work with you to make the transition to our new long-term home at Regis as seamless as possible and ask that you reach out to your Head Coach or Program Director with any questions or concerns.
Why is this happening and what is the rationale?
The Gates Soccer Complex has been a wonderful location for hosting Rapids Elite programming for many years, but also limiting when compared to facilities used by athletes developing at the highest levels of the game not only nationally, but internationally. We have always had ambitions to create a ‘home’ around top-of-the-line facilities in the area and build a more consistent culture of excellence at Rapids Elite.
The facilities at Regis University will allow Elite programs to provide a holistic education for players through the use of classroom areas, indoor futsal fields, and floodlit, plowable, high-quality turf fields. This is the first opportunity for us to offer this level of facility access to our players and the only partnership of its kind in the state.
What are the benefits to the rest of the organization?
The creation of the Elite Performance Center will have benefits that extend beyond Elite programming. Coach Education is a major beneficiary, allowing for use of indoor, outdoor, classroom, and auditorium resources all year round as we seek to build on our strategic objective of being a home for ‘Developing Remarkable Coaches’. New on-campus education events and services will be available to our volunteer coaches, paid coaches, and full-time staff across the Club.
For the South region specifically, the shared access to Gates South between Rapids Elite and Competitive programming has always been a difficult balancing act. Time is needed for the fields to regenerate to a high standard and the packed schedule caused by the two programs hasn’t allowed our fields to be as healthy as they can. The redevelopment of Gates South will allow for improved surface quality, a reinvigorated facility, and more room to meet the growing demand for field space.
The Elite Performance Center will be open to CRYSC athletes and members outside Elite programming when available. With the potential use of on-site housing, the option of creating a fantastic residential youth camp experience for our members is another exciting opportunity we are hoping to explore.
When will this begin?
The first group to officially move into the Elite Performance Center will be our Elite Development Squads and 2009 ECNL Girls in early April. After an initial ‘settling-in’ of the services, we will look to transfer the remaining active squads by mid-May, with a specific date to follow.
Futsal squads will move into the Berce in June/July, once the renovations are complete.
Will registration fees change?
We have worked on this partnership opportunity with Regis University for over eight months now, and the financial investment the Club has made in order to set the program and its players up for success has been significant. Any new fee structure will remain in line with and contribute directly to the quality we will be providing Rapids Elite programs, as well as other Club programs in this area.
Where will the combined office be located?
The Rapids Elite offices will be located in Clarke Hall on the Regis campus, offices #235 and #241A.
How will parking work?
Regis University is equally excited to bring life and energy to its campus by welcoming Rapids families from across Colorado. The University has worked with us to ensure that any costs associated with parking on campus will be waived after 4:30 PM on weekdays and throughout the weekend – an expense covered by CRYSC. In order to facilitate this, a special parking permit will be issued to each playing member on their first night of practice at the new facility. Members will be required to display the parking permit while on-site.
Regis University has set aside ‘Lot 6’ on the southeast side of the campus specifically for CRYSC members. This is the car park directly off of Federal Blvd, which can be accessed from Regis Blvd or by turning left after the McDonalds on Federal. Please note that the parking lot for the Regis Bookstore and other University shops is PAID parking and that those lots are not reserved for Rapids families.
Will there be opportunities to learn more?
More information on the Elite Performance Center will be provided by your Program Director in the coming weeks. Check out the CRYSC website for updates on upcoming Elite summer and winter soccer and futsal residential camps.
ECNL Program: More information including a practice schedule, a map of the facility, and instructions on entering the fields themselves will be communicated in the coming weeks.
EDS Program: CRYSC Technical Director, Donald Gillies, will be providing a program update with more context for the upcoming year on Friday, April 1. He will also be able to answer any of your questions on EDS at that time.
Futsal Program: Futsal teams will be communicated with as we get closer to facilities opening.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
ECNL and EDS Boys: Jeb Brovsky at [email protected]
ECNL and EDS Girls: Andrew Kummer at [email protected]
Elite Administration: Jen Metz at [email protected]rg
Futsal: Aaron Nagel at [email protected]
Do I need to do anything right now?
No. More information will follow in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
United as One Club
United as One Club: CRYSC & WSC Join Forces in 2022 Posted by: Rapids Youth Soccer Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and Westminster Soccer Unite Expanding Opportunities for CRYSC and…
READ MORE
United as One Club
United as One Club: CRYSC & WSC Join Forces in 2022 Posted by: Rapids Youth Soccer Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and Westminster Soccer Unite Expanding Opportunities for CRYSC and…
United as One Club
United as One Club: CRYSC & WSC Join Forces in 2022
Posted by: Rapids Youth Soccer
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and Westminster Soccer Unite
Expanding Opportunities for CRYSC and WSC Athletes, Coaches, and Members in the North Region
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) and Westminster Soccer (WSC) are excited to announce to our memberships and the Colorado soccer community that our clubs have joined forces to create the best possible youth soccer experience for North Denver suburb athletes, coaches, and members in 2022 and beyond. United as One Club under the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club banner, CRYSC and WSC will be able to offer a broader range of opportunities for athletes to enjoy the sport of soccer and take their game to the next level, while continuing to provide the one-of-a-kind, local experiences that our members have come to expect.
“I’ve been thoroughly impressed with WSC for many years – its leadership and culture complement CRYSC’s desires and intentions to improve youth soccer experiences and bring customer service to the forefront across the Front Range of Colorado. With over 30 years combined experience in youth soccer from the leaders of WSC and CRYSC in these neighborhoods, I have no doubt that Paul Mulvany as the incoming Regional Technical Director for Rapids North and Aaron Smith as the incoming Regional Manager for Rapids North will lead the organization into the next chapter of growth and success,” said Aaron Nagel, Executive Director for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club.
The Rapids “North Region” includes Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Broomfield, Brighton, Arvada, Longmont, and Louisville. With the full staff of CRYSC and WSC joining together to strengthen the region, our families and teams can expect continuity at the recreational level with Westminster rec programming staying as is, new competitive pathways available to players as they develop, and exciting local elite pathways that can lead all the way to the professional game. Coaches will benefit significantly from our combined resources, with more access to education events (80+ in 2022), gear, field space, indoor training facilities, and elite-level coaching roles.
“This merger between Westminster Soccer and Rapids Youth Soccer is a progressive and exciting time for our competitive membership. It will serve to further enhance our club community, whilst also maintaining the culture and vision we’ve come to pride ourselves on. More importantly, every player, at every level, will be provided a pathway to maximize their skills and achieve their individual ambitions. Westy Soccer players, coaches, and parents will benefit from the Rapids Youth Soccer Clubs’ world class strategy and have access to their high level services. Our local community club feel will not change, but the services and resources available to all members will dramatically increase. Rapids North has a similar ethos, vision, and culture to ours which makes the merger a natural transition for myself, our coaching staff, and all competitive players. We are truly fired up and excited for what lies ahead,” said Paul Mulvany, Executive Director for Westminster Soccer.
The unified vision of CRYSC and WSC is to raise the quality of soccer experiences for everyone in the North Region. From athletes to parents to coaches, our integrated club intends to offer the best youth soccer opportunities in Colorado. We look forward to serving you as #OneClubOneCommunity!
How Will This Impact and Improve Your Experience?
The new, united club, Rapids North will serve players across the Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Broomfield, Brighton, Arvada, Longmont, and Louisville area. Serving players from Three-years-old to 18-years-old, from beginner to advanced, the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club will provide one of the most comprehensive player experiences and pathways in the nation, all locally driven through community-based programming.
01.
More Opportunities for Players
This merger affords players from both clubs, recreational to elite, to have access to greater development and programming options than if the two clubs would remain independent on their own.
02.
Coach and Staff Development
This merger provides greater resources to take coach education and staff development to higher levels which neither club would otherwise have access to on their own, giving players a better playing experience.
03.
Benefits of Scale
There will be some valuable administrative and organizational efficiencies that result from combining the two organizations, which allows us to reinvest back into the player experience.
04.
Long-Term Strategic Projects
The combined club has more opportunities to undertake strategic projects in the future, ranging from development of playing facilities and complexes to providing more scholarships and greater access to the game for our players.
Westminster Town Hall Information:
If you have questions and want to hear directly from our staff, please join us at one of our planned Town Halls:
- In-Person Town Hall | Sunday, March 6th @ Community Room in Westminster City Park Recreation Center
- 9U-12U | 5:00 – 5:45 PM
- 13U-14U | 6:00 – 6:45 PM
- 15U-19U | 7:00 – 7:45 PM
- Virtual Town Hall | March 9th or 10th
- Age group times TBA
Direct Benefits for our Members:
- Build more robust in-house leagues and camps providing opportunities to play more teams of similar ability while staying close to home and supporting the growth of soccer in Colorado.
- Give players of similar ability more opportunities to play with other players of similar ability, ultimately providing a better development and enjoyment opportunity.
- Give players in the transitional years of 8U/9U/10U more opportunities to meet players from across the region and play in regional and national level tournaments, as desired.
- Provide coaches with more coaching education opportunities and coaching tools to support their role of developing a foundation for players in their primary years of soccer.
- Provide a streamlined member experience utilizing PlayMetrics to simplify communications for parents, coaches, and staff.
- Provide our coaches with the coaching equipment they need to be successful both at training and at games.
- Create more meaningful in-house training opportunities including robust friendlies, pick-up/street soccer environments, and competitive kickarounds.
- Host more in-house winter leagues and tournaments for players to continue to develop their game with a large and active player pool year-round.
- Build stronger state-level teams with a greater opportunity to play in regional and national events by leveraging the pool of players in the region.
- Provide stronger pathways for players at all ages, genders, and levels with the opportunity to develop in appropriate environments and progress as they desire and when the time is right.
- Access to Colorado and the nation’s most decorated pathways, including ECNL boys and girls, Elite Development Squads, United Futsal, WPSL, MLS Next, Rapids II, and Rapids MLS.
- An emerging elite pathway program called Elite Development Squads, which develops players that are on the cusp of reaching their desired goals through collaboration with top players from all CRYSC regions.
- Futsal is an important pathway for CRYSC development, with a push to community-based futsal opportunities and national competition.
- Local access to Elite opportunities with a majority of all elite programming and games playing out of Regis University.
- At CRYSC, we have a saying, “the coach is the club”. The more we can develop the coaches, the better experiences our players will have.
- In 2022, CRYSC will host over 80 coach education courses, which can be viewed publicly here.
- Through our partnership with DU Center for Performance Excellence and our own in-house Director of Mental Performance, we provide our coaches with the tools they need to be successful in teaching and developing each player’s mental performance.
- In 2020, Rapids Youth Soccer launched RISE, the Rapids Integrated System of Excellence, a session generator built directly into our website that helps develop coaches at all age and all levels within the Rapids style of play.
- We provide all our coaches the gear they need to hold successful and productive training sessions, with access to top-quality CRYSC branded gear for both volunteer and contract coaches.
- Through the merger, we are able to provide more staff positions and provide more focused jobs to our staff, which ultimately will provide a better customer service experience for our players, coaches, and members.
- Communication is one of the most, if not the most important action we can be good at and is at the forefront of management at CRYSC. It is our goal to not only constantly improve our communication but provide you with the necessary tools you need as members and coaches to improve your communication.
- Through the merger, we are able to look into capital projects whether with the City of Westminster or through private entities. Your access to year-round experiences is one of our main priorities.
- We focus heavily on building our website so you have the communication you need to answer most of your questions. We look at the website as a hub for our community, with robust information on programs, locations, dates, tournaments, camps, and anything else you may be looking for.
- Collaboration on facilities throughout the year, giving more players access to facilities year-round including opportunities to develop other indoor and outdoor facilities.
- Access to nearly 100 full-sized soccer fields in Colorado.
- Provide more opportunities for players to participate in winter training at The Eddy and grow futsal in Colorado with additional regional-based programming.
- Recreational Players
-
- Build more robust in-house leagues and camps providing opportunities to play more teams of similar ability while staying close to home and supporting the growth of soccer in Colorado.
- Give players of similar ability more opportunities to play with other players of similar ability, ultimately providing a better development and enjoyment opportunity.
- Give players in the transitional years of 8U/9U/10U more opportunities to meet players from across the region and play in regional and national level tournaments, as desired.
- Provide coaches with more coaching education opportunities and coaching tools to support their role of developing a foundation for players in their primary years of soccer.
- Provide a streamlined member experience utilizing PlayMetrics to simplify communications for parents, coaches, and staff.
- Provide our coaches with the coaching equipment they need to be successful both at training and at games.
- Competitive Players
-
- Create more meaningful in-house training opportunities including robust friendlies, pick-up/street soccer environments, and competitive kickarounds.
- Host more in-house winter leagues and tournaments for players to continue to develop their game with a large and active player pool year-round.
- Build stronger state-level teams with a greater opportunity to play in regional and national events by leveraging the pool of players in the region.
- Provide stronger pathways for players at all ages, genders, and levels with the opportunity to develop in appropriate environments and progress as they desire and when the time is right.
- Elite Players
-
- Access to Colorado and the nation’s most decorated pathways, including ECNL boys and girls, Elite Development Squads, United Futsal, WPSL, MLS Next, Rapids II, and Rapids MLS.
- An emerging elite pathway program called Elite Development Squads, which develops players that are on the cusp of reaching their desired goals through collaboration with top players from all CRYSC regions.
- Futsal is an important pathway for CRYSC development, with a push to community-based futsal opportunities and national competition.
- Local access to Elite opportunities with a majority of all elite programming and games playing out of Regis University.
- Coaches
-
- At CRYSC, we have a saying, “the coach is the club”. The more we can develop the coaches, the better experiences our players will have.
- In 2022, CRYSC will host over 80 coach education courses, which can be viewed publicly here.
- Through our partnership with DU Center for Performance Excellence and our own in-house Director of Mental Performance, we provide our coaches with the tools they need to be successful in teaching and developing each player’s mental performance.
- In 2020, Rapids Youth Soccer launched RISE, the Rapids Integrated System of Excellence, a session generator built directly into our website that helps develop coaches at all age and all levels within the Rapids style of play.
- We provide all our coaches the gear they need to hold successful and productive training sessions, with access to top-quality CRYSC branded gear for both volunteer and contract coaches.
- Staff & Customer Experience
-
- Through the merger, we are able to provide more staff positions and provide more focused jobs to our staff, which ultimately will provide a better customer service experience for our players, coaches, and members.
- Communication is one of the most, if not the most important action we can be good at and is at the forefront of management at CRYSC. It is our goal to not only constantly improve our communication but provide you with the necessary tools you need as members and coaches to improve your communication.
- Through the merger, we are able to look into capital projects whether with the City of Westminster or through private entities. Your access to year-round experiences is one of our main priorities.
- We focus heavily on building our website so you have the communication you need to answer most of your questions. We look at the website as a hub for our community, with robust information on programs, locations, dates, tournaments, camps, and anything else you may be looking for.
- Facilities
-
- Collaboration on facilities throughout the year, giving more players access to facilities year-round including opportunities to develop other indoor and outdoor facilities.
- Access to nearly 100 full-sized soccer fields in Colorado.
- Provide more opportunities for players to participate in winter training at The Eddy and grow futsal in Colorado with additional regional-based programming.
Strategic Partners:
Rapids Youth Soccer will shortly announce a new partnership with Regis University as the location that will become the club’s ‘hub’ for Elite programming; WPSL, ECNL, EDS, Futsal. Regis offers access to high-quality training facilities as well as a central location for our membership. This new partnership makes Elite programming more accessible for our North families than ever before.
The City of Westminster remains a strong partner for WSC and both recreational and competitive families in Westminster and around Westminster. Their collaboration and support is a cornerstone to the current and future success of WSC and Rapids North. City of Westminster’s support for this merger provides us the opportunity to not only further develop the current players in Westminster, but their partnership will allow us to reach more children in and around Westminster for years to come.
How Will the North Region Player Pathway Look in 2022?
All Westminster Soccer Club recreational members will continue to operate under the Westminster Soccer Club and City of Westminster banner, with management and best practices provided by Rapids Youth Soccer and the current WSC staff. Players will have the opportunity to progress along the recreational pathway for as long as they desire. If/when they desire to progress into more advanced opportunities, players will join the Rapids North region for their competitive experiences.
Projected Rapids North Team Levels in Fall of 2022:
With the merger of CRYSC and WSC, Rapids North will retain the most robust pathway for youth soccer experiences in the North Denver suburbs. Uniting these two clubs will provide a player pathway for every level of player, something the North Denver area has lacked for many years, helping to keep players local with a vision to perform well across the state and nation.
North Region Park and Field Map:
The proximity of each club provides synergies in the player experience as well, with a majority of local parks no more than 10 minutes apart. By keeping local recreational hubs and creating synergies amongst the competitive locations, our coaches and staff will have better opportunities to be around our teams and provide support to our players and coaches, in addition to providing players the opportunity to train alongside players in their age groups.
- Trail Winds Park | 13385 Holly St, Thornton, CO 80241
- Big Dry Creek Park | 1700 W 128th Ave, Westminster, CO 80234
- Westfield Village Park | 11550 Wolff St, Westminster, CO 80031
- Northwest Open Space | 2100 W 112th Ave, Northglenn, CO 80234
- Westminster Park Recreation Center | 10455 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster, CO 80020
- Squires Park | 3450 W 99th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031
- Westminster Sports Center | 6051 W 95th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031
- Regis University (Elite) | 3333 Regis Blvd, Denver, CO 80221
Meet the 2022 North Region Staff:
Paul Mulvany
Aaron Smith
Kayla Corona Grimsley
Rich Dell
Xavi Rico
Kyle Lineberger
Greg Borchers
Clint Shade
Nick Tallman
Dawn Jenks
Sherri Cirbo
Lilly Merklinger
Timeline of Implementation:
More Details On The Merger | Q&A
Why is this happening and what is the rationale behind this merger?
- More Opportunities for Players: The driving force behind the merger lies in the opportunity for players from both clubs to have access to greater development and programming options than if the two clubs would remain independent, on their own. These options range from elite player opportunities such as boys and girls who will have access to ECNL or boys who will have access to MLS Next, ranging to the recreational base where we will have significantly more options based on our scale to create creative programming options to enhance the player experience. The player experience is first and foremost the design behind the merger.
- Coach and Staff Development: We believe our coaches and staff drive the player experience. This merger provides greater resources to take coach education and staff development to higher levels, which neither club would otherwise have access to on their own. Better people means a better player experience and this merger gives us the opportunity to develop, retain and attract the quality of personnel that provides the player experience we all desire.
- Benefits of Scale: There will be some valuable administrative and organizational efficiencies that result from combining the two organizations. For example, consolidating office space will result in cost savings. These savings can be reinvested back into the organization, resulting in a more efficient structure that serves members in several important ways: (1) allowing our coaches and directors to be closer to the player experience by reducing some of their administrative duties that burden a good bit of their time today, and (2) more resources from leadership and administrative standpoint that allows staff to perform at a higher level than before due to having more bandwidth to give more attention to their core duties.
- Long-term Strategic Projects: Another benefit of the combined club is the potential to create resources to undertake strategic projects in the future, ranging from the development of playing facilities and complexes to providing more scholarships to give greater access to the game for our players.
These examples are an illustration of the rationale behind the merger. Note, the common denominator in all of these benefits lies in the enhancement of the player experience. Our players are the core of the thought process behind the combination, and the experience of our players and families will continue to be the focus as the combined club moves forward.
How will leadership and governance work for the merged club?
Aaron Nagel, the current Executive Director of Rapids Youth Soccer, will continue to be the Executive Director of the entire CRYSC organization. Paul Mulvany will be the Rapids North Technical Director, with Aaron Smith as the Rapids North Regional Manager. Both individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and over 30 years combined experience working in the North area. All current staff for both organizations will be retained with the objective of the financial synergies to bring on additional staff to support both competitive and recreational programs.
Why are we the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, specifically, Rapids North?
With the current structures in place, we believe the combined entity is better served by being part of the MLS-affiliated youth soccer club and the attendant umbrella benefits that result from being part of the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club system.
What are the benefits to players and coaches in becoming Rapids Youth Soccer?
- More Opportunities For Players: This merger affords player from both clubs, recreational to elite, to have access to greater development and programming options than if the two clubs would remain independent on their own.
- Coach and Staff Development: This merger provides greater resources to take coach education and staff development to higher levels, giving players a better playing experience.
- Benefits of Scale: There will be some valuable administrative and organizational efficiencies that result from combining the two organizations, which allows us to reinvest back into the player experience.
- Long-Term Strategic Projects: The combined club has more opportunities to undertake strategic projects in the future, ranging from the development of playing facilities and complexes to providing greater access to the game for our players.
How will team formation work?
Players will be evaluated throughout the spring season for elite-level opportunities in conjunction with their team coach and staff director.
We will look to serve the individual players based on their ability levels and desires. We will achieve this by evaluating the best placement of each individual within each club and combining groups of players of similar and likeability to set each player and team up for the most success.
Click here to view the projected competitive boys teams for the fall 22/spring 23 season
Click here to view the projected competitive girls teams for the fall 22/spring 23 season
Will my child’s coach or practice location change in the fall season?
Recreational training locations will not change. Over time, we will look for opportunities where some recreational teams will play inter-league, with teams from WSC playing against Rapids North or vice versa at their home locations.
With the close proximity of all parks, we will look to create training hubs and game locations for age groups and genders within the competitive program, providing better community, performance, and culture collaboration amongst players and coaches within specific age groups and genders.
Will I need a new uniform?
- Competitive Players: Every competitive player will receive a gift card to Soccer.com to purchase the required game day items (home jersey, home shorts, home socks, away jersey, away shorts, away socks) and one training top. The amount is TBA as we work through the details with Soccer.com.
- Recreational Players: Westminster players that remain in the Westminster recreational program will stay in the same uniform kit. Any recreational players that move into the Rapids North recreational league will need to purchase the basic rec kit via Soccer.com.
Will registration fees change?
Registration fees will not change from current practices, other than to align the two organizations in the fall of ’22. Fees will increase for certain groups here and there every season based on field rental costs and other increases in operating the organization in line with current practices. With current inflation and costs of doing business, we believe the merger of WSC and CRYSC will continue to allow the organization to keep costs low.
Can I still coach my child’s team?
Volunteer recreational coaches are highly valued and will continue coaching their teams in the same fashion as if the two clubs remained separate. Competitive and contract-level coaches will be evaluated yearly in line with current practices.
Will there be a new website?
The current WSC website will remain as is with the content focused only on local recreational programming.
All other content will be integrated into the CRYSC website.
Where will the combined office be located?
The Rapids North staff will join the Westminster staff at their location starting in the spring.
Will we still continue to have access to scholarships?
Yes, CRYSC offers a robust scholarship program for both our recreational and competitive programs. The application for the fall ’22 season will open in May. Click here to view the scholarship page!
Will there be opportunities to learn more?
Of course! We are planning on hosting a virtual and in-person town hall where everyone will be invited to come and hear from our staff and help answer any questions. Please review the town halls below to pick the one that fits your schedule best.
- In-Person Town Hall | Sunday, March 6th @ Community Room in Westminster City Park Recreation Center
- 9U-12U: 5:00 – 5:45 PM
- 13U-14U: 6:00 – 6:45 PM
- 15U-19U: 7:00 – 7:45 PM
- Virtual Town Hall | March 9th or 10th
- Age group times TBA
Who can I contact with additional questions?
- For Westminster Members: Paul Mulvany: [email protected]
- For Rapids North Members: Aaron Smith: [email protected]
Do I need to do anything right now?
There is nothing that you need to do differently than if the clubs remained separate on their own. Enjoy the spring season and then:
- For recreational players, look for registration for the fall season to open May 1st.
- If you have a competitive player, register for player placement (Intent to Play) on April 1st.
2021 Year in Review
To Our Rapids Youth Soccer Family, I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and getting ready to celebrate the turn of the New Year with friends and family!…
READ MORE
2021 Year in Review
To Our Rapids Youth Soccer Family, I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and getting ready to celebrate the turn of the New Year with friends and family!…
2021 Year in Review
To Our Rapids Youth Soccer Family,
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and getting ready to celebrate the turn of the New Year with friends and family! Around this time each winter, I like to look back and evaluate the progress that our Club has made, the memorable moments we’ve experienced together, and the path we’re on headed into the New Year. In 2020, my thoughts centered around hope, opportunity brought on by change, and how we can move forward as #OneClubOneCommunity. My heart was heavy from the pandemic, so I looked forward to seeing what 2021 would offer. I’m excited to say that, even at my most hopeful, I couldn’t have expected the Club to grow in the ways that it did in 2021.
This year, we welcomed the most recreational and competitive players to our leagues ever, the most in and out of state competition to our tournaments ever, expanded our staff across all regions, created unique roles like Head of Education and Director of Mental Performance to better support our players and coaches, created a new Elite Development Squad (EDS) player pathway, watched our Colorado Rapids Women team go undefeated in the WPSL, watched our Colorado Rapids top the MLS West Division, and so much more. I invite you to read all about the year in our annual recap below and relive some of the highlights of 2021!
Thank you for being the most valuable part of this organization and an integral member of our Colorado soccer community! It is CRYSC’s duty to offer the best soccer experience possible and with the huge response we’ve seen in membership growth, participation in tournaments, the success of new programs like EDS and CRYSC Futsal, etc…we can’t wait to continue to grow and enjoy the beautiful game together in 2022.
Aaron Nagel, CRYSC Executive Director
“This program instructs more than 10,000 youth year-round in and around the Front Range; it commits to being “The Heart Behind the Crest” by focusing on player’s development both on and off the field. Players with varied skill levels age three to 18 can sign up.” – Colorado Parent Magazine 2021 Family Favorites
For the third year in a row, CRYSC has been named Colorado Parent Magazine’s Family Favorites Soccer Club! Thank you to our players, members, and supporters across Colorado that voted for Rapids Youth Soccer as your favorite local Club in 2021. The CRYSC community is truly special and we are humbled to be stewards of your youth soccer experience.
“Rapids Youth Soccer has developed a data and analytics program to capture a range of trends in participation; player retention; age effect challenges; as well as pre-season, in-season, and end-of-season feelings and reflections. Rapids Youth Soccer will build on this work and integrate a longitudinal analysis of players and coaches with individual profiles, retention correlations, exit surveys, and more to ensure a high quality, developmentally appropriate soccer experience for every child.” – 2021 Project Play Champion Awards
This August, CRYSC was recognized by the Aspen Institute as a 2021 Project Play Champion! Each year, the Aspen Institute selects 20 organizations that have made contributions to benefit youth athletes. It’s an honor to be awarded for our survey and analytics program!
“On behalf of the entire Rapids community, the Club would like to congratulate our players for officially taking the next step in their academic and athletic careers. The announcement of our Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 (early) college soccer signees is an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of our players and their families through what was an incredibly challenging recruiting process. Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club has made a commitment to providing comprehensive recruiting support for our membership through an integration of resources in SportsRecruits / Veo Cameras / Hudl and the guidance provided by our staff, coaches, and College Placement Program. Our dedication to creating a program that raises the standard for recruiting visibility, recruiting education, and individual recruiting support is the reason CRYSC continues to be a leader in college signings across the country.” – Anthony Presnell, CRYSC College Placement Program Director
Meet the CRYSC Class of 2021 & Class of 2022 (early):
Click here to see the Class of 2021 player signing photos!
Class of 2021 College Commits Not Pictured:
- Ally Sanchez | Illinois Institute of Technology
- Armando Armas | Regis University
- Avery Bergschneider | University of Redlands
- Brandon Pulido | Yavapai College
- Caroline Chaffee | Cal Poly University
- Cody Meyer | Northeastern Junior College
- Delaney Dormus | University of Northern Colorado
- Elliot Druck | George Fox University
- Elliot Notolli | Saginaw Valley State University
- Jaden Lozano | Virginia Military Institute
- Jadyn Noel | Radford University
- Josie Simpson | Tabor College
- Luis Reyes | Virginia Military Institute
- Maddie Gomes | Park University Arizona
- Maya Pellegrini | University of Portland
- Oscar Cambria | Northeastern Junior College
- Spencer Nicholson | Concordia University Chicago
- Will Kopp | Simpson College
- Zachariah Shelest | Northeastern Junior College
- Zoe Lam | University of Texas San Antonio
Click here to see the Class of 2022 player signing photos (with more to come next year)!
Class of 2022 College Commits Not Pictured:
- Abby Bush | University of Northern Colorado
- Anna Lantz | Rockhurst University
- Cooper Landry | Metropolitan State University Denver
- Isa Durkin | Metropolitan State University Denver
- Jana Kavas | MidAmerica Nazarene University
- Jayden Roque | South Dakota School of Mines
- Lauren “Lola” Toland | Ottawa University Arizona
The CRYSC College Placement Program (CPP) is your Rapids resource for navigating the college selection process. If you have questions about the CRYSC college soccer, please contact Anthony Presnell or visit the College Soccer Page on the CRYSC website. For college recruitment tips, guides, and more, check out the 2021 blog articles published by Anthony: College Placement Program Player Resources Overview, The Return of College Soccer, and National Signing Day Information Guide.
In 2021, we welcomed Mark Wilson to Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club in a newly created role as the Club’s Head of Education! “Developing Remarkable Coaches” is a core objective at CRYSC and we believe that the addition of Mark to our technical staff will help the Club provide coaches with new resources and paths to success.
A former EPL and MLS professional player for clubs like Manchester United, Middlesbrough FC, and FC Dallas, Mark joins directly from New York Red Bulls where he worked as the interim u23 Head Coach. Mark is also the co-founder of the highly successful “EdTech” company, Beyond Pulse. His leadership role at Beyond Pulse focused on coach development, the impact of technology on coach education, and the evolution of learning and leadership at the youth level.
“At Rapids Youth Soccer, we believe that the more we support coaches at the Club with expertise, content, development ideas, and methodology, the better the experience and progression will be for our members. We have invested in webinars, out-of-state guest speakers, digital platforms, coach development study visits, and much more recently. Now I am excited to announce the recruitment of the Club’s first-ever Head of Education, Mark Wilson. Needless to say, Mark brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of multiple pathways to the Club and I am delighted to secure his services as CRYSC’s first-ever Head of Education.” – Donald Gillies, CRYSC Technical Director
In 2021, we welcomed Miguel Rodrigues to Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club as South Technical Director!
A native of São Paulo, Brazil, Miguel was raised in Miami, Florida. Most recently, he led Weston FC (Florida) as their Boys Development Academy (DA) Director and served as the Assistant Director of Coaching at San Antonio City SC. Miguel holds both the USSF A-Senior License and Academy Director License. He began his tenure at CRYSC in August and made an instant impact on the fields and in the classroom this fall season.
In 2021, we welcomed Sebastian Giraldo, Ph.D. to Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club as Central Technical Director!
This December, Sebastian joined Rapids Youth Soccer from US Soccer where he operated across the country as a full-time Coach Education Instructor on USSF Licenses and Grassroots Courses. Before working with US Soccer, he served as Director of Education and Coaching Methodology at San Antonio City SC. Sebastian’s work with South Texas FC also supports his integration into the Central Technical Director role at CRYSC.
Congratulations to the Colorado Rapids Women on winning the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Mountain Conference Franchise of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and five players making the All-Conference Team in the league’s post-season awards in 2021! It was an incredible, undefeated year for the team and the recognition for their achievement is the cherry on top!
“The WPSL group’s achievements this year have been outstanding. The accolades that tend to come with success are always great to receive, but the recognition that this team has had is especially pleasing. Offensive Player of the Year, Natalie Beckman, and the other four players that made the All-Conference Team are wonderful talents that fully deserve the honors that they have received from the league. Between the staff and pool of players involved, the quality of the team shines through and has made watching them an incredibly joyful experience.” – Donald Gillies, CRYSC Technical Director
Colorado Rapids Women is the official WPSL team, owned and operated by Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club. This is the second full season that the team has competed in the WPSL, after last season was disrupted by the pandemic. Click here to visit the CRYSC WPSL webpage or on one of the icons below to visit the Rapids Women Twitter or Instagram page.
After 11 months of research, working groups and feedback, CRYSC Elite Development Squads (EDS) were launched in August 2021! This landmark project was conceived as an attempt to change the perception, flow, and understanding of how talent is developed in the US Youth Soccer landscape by introducing a “layer” of competition just below that of Elite Club National League (ECNL) teams on both the boys and girls side.
In the fall of 2021, CRYSC EDS teams began competing in tournaments around the country. EDS has gotten off to a great start, providing elite-level opportunities across the whole of the Club, and we look forward to seeing these teams grow in 2022!
A Note from CRYSC Technical Director Donald Gillies on #CRYSCEDS in 2021
CRYSC Technical Director Donald Gillies on #CRYSCEDS in 2021,
EDS was created to give CRYSC players who are not at ECNL level or in a CRYSC region abundant with ECNL opportunities, a high quality weekly practice environment with other likeminded players at a location and time where they can feel they are still on track to make the most of their abilities. More regular interactions with ECNL environments via showcases, scrimmages, or guest playing opportunities are made available to these players, while still offering games and practices locally with their regional team. It is a blend of opportunities unique to EDS teams that we are proud to have made happen.
The initiative is still very much in its infancy, but we are fully committed to allowing the players who are clearly talented, the space and time to evolve, find their own identities, and know that if the moment becomes “right” for them, they can move up to the next level.
In 2021, UCHealth and CRYSC teamed up to highlight the amazing individuals at the Club with a new “UCHealth Player of the Month” award! This award was created to put a spotlight on players that have shown athletic excellence, academic achievement, or exemplary character out on the fields or in their community.
Monthly winners have been featured on the CRYSC blog page and in a recurring section of the Club newsletter. Thank you to everyone who nominated a player in 2021 and congratulations to our winners. You can find a recap of our UCHealth Player of the Month awards below, as well as our final winner for December 2021 – Kaylynn Miller. Look forward to more UCHealth Player of the Month content in 2022 and click here to nominate a player for this January!
Congratulations to Kaylynn Miller on winning the December 2021 UCHealth Player of the Month award!
Congratulations to Kaylynn Miller on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for December 2021!
Kaylynn plays for the Rapids 08G Central Select 2 team as a goalkeeper and has had an outstanding 2021, culminating in being named MVP for her age group at President’s Cup! She has been described as “super responsible, hardworking, and caring” with a true passion for the game and drive to become the best player that she can. She has also been excelling in academics this year, with a 4.0 going into the holiday break and a place on her school’s Honor Roll. Kaylynn has been a vital member of multiple CRYSC teams since 2020, and wherever she is, she makes an impact on and off of the field. We spoke with Kaylynn to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Click here to catch up on our UCHealth Player of the Month winners in 2021!
Congratulations to John Burnett on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for January 2021!
John plays with the Rapids 03/02B ECNL team as a defensive midfielder, is captain of his club and high school teams, and has been described as a leader both on and off the pitch. He was nominated by his father Chad and is the first-ever recipient of the new UCHealth Player of the Month award! We spoke with John to learn a bit more about him and see what drives his game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Sara Swenson on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for February 2021!
Sara plays in the Rapids Fort Collins region with the Rapids 08 Select girls as the team’s goalkeeper. She has gained a reputation as a player that leads by example, with a strong dedication to self-improvement and helping others grow in the goalkeeper position. Sara loves the game and is always out training on the fields with her teammates, running drills in her back yard, or working with younger players as a mentor. We spoke with Sara to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to TJ Gibson on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for March 2021!
TJ plays in the Rapids Central region with the Rapids 03 Select boys as a midfielder and captain of the team. College Placement Program Director Anthony Presnell describes TJ as “a true representative what it means to be a CRYSC student-athlete. Along with his commitment to his personal development TJ has been playing with Rapids Youth Soccer for nearly 14 years!” He has recently been accepted into Washington University- St Louis and will play with university’s men’s soccer program in fall 2021. We spoke with TJ to learn a bit more about him and see what drives his game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Amman Muzaffar on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for April 2021!
Amman plays with the Rapids 05 ECNL boys as a central midfielder and captain of the team. He’s been with the Club since his earliest playing days at Colorado Storm and has developed into a leader both on and off the field. “While extremely humble, he is very passionate about the game and will sacrifice himself for the better of the team. He cares about all of his teammates and is a great person to be around on and off the pitch.” We spoke with Amman to learn a bit more about him and see what drives his game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Cate Farnsworth on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for May 2021!
Cate plays with the Rapids 09G Burgundy team as a defender and is known by her coaches and teammates as a “quiet workhorse” whose actions make her a true leader both on and off the pitch. Whether she’s putting in a tackle to stop a goal scoring opportunity, fundraising for the Mile High Labrador Retriever Mission, or representing her school at the city-wide science fair, Cate makes an impact wherever she goes. We spoke with Cate to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Maddy Quantz on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for June 2021!
Maddy plays with the Rapids 07G Burgundy Castle Rock team as a midfielder and works with CRYSC players under the age of 6 as a volunteer Soccer Start coach. She truly loves the game and has been described by CRYSC coaching staff as “an outstanding young lady that represents Rapids Youth Soccer and its values, inside and outside the Club.” Maddy embodies the Club’s “Heart Behind the Crest” purpose and is always looking to help out her teammates and classmates however she can. Win or lose, Maddy will be there as a reliable teammate, friend, and leader. We spoke with Cate to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Wesley Gowdy on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for July 2021!
Wes plays on the Rapids 19U ECNL boys team as a goalkeeper and has committed to playing college soccer at Colorado School of Mines this fall. Wes is known as an incredibly talented athlete, playing with the Colorado Rapids MLS Next and Olympic Development Program Region IV teams, and a hard working student, lettering five times academically and graduating with Honors through the SOAR Honors Program. With strong performances on the field and in the classroom, Wes has earned his place as our newest UCHealth Player of the Month winner! We spoke with Wes to learn a bit more about him and see what drives his game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Bailey Setright on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for September 2021!
Bailey plays on the Rapids 14U Fort Collins Select team as a defender, traveling across state lines from her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming three to four times a week for practice, training, and games. She has played with the Wyoming ODP team for two years, made the West Regional ODP pool in 2019-20, and featured in the defense of a fantastic Fort Collins team that only let in one goal all of last season. Bailey embodies hard work and a love for the game, making her our latest UCHealth Player of the Month winner. We spoke with Bailey to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Teagan Lierman on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for October 2021!
Teagan plays on the Rapids 03/04G Select 1 team as a striker and is having a prolific season in front of goal! This year, she helped her team to a President’s Cup final victory, taking home the game’s MVP award for an incredible 4-goal display. When Teagan isn’t leading the line for her team, she enjoys playing softball and volunteering with the Northern Lights Little League in Thornton. Teagan is our latest UCHealth Player of the Month because of her accomplishments on the field, in her community, and as an example that younger CRYSC players can look up to. We spoke with Teagan to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Congratulations to Claire Silverman on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for November 2021!
Claire plays for the Rapids 05G ECNL team and Fairview High School as a striker with a keen eye for goal. She was the top scorer this year in the Front Range League and recently made the Western Conference ODP team. Claire has also been making an impact off of the field through community service, helping seniors learn new technology, making blankets and biscuits for the humane society, and tutoring young students in math. She has been described as “an excellent teammate, a great student (4.84 GPA!), and an individual that contributes within her community.” We spoke with Claire to learn a bit more about her and see what drives her game. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
“UCHealth and CU Orthopedics are proud to partner with Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and to help care for the club’s athletes. We’ll be available to help care for any injuries that might occur, but our most important mission is to work with the Club’s coaches and administration, providing the most advanced resources to athletes and their families to help prevent injuries from happening in the first place.” – Dr. Scott Laker, UCHealth and CU Sports Medicine Specialist. Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth + CU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.
In 2021, Colorado Soccer Foundation (CSF) and Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) announced the opening of Soccer City Aurora – the culmination of nearly a decade of soccer outreach work, collaborative planning with community leaders, and a goal of providing more opportunities for Colorado youth. Read the full press release here!
Registered Rapids Youth Soccer players will have FREE ACCESS to open play hours at Soccer City Aurora, with the access fee paid for by Rapids Youth Soccer! Register for open play sessions by visiting the website here, clicking on “Pre-register for Soccer City Membership”, making a profile, and the selecting your CRYSC branch in the “Referral” drop down menu (a required field).
“The Colorado Soccer Foundation is the work of many people over many years. We are so grateful for our time spent with the Rapids Youth Club, which was critical to our ability to implement programming over the past decade. With our new platform, we have a great opportunity and privilege to work with all of the wonderful people and organizations that make up the broader Colorado soccer community.” – Curtis Gardner, CSF Executive Director
Congratulations to the 32 CRYSC players that competed in their 2021 High School Soccer State Championship! CRYSC players at Grandview (Boys 5A), Northfield (Boys 4A), Broomfield (Girls 5A), and Jefferson Academy (Boys 3A) represented their schools on the biggest stage this year. The Grandview Wolves, Northfield Nighthawks, and Broomfield Eagles finished state champions, while the Jefferson Academy Jaguars finished finalists.
Congratulations to the Colorado Rapids on a tremendous 2021 season! The team took first place in the Western Conference for the first time, captured a club-record 61 points in the regular season, lost the fewest games in the West, and conceded just 35 goals in 34 games, tied for fourth-fewest in MLS. Because of their regular season success, the Rapids will be competing in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions league, bringing Champions League Soccer to Colorado for the first time ever!
Colorado Rapids CRYSC Families Presale Next Tuesday! To show our appreciation and support of those who represent our badge throughout the year, we are providing all CRYSC members with presale access to the Colorado Rapids 2022 regular season starting at 10:00 am Tuesday, January 4th. Don’t miss out on your chance to show off the crest and play a role in this year’s biggest home matches including our Home Opener against Atlanta United on February 26th, Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry matchup against Real Salt Lake on April 2nd, and what is sure to be a firework-worthy display against Austin FC on the 4th of July. To prepare for your pre-sale, click here to view the 2022 schedule.
Find out more about the CRYSC Sports Medicine Program by visiting our website! For questions or concerns related to sports medicine, please reach out to the CRYSC Head Athletic Trainer, Julie Graves, at [email protected].
“CRYSC kicked off it’s futsal programming in October 2020, creating 8 teams, 4 boys and 4 girls, to compete in the Champions Cup Series with United Futsal. In its first year, Rapids Youth Futsal registered 88 players, 4 head coaches that took charge of two teams (1 boys, 1 girls), and 3 assistant / traveling coaches. Players received over 40hrs worth of training sessions in 2021 and competed in 3 tournaments, 1 in Las Vegas, and 2 in Orlando, playing at least 16 games. Our teams exceeded expectations for the first year, taking gold in multiple tournaments and divisions! It’s our desire to see this program grow in 2022 and provide the best opportunities in the United States for aspiring futsal players.
Thank you to the players, families, and coaches that made this all possible! Futsal has been a passion project, years in the making at the Club, so we are ecstatic to see the support of so many CRYSC members in our first year. Look forward to progress, competition, and more fun in 2022!” – Danny Woolliscroft, CRYSC United Futsal Director
¡Presentamos el nuevo traductor de español CRYSC! Acceda a información sobre fútbol juvenil en español con un simple clic en la parte superior del sitio web de CRYSC. Introducing the new CRYSC Spanish translator! Access youth soccer information in Spanish with a simple click at the top of the CRYSC website. Aprenda más sobre CRYSC en español!
In 2021, we welcomed Katie Pagel to the CRYSC staff in a unique, new role as Director of Mental Performance! Katie joined us in January as one of the first Directors of Mental Performance at a youth sports organization in the US. Throughout the year, she has provided CRYSC members with in-house expertise on all things related to sport psychology. Katie’s position at the Club is dedicated to developing a psychologically safe, growth-oriented, high performing competitive environment for players.
Katie hosted a series of webinars on sport psychology topics with experts from around the nation in 2021. Check out replays of our webinar series by using the dropdown menu below! Click here to learn more about the CRYSC Sport Psychology Program on our website.
Click here to watch replays of our Sport Psychology webinars in 2021!
Mental Health 101 | How Caregivers & Coaches Can Support Struggling Athletes
Featuring Director of Mental Health Services for the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Dr. Jessica Bartley. In this June webinar on Mental Health 101, Dr. Bartley sets the stage for our CRYSC Sport Medicine series by discussing incidences and indicators of common mental health disorders, and directing us toward specific action steps coaches and caregivers can take, should they have concerns about an individual’s mental health. Tune-in by clicking the link above or video thumbnail!
Understanding ADHD | Implementing Effective Coaching & Parenting Practices
Featuring Dr. Ricki Walker, PhD, HSP, CMPC. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health condition in children. In this August webinar, Dr. Ricki Walker speaks to causes and symptoms of ADHD, as well as practical techniques and strategies coaches and caregivers can apply to most effectively engage with and support athletes with ADHD. Tune-in by clicking the link above or video thumbnail!
Managing Anxiety | Strategies for at Home & on the Field
Featuring Dr. Jennifer Batson, PsyD. In this October webinar, special guest Dr. Jennifer Batson PsyD joins host Katie Pagel for a one-hour discussion on an issue we commonly deal with in youth sports: Anxiety. Players can easily be overwhelmed by anxieties caused at home, on the fields, at school, etc… In this webinar, Katie and Dr. Jennifer discuss identifying, understanding, and ultimately managing anxieties. Tune-in by clicking the link above or video thumbnail!
2021 was an exciting year of growth and new opportunities for Rapids Youth Soccer. We can’t thank you enough for the role you’ve played in shaping this Club and eagerly await kicking off a new season of tournaments and league-play together this spring!
