
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
2022 Year in Review
To Our Rapids Youth Soccer Family, Happy holidays and I hope that you are having a wonderful end to 2022 with family and friends! As we head into the New…
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2022 Year in Review
To Our Rapids Youth Soccer Family, Happy holidays and I hope that you are having a wonderful end to 2022 with family and friends! As we head into the New…
2022 Year in Review
To Our Rapids Youth Soccer Family,
Happy holidays and I hope that you are having a wonderful end to 2022 with family and friends! As we head into the New Year, I am filled with joy thinking about all that we’ve accomplished together and the potential for where we can go as a Club and as a community in 2023. It’s been the honor of my career serving as the Executive Director of Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and I thank you for putting your trust in this organization to ensure that your player has the best youth sports experience possible.
The past 12 months have been memorable for both the big and small moments, so I am excited to close out another year by inviting you to relive some of our favorites in the 2022 Year in Review. From success stories, to major announcements, to program expansions; our Club continues to grow the sport of soccer along the Front Range and offer a pathway for young leaders in Colorado. This pathway is always improving and I believe that we have taken major strides forward in 2022 with new partnerships like the establishment of our home for Rapids Elite Soccer at Regis University, reached new heights like when our Rapids Women made the WPSL National Finals this summer, and created more opportunities through coach education, futsal, EDS programs, college placement events, Let Us Play initiatives, and so much more.
This year, we have focused on improving the individual experiences of our programs, tournaments, and camps for players and members across the Club. Providing an incredible soccer experience is at the heart of what we do and, from all of us at Rapids Youth Soccer, we thank you for your vital role in making these experiences impactful to so many kids in Colorado. The Year in Review reflects on and celebrates our time together as #OneClubOneCommunity, and I can’t wait to see how we grow in 2023 and beyond – happy reading!
Aaron Nagel, CRYSC Executive Director







In March 2022, Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and Regis University launched a new partnership to expand player access to top-of-the-line, local facilities and create a new home for Rapids Elite programming. This unique partnership within the world of youth soccer has allowed CRYSC players seeking to compete at the highest levels of the game access to one of Colorado’s best soccer and futsal facilities, the Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center (EPC) at Regis University.
The Club’s long-term partnership with Regis University provides 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.
Rapids Youth Soccer is proud to call the new Elite Performance Center at Regis University home and we look forward to watching this partnership grow alongside our athletes in 2023 and beyond! Click here to read more about the Rapids Youth Soccer + Regis University partnership on our website and check out the collegiate facilities now accessible to CRYSC athletes, quotes from organization leadership, and the unique opportunities this partnership will present like new scholarships, expanded programming, and so much more.

In February 2022, Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) and Westminster Soccer (WSC) announced that our clubs were joining forces to create the best possible youth soccer experience for North Denver suburb athletes, coaches, and members. United as One Club under the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club banner, CRYSC and WSC have worked together throughout 2022 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 members have come to expect.
“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…[cont]” – Paul Mulvany, Executive Director for Westminster Soccer. Click here to read Paul’s full quote and discover more details on the partnership!


A message from our friends and partners at UCHealth:
As a long-time partner of Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, we want to take a moment to express our excitement for our new partnership with the Rapids organization and the positive impact we know it will spark both within the soccer community in Colorado and the state as a whole.
Today’s news marks the start of an incredible relationship that will go beyond a jersey sponsorship. As two organizations rooted in the beautiful state of Colorado, UCHealth and the Rapids are both deeply invested in the welfare of our community and this partnership provides us with a unique opportunity to help elevate the health of Coloradans through the sport we all love.
For years, Colorado has been recognized as the home to some of the fittest, strongest and healthiest populations in the country. However, the past few years have taken a toll on all of us, both physically and mentally, and impacted the collective health of Coloradans. We believe it’s time for Colorado to regain its status as the healthiest state in the nation and hope to use our new partnership with the Rapids to help spearhead this movement.










This summer, the Colorado Rapids Women concluded their best post-season in program history! From May to July, the team competed in local, regional, and national competitions, ultimately, becoming Rockies Division and Mountain Conference Champions for the second year in a row, winning the Central Region Championship, and progressing through the WPSL Championships to finish as National Finalists!
“It was a historic season that has set the standard for our WPSL program. The success is a testament to the work being done in our Girls ECNL program, coach education, and every day out on the field. The athletes are amazing people on and off the field and the reason we are bringing home multiple championships.” – Sebastian Giraldo, Colorado Rapids Women Head Coach
From the regular season to the national championship, it has been a year to remember for the team. A special thank you to the fans that have been there every step of the way this season – your support means everything! Click here to read a full recap of the Rapids Womens’ run to the WPSL National Finals.



Colorado Rapids Women is the official WPSL team, owned and operated by Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club. Click here to visit the CRYSC WPSL webpage or on one of the icons below to visit the Rapids Women Twitter or Instagram page.




An ECNL national final and player accolades in 2022! #CRYSCGirlsECNL #CRYSCBoysECNL
This July, the Rapids 06G ECNL team wrapped up a memorable year of soccer that saw our girls establish themselves as one of the best teams in the nation, battling through the ECNL National Playoffs and ultimately reaching the heights of the ECNL National Championship Game! The Rapids 06’s tremendous playoff run ended in a narrow 0-1 defeat decided by a first-half PK to SLSG 06G Navy. We are extremely proud of the team’s efforts this summer and throughout the whole year. Catch up on the 06 girls’ finals run in this blog post recapping their summer!
Many of our ECNL players were awarded end-of-season honors for the 2021/22 season including a Northwest Conference Player of the Year award for Lexi Meyer (06G ECNL)! Lexi Meyer and Adeleine Walick (06G ECNL) were also selected as part of the ECNL 16U All-American team.
The ECNL girls 2022/23 ECNL season is underway with travel this Fall to California, Utah, Indiana, Oregon, and Arizona. Similar to the girls’ program, the ECNL boys wrapped up their season at the ECNL National Playoffs in San Diego, with four teams qualifying for the event. All the groups performed very well over the week. The 2009 boys Elite team had 10 players make the step from ECNL to the Colorado Rapids Academy, as it continues to be a focus for the development of our talent pool of players. The boys 2022/23 ECNL season has just started and we are looking forward to a fun and successful season!






New opportunities for Rapids Elite 11/12U players!
In 2022, we rolled out our Rapids Elite 11/12U program as an introduction to our Elite programming for the youngest age group. With four teams (boys 11U, girls 11U, boys 12U, and girls 12U), this program provides Elite training and game opportunities for these players. It is a great way to expose players to a similar environment to ECNL. Highlights included the 2012B team winning the CSA Premier 1 Division, and the 2011G being crowned Champions at the Challenger Season Finale in Kansas. The Elite program also included 2011 and 2012 EDS groups. These players were exposed to on-field training and mental performance training. In early December, we took 5 EDS groups to the Challenger Season Finale in Kansas. The 2012G and 2011B (pictured above) finished the event as runners-up, and the 2011G brought home the championship!


Rapids Futsal expands and finds a new home at Regis University! #CRYSCFutsal
In the summer of 2022, our futsal season culminated with the Nationals and Worlds in Orlando, Florida. Four of our CCS teams reached the gold division, four Showcase teams played in the gold division finals, and the 07/08 boys won Nationals in the silver division!
This year, our futsal program expanded to over 200 players and 20 teams! Players in these programs get over 60 hours of training at our beautiful new futsal facility at Regis University. We also launched our new Elite Winter Futsal Leagues this November and had an amazing first-ever Winter Futsal Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend. We are looking forward to upcoming regional showcases in Las Vegas and San Jose, as well as National and World tournaments in Orlando in 2023. Click here to visit the CRYSC Futsal webpage or on one of the icons below to follow our futsal Twitter or Instagram page.

Elite Development Squads (EDS) complete their first full season! #CRYSCEDS
The EDS program completed its first season of activity in this spring and has largely been met with positive feedback! The objective of providing players slightly outside ECNL squads with time and space to develop was given more focus this past year. The addition of an extra practice session along with a program that included increased scrimmages against ECNL teams, and attendance in out-of-state events such as Sporting Kansas’ Central States, and Surf Cup were all delivered. Mid-2022, the EDS teams became official representatives of CRYSC as part of the newly developed National League US Youth Soccer (USYS) platform ‘Elite 64’ (E64). The girls’ 2022/23 season started off with tournaments in Arizona and at Arsenal Colorado. In October, we welcomed RSL Arizona and Phoenix Rising and came out of that weekend with a perfect record of 11 wins! The boys’ teams are getting stronger as the new season gets underway and are getting ready for their next games vs Arsenal & Real, followed by the next 2 out-of-state trips to Utah and Arizona in February and March respectively.
It’s been an incredible start to our EDS journey and we look forward to more growth and fun out on the fields in 2023 and beyond!


Congratulations to the CRYSC players that competed in their 2022 High School Soccer State Championship! CRYSC players at Denver East (Boys 5A), Grandview (Girls 5A), Northfield (Boys 4A), Northfield (Girls 4A), Colorado Academy (Boys 3A), and Kent (Girls 3A) lifted the trophy at their schools on the biggest stage this year. 30+ players from these schools were also recognized by the CHSAA with All-State honors, with Ezekiel Lubin (Denver East | Rapids 04/05B ECNL), Ella Moody (Windsor | Rapids 05G ECNL), and Zachary Liptzin (Northfield | Rapids 04/05B EDS) being awarded Player of the Year in their division! (bottom left to right)
A special shout-out to Ben Beckman from our Rapids 04B ECNL team for winning the Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado! (top) Ben follows in the footsteps of his sister and former Rapids ECNL player Natalie Beckman, who now plays professionally with the Portland Thorns!





Congratulations to the 20+ CRYSC athletes that were called up to represent or take part in training and ID camps for their national youth teams in 2022! This year saw more CRYSC athletes play a part in the USYNT than ever before, culminating in a USYNT ID camp being held at our home for Rapids Elite soccer – Regis University.
This October, Andrea Ilkjić (Rapids ECNL 04/05G) started for the Croatian 19U Youth National Team in international friendlies versus Cyprus and Montenegro, helping her team to victory by getting on the score sheet. Also in October, Brooklyn Smith (Rapids 08G ECNL) was called up to the 15U USYNT training camp where she joined 23 of the nation’s best players to train and show her goalkeeping skills at the highest level of youth soccer!









“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 2022 and Class of 2023 (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 2022 & Class of 2023 (early):
Click here to see the Class of 2022 player signing photos!









































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 2022 blog articles published by Anthony: Choosing the Right Summer Soccer Camp, The 2022 College Soccer Season is Almost Here, and Fall 2022 Girls High School Drop-In Event Recap!



A message from CRYSC Technical Director Donald Gillies on #RapidsEducate in 2022:
2022 has been another incredible year of growth for coach education opportunities. Hosting 82 coaching courses across the Club, from regional education events, to out-of-state match analysis, to fully-funded US Soccer courses, we have continued to view our commitment to soccer education as a fundamental tool at our disposal in creating a positive coach and player experience.
The Club’s investment in our full-time Directors as both educators and coaches was a key piece of our strategic approach this year, which began with the delivery of the formal United Soccer Coaches ‘Coach Developer Award’ over two days in January, followed up with a further two-day ‘in-service’ event where we launched the new Player Development Plan.
The final, and potentially most significant initiative for our education program this year has been the year-long project to provide opportunities for staff to begin their education journey on the European (UEFA) coaching pathway. After eight months of preparation, the Club finalized a partnership with the Scottish FA and sent 15 staff to Edinburgh, Scotland for five days to complete their UEFA C-License this November. Exposing our staff to different learning theories and methodology is critical to developing our own support of coaches throughout the Club.
As we move into 2023, we will be publishing a brand new edition of our Coach Education Calendar and providing more focused support for staff working in specialized areas of the game. We believe that this targeted approach will reduce any uncertainty over “which option to choose” and speak more to the needs of the coaches as they develop. We are looking forward to bringing more exciting and innovative opportunities for learning to the coaches in 2023.

This spring, Rapids Youth Soccer was excited to relaunch the Next Wave Project, an eight-month coach development program designed for women, by women! Next Wave Project (NWP) coaches have the opportunity to grow the technical, tactical, and psychosocial skills required to be effective, impactful, and inspiring coaches while building quality relationships with other women in the soccer community. During the course, NWP coaches will interact with and hear from high-profile guest speakers, experience on-field mentorship at training and games, and take the fast track to earn a US Soccer Grassroots license.
Look forward to more information on the Next Wave Project and how you can get involved with the release of the 2023 Coach Education Calendar!

This August, Rapids Youth Soccer welcomed back acclaimed author, speaker, and Founder/CEO of the Changing the Game Project, John O’Sullivan to Colorado for a week of educational events for coaches in each CRYSC region. Click here to read the full article recapping his visit!
“Once again, it was great to see John in his element speaking to coaches and mentoring us all on our coaching journeys. Like players, every coach has a diverse set of needs and experiences, and it’s impressive to witness John’s ability to deliver relevant content for everyone. Specifically, John’s ability to highlight the core facets of CRYSC’s player development plan as essential to any young person’s growth within the context of soccer was powerful. John inspires all of us as coaches to know our players, let them lead, and create a game realistic environment where players feel safe to take risks and be brave.” – Let Us Play Director, Brian Sheehan.
The CRYSC Let Us Play (LUP) campaign is an initiative to support all players and give the game back to the kids. Let Us Play promotes positive parenting, improved sideline culture, better coaching from home, connecting with players on the car ride home, structured discipline ladders, and so much more! To learn more about the campaign, visit our website or contact LUP Director, Brian Sheehan.

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 2022 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 2022 – Paige Fry. Look forward to more UCHealth Player of the Month content in 2023 and click here to nominate a player for this January!
Congratulations to Paige Fry on winning the December 2022 UCHealth Player of the Month award!

Congratulations to Paige Fry on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for December 2022!
Paige plays for our Rapids 06G Fort Collins Select team as a goalkeeper. In the Fort Collins region, she is known for her leadership abilities, positivity on and off the field, and respect for all. Her leadership qualities are exemplified through her athletic achievements, academic success, and community involvement. Paige is a long-standing member of our CRYSC community, with this year being her seventh at the Club! She is also a two-year letter winner at Fort Collins High School for basketball and soccer, a 2021 second-team selection for soccer, an honorable mention selection for basketball, and the winner of the 2021 Colorado State Cup. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
Click here to catch up on our UCHealth Player of the Month winners in 2022!

Congratulations to Brooke Roth on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for January 2022!
Brooke plays for the Rapids South 05G Select team as a defensive midfielder (#6) and is a fantastic representative of what it means to be “the heart behind the crest”. Her coach, Kristina Corona Grimsley, describes her as “[…] a great kid all-around. She puts in the work in training and game environments. Brooke is an awesome example of what we look to create within our Rapids Youth Soccer environment. She leads through action and word while getting along with all of her teammates. Brooke is talented and hard working on the soccer field and in the classroom, but overall, she is dedicated to becoming the best version of herself.” Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Jocelyn Ocegura on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for February 2022!
Jocelyn plays for our Rapids 04G Castle Rock recreational team and volunteers her time coaching 9U athletes! Since starting high school, she has captained her freshman soccer team and received multiple awards for academic excellence, showcasing her talent both on and off the field. Rapids Castle Rock coach Katie Beaudoin describes Jocelyn as, “…an amazing person. Not many Junior’s in high school would volunteer to coach a team for an entire season. This takes up quite a bit of time, as they have two practices a week and games on Saturdays. She is a great role model for these young girls!” Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Troy Moss on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for March 2022!
Troy plays for our Rapids 11B South Select I team as a versatile midfielder/defender and our Rapids 11B United Futsal team as the starting goalkeeper. Last futsal season, he was an integral member of multiple Rapids gold medal-winning sides in Las Vegas and Orlando, and his outstanding performances saw him selected to the CRYSC Futures Academy program. Troy has been described as “the consummate team player, always leading by example” on the field and “a straight-A student well-liked by his teachers and classmates” in school. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Kenna Delgado on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for April 2022!
Kenna plays for our Rapids 09G Castle Rock Burgundy team as captain and a leader from the midfield! Her passion for soccer and drive to improve can be seen at practice, games, soccer camps, and any additional training sessions available. If there is an opportunity to grow, Kenna is the first in line to participate! Her desire to improve also applies to her schoolwork, where she is an honor roll student with a hard work ethic. “Kenna puts 100% into everything that she does” and is a deserving winner of our April UCHealth Player of the Month award! Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Andrew Chalmers on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for May 2022!
Andrew plays for our Rapids 04B South Select I team as a forward, where he has scored 4 goals and assisted 1 in his first 5 games of the season! This year, he was selected to play with the Rapids 03/04 EDS team as one of only 3 juniors on a team populated by senior players. With a passion for the game and dedication to improving every day, Andrew has found success at every level of play and earned a reputation as a “world-class teammate, who consistently offers support and encouragement”. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Courtney Hall on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for June 2022!
Courtney plays for our Rapids 04B Central Select team as a midfielder and captains the Grandview High School boy’s soccer team! This year has been a special one for Courtney as he and his high school teammates helped lead the Grandview Wolves to their first-ever State Championship. he has been described by CRYSC coaches as, “A player that lives by his values. Respectful, loyal, hard-working, and humble. Courtney is one of the best leaders at the Club and is recognized as such by his teammates and opponents.” Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Reece Bosgraaf on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for July 2022!
Reece plays for our Rapids 07B Central Select, E64, and for Summit High School in Breckenridge, CO as a center back. Reece is the embodiment of dedication to the sport, commuting over four hours a day for practice and games. In just two years, Reece moved from the platinum level in the Centennial League to the top of the P1 Champions League and was invited to join the new E64 National Team. In early 2022, Reece suffered a broken ankle but worked hard to recover and get back on the field for the final two games of the season. Along with his accomplishments on the field, Reece also maintains a 3.92 out of 4.00 GPA and is a member of the Thespian Honors Society. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Malachi Kabeya on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for August 2022!
Malachi plays for our Rapids 8U Advanced team as a winger. He is an exceptional student-athlete recognized for his outstanding leadership and for making younger players feel welcome through his on-the-field intuition, creativity, maturity, and understanding of his environment. Off the field, Malachi receives excellent grades and is consistently recognized by his educators for his attentiveness, willingness to learn, and academic excellence. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Alex Gallimore on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for September 2022!
Alex plays for our Rapids South 08B Select I and Champions League, Premier I teams as a center-midfielder. He’s known by his teammates as an exemplary Rapids player who always showcases a positive attitude on the pitch. Alex consistently works to improve all areas of his game and is often selected by coaches to lead the team in practices and on matchday. Overall, Alex has shown dedication to improving on and off the field, the ability to build trust with teammates, and the desire to grow in his role by always asking for feedback from his coaches. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Giovanni Natale on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for October 2022!
Giovanni plays for our Rapids 07B ECNL team and at Luthern High School as a goalkeeper. He’s known by his teammates as an exceptional goalkeeper that has maintained a 7-1 record and a 0.75 Goals Against Average in ECNL league play. He helped his team qualify for the ECNL National Championship in San Diego and went undefeated in tournament matches. At Luthern High School, Giovanni was awarded Athlete of the Year. Along with his success at CRYSC, Giovanni will represent the Rapids with Argentina and has been chosen to attend the Olympic Development Showcase in Utah. Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!

Congratulations to Scarlett French on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for November 2022!
Brooke plays for the Rapids South 05G Select team as a defensive midfielder (#6) and is a fantastic representative of what it means to be “the heart behind the crest”. Her coach, Kristina Corona Grimsley, describes her as “[…] a great kid all-around. She puts in the work in training and game environments. Brooke is an awesome example of what we look to create within our Rapids Youth Soccer environment. She leads through action and word while getting along with all of her teammates. Brooke is talented and hard working on the soccer field and in the classroom, but overall, she is dedicated to becoming the best version of herself.” Check out the full interview on the CRYSC blog page!
“UCHealth is 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 have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.












CRYSC international tours are a great way for players to experience soccer through the lens of a different culture! From playing local competition, experiencing different environments, and seeing new sights, there’s so much to be gained from expanding one’s horizon and taking your game abroad. In 2022, CRYSC took a giant leap forward in providing educational soccer tours for CRYSC members – hiring club coach Jeff Oleck as our dedicated Director of Club & International Partnerships and offering unique overseas trips to Europe and South America!
Ryan and Elaine, Rapids South Parents, on their player’s trip to Ireland: “Our family had an incredible travel experience with CRYSC this summer. In a short time, players grew as a team and expanded their mental soccer capabilities. Players were exposed to a different style of play and bonded quickly with Irish teammates over their mutual love of soccer. Families had the opportunity to attend a professional soccer match, sightsee, and leave the trip with an incredible appreciation of Irish culture. This experience is something we will remember fondly for years to come.”
Catch up on some of the trips and news from #CRYSCInternational by following these links to the NEW #CRYSCInternational webpage, Rapids 08B EDS Team Visits Argentina blog, and Rapids South 10B Select Team Takes in the Soccer and Culture of Ireland blog.




In 2022, CRYSC Director of Mental Performance Katie Pagel continued to provide mental health resources, unique support + guides, and in-house expertise on all things related to sport psychology! Katie is one of the first dedicated Directors of Mental Performance at a youth sports organization in the US and works with leadership, coaches, and admins across the Club to develop a psychologically safe, growth-oriented, high-performing competitive environment for players. Check out the Sport Psych webpage to learn more about the department and view mental health resources!
As a part of projects at every level and region of CRYSC, Katie has devoted a significant amount of her time in 2022 to:
- Enhancing Mental Performance Support: CRYSC Sport Psych provided mental performance support to 500+ CRYSC summer camp athletes of every level throughout the Club, created a revamped mental performance curriculum for all of our EDS, Pre-ECNL, and ECNL athletes, and met every request for non-ECNL team or program specific mental performance support. CRYSC Sport Psych also continued to provide quality club-wide and regional resources on mental performance topics such as how to start the season strong and how to respond to failure.
- Creating Safer Spaces: CRYSC Sport Psych took measurable steps to create safer spaces for our athletes, coaches, and staff in 2022. In addition to bringing greater awareness to Colorado’s I Matter program and drafting blogs on topics like Suicide Prevention and the power of Gratitude, Katie acquired her QPR Gatekeeper Instructor Certification in order to more efficiently bring quality suicide prevention training to all CRYSC staff. By the end of the year, every CRYSC Regional staff member will have received in-person QPR Gatekeeper Training and be far better equipped to keep our athletes, coaches, and staff safe on and off the field.
- Championing Women: Katie was lucky to lead CRYSC’s revamped Next Wave Project aimed specifically at developing women coaches within our club. Alongside Directors Jess Stauffer and Kristina Corona-Grimsley, NWP delivered monthly workshops and on-field development opportunities for a group of aspiring and established women coaches to build their technical, tactical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal coaching skills. Katie was also honored to be invited to present to and learn from a visiting group of coaches from Brazil to discuss gender in youth sports and the development of women leaders.





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. For sports medicine tips, guides, and more, check out the 2022 blog articles published by Julie: Injury Prevention, Preventative Care & Regeneration On The Road, and Plantar Fasciitis Rehab Program!


Follow all of our coverage throughout the year by clicking here to sign up for the CRYSC Newsletter!
Our monthly newsletter is where you can find brand-new blogs, success stories on and off the field, our latest Player of the Month, partnership announcements, education opportunities, and SO MUCH MORE! Catch up on all of our newsletters from last January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.
2022 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!
CRYSC Thanks Sports Author & Speaker John O’Sullivan For Visiting Colorado For A Week Of Coaches Education
#RapidsEducate Recap: Sports Author & Speaker, John O’Sullivan Posted by: Brian Sheehan l Director of Let Us Play CATCH UP ON JOHN O’SULLIVAN’S LIVESTREAM FOR PARENTS, PLAYERS, & STAFF! BELOW…
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CRYSC Thanks Sports Author & Speaker John O’Sullivan For Visiting Colorado For A Week Of Coaches Education
#RapidsEducate Recap: Sports Author & Speaker, John O’Sullivan Posted by: Brian Sheehan l Director of Let Us Play CATCH UP ON JOHN O’SULLIVAN’S LIVESTREAM FOR PARENTS, PLAYERS, & STAFF! BELOW…
CRYSC Thanks Sports Author & Speaker John O’Sullivan For Visiting Colorado For A Week Of Coaches Education
#RapidsEducate Recap: Sports Author & Speaker, John O’Sullivan
Posted by: Brian Sheehan l Director of Let Us Play
CATCH UP ON JOHN O’SULLIVAN’S LIVESTREAM FOR PARENTS, PLAYERS, & STAFF! BELOW THE VIDEO, BRIAN SHEEHAN SHARES HIS RECAP & THOUGHTS ON THE EVENT!
This August, Rapids Youth Soccer welcomed acclaimed author, speaker, and Founder/CEO of the Changing the Game Project, John O’Sullivan to Colorado for a week of coaches education events across the CRYSC regions! John O’Sullivan visited each of our CRYSC regions to present on important topics like the Club’s Player Development Plan, creating a Let Us Play environment, and progressing your coaches’ education journey. Every coach at the Club – from Parent Volunteers to Directors of Football – attended in-person, in their region, as a vital part of our coaches’ education curriculum and preparation for the new season. Check out Let Us Play Director, Brian Sheehan’s recap, thoughts on the visit, and what players, parents, and staff can take away from the John’s presentation below.
RECAP: Coaches from all levels, ranging from volunteer recreational to high school elite, were in attendance, and John provided relevant nuggets of wisdom for everyone. John met with our South / Castle Rock region coaches on 8/25 and Central / North / Ft. Collins coaches on 8/26. Each night, John utilized his conversational approach to discuss what it takes to create the right environment for self-regulating players to flourish. Alongside co-presenter and CRYSC’s coach education guru Mark Wilson, the two illuminated how fostering a positive environment is integral to the Club’s player development plan.
BRIAN’S THOUGHTS: “Once again, it was great to see John in his element speaking to coaches and mentoring us all on our coaching journeys. Like players, every coach has a diverse set of needs and experiences, and it’s impressive to witness John’s ability to deliver relevant content for everyone. Specifically, John’s ability to highlight the core facets of CRYSC’s player development plan as essential to any young person’s growth within the context of soccer was powerful. John inspires all of us as coaches to know our players, let them lead, and create a game realistic environment where players feel safe to take risks and be brave.”
LINK TO LET US PLAY: As a Club embracing the Let Us Play philosophy, John’s messaging isn’t just relevant for coaches, it’s an incredible teaching tool for parents, families, and spectators too! Let Us Play is a Club-wide commitment to foster an environment where players grow in confidence as masters of their own on-the-field decision-making. Rapids members at every level honor the Let Us Play commitment through positive cheering, civil sporting conduct, and deep appreciation for the ways performance and enjoyment are connected. Parents and spectators alike can check out John’s activity using the Stroop Test here (1:14:53 – 1:19:10) and get an inside look at how fans and spectators can either help or hinder a player’s journey toward self-regulation.
*A slide from John’s presentation, highlighting a crucial part of our role in a player’s development: creating the right environment to grow!

Who is John O’Sullivan?

Philosophy: John O’Sullivan built his career creating player-centered environments to better work with players and their families on sport-specific development. He is an expert on the teacher-student, mentor-mentee relationship and has shared his knowledge with professional and youth soccer clubs across the nation. A core question at the center of John’s work with coaches is, “What does it feel like for your players to play for you?” With a focus on reflection and empathy for the players experience, his message benefits anyone in a mentorship role on and off the field. His philosophies parallel and reinforce the CRYSC Let Us Play campaign that seeks to educate parents and coaches on ways to foster an enjoyable, learning environment through positivity and picking the right time for “teaching moments”. We are proud to have John as a national advocate of Let Us Play and look forward to advancing the campaign together this August!
Achievements: John O’Sullivan is the author of two #1 bestselling books on youth athletics; “Changing the Game: The Parents Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids” and “Every Moment Matters: How the World’s Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams”. John’s work has been featured by CNN, Outside Magazine, ESPN, NBC Sports, and other media entities. He is an internationally known speaker for coaches, parents, and youth sports organizations, and has spoken for TEDx, the US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Wrestling, USA Swimming, Ireland Rugby, Australian Rugby League, and at numerous other events throughout the US, Canada, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
History with CRYSC: John O’Sullivan is an exemplary friend and partner of the Club. Last year, John joined the CRYSC Big Wave Jamboree as the featured speaker and presented to attending coaches on the development and identity of players 9-12 years old. You can check out that presentation in full by clicking here! Prior to that visit, he joined CRYSC in 2019 to lend us his expertise and speak to coaches, parents, and staff at The Eddy. It has been a pleasure working closely with John for the past three years on education events, podcasts, team-building retreats, the Let Us Play campaign, and more!
What Impact Can John’s Message Have?



From declining referee participation to players dropping out of the sport entirely, there are a broad range of issues that can be traced back to poor experiences and a resulting diminished passion for the game. When a participant at any level of soccer feels isolated, vulnerable to verbal or emotional abuse, disconnected from their mentors and peers, or even just stops having fun, there has been a failure in the systems that are supposed to provide support. It is the job of coaches, parents, staff, etc… to make the fields a place for positivity and learning, while fueling a lifelong passion for soccer.
The experiences we have are shared and shape the way that we view the game. John’s question “What does it feel like for your players to play for you?” distills that idea for coaches, but can be put back on all of us – what is your impact on the game?
Below are a few stats and facts that highlight why we need more empathy in the game and the value of John’s philosophy. While reading them, ask yourself how many could be changed by one true connection with a coach, one moment of support over conflict on the sideline, one more friend on the team, etc…?
- There are over 3 million 6-17 year old athletes that play for a youth soccer club in the United States learning under the guidance of 11,000 full-time coaches and over 500,000 volunteers and staff. Colorado is home for 75,000+ players and one of the fastest growing nationally.
- Participation in “Team Sport on a Regular Basis” dropped from 41.4% in 2012 to 38.1% in 2018 to 37.8% in 2020, with 2022 data pending release.
- The decline in the 6-12 year age group participation has been more significant than in the 13-17 year age group.
- From 2018 to 2021, an estimated 50,000 high school referees across all sports quit – roughly 20% of the total workforce.
- In a survey of 19,000 referees in 2019, 60% attributed their reason for quitting to verbal abuse, with 39% of participants saying that they’ve experienced issues with parents and 29% saying they’ve experienced issues with coaches.

What is the CRYSC Let Us Play Campaign?
The Rapids Youth Soccer Let Us Play campaign is a Club-wide initiative to create a better sideline culture in Colorado and beyond. The ultimate goal of this campaign is to raise awareness among parents, coaches, and staff of their impact on players and teach them to be proactive in making every experience a positive or “learning” one. We’re all here to have fun so LET US PLAY!
“The sidelines of every youth soccer game are lined with parents and spectators wanting their team to succeed. Fans communicate in many ways, from chanting and cheering to clapping. Too often this enthusiastic exuberance can come with shouting instructions and trying to coach from the stands (joysticking the players). As a club, we are committed to a positive player experience of learning and individual growth of our team members.” – Brian Sheehan, Director of Let Us Play
In all Rapids Zone 1 programming, parents, coaches, and CRYSC staff commit to fostering an environment where players grow in confidence as masters of their own on-the-field decision making. To honor this commitment, all parents, coaches, spectators, and staff are encouraged to take the ‘Let Us Play!’ Pledge during the season.
For any questions on Let Us Play, visit the website or contact us at [email protected].
Starting Strong This Fall
Starting Strong This Fall Posted by: Katie Pagel | Director of Mental Performance Hello CRYSC athletes, coaches, families, and fans, and welcome to our Fall 2022 season! CRYSC Sport Psych…
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Starting Strong This Fall
Starting Strong This Fall Posted by: Katie Pagel | Director of Mental Performance Hello CRYSC athletes, coaches, families, and fans, and welcome to our Fall 2022 season! CRYSC Sport Psych…
Starting Strong This Fall
Hello CRYSC athletes, coaches, families, and fans, and welcome to our Fall 2022 season! CRYSC Sport Psych is looking forward to another season fueled by a love of the game and rife with learning, growth, healthy competition, and – above all – FUN. With that in mind, we’re kicking things off this season by sharing a number of hand-picked resources that will prove especially useful to our athletes at this time of the year. Whether an athlete is feeling a bit of new-season nerves, is looking to set a new round of goals, or wants some additional support managing the stressors of school and sports, you’ll find that – and more – below!
Managing New Season Stressors
The start of a new season is always an exciting time. The chance to be back on the field, working hard, competing, and having fun playing a sport we all love is a highlight for athletes, coaches, and fans alike. As much as the promise of a new season brings anticipation and excitement, for many, it can also create a bit of angst. A new season is just that – it’s new; and new – whether it be a new team, a new coach, a new competitive level, a new position, a new opportunity to show what you can do, or returning to the pitch a new version of ourselves – can be a bit stressful. So what determines if we see each of these “news” as stressful or exciting? Largely, it comes down to our own perception of the demands of the situation we’re in, and how equipped we feel in being able to manage those demands. This is a primary reason why Person A may report feeling incredibly stressed by a certain situation that Person B is unbothered by; Person B believes they have the mental, emotional, and physical resources, tools, and overall support to manage the situation at hand, while Person A does not.
The great news for our athletes is that CRYSC already has a number of resources to help you feel more equipped to manage the potential stressors you may face this Fall. If you (or your athlete) are feeling a bit overwhelmed going into the new season, look through some of the resources below for strategies for managing common start-of-season challenges.
- Anticipated Transitions: The start of a new season is what we call an “anticipated transition”; a change that, though we know it is coming (unlike, say, having to pause play due to an injury), can still cause stress. Read through this blog to learn a handful of best practices for approaching and growing through this, and other, anticipated transitions.
- Coping Strategies: The best way to effectively manage stress is to build our repertoire of coping strategies: Actions we can intentionally take to better manage a situation we perceive as stressful. Give this two-part blog a read to learn more about coping strategies, including how teammates can work as a unit to deal with shared stressors.
- Performance Anxiety: It is very common for athletes to experience an uptick in performance anxiety at the start of a new season. Wherever it stems from – worry about perceptions of a new coach or teammate, competing at a higher level – this blog describes a number of practical tools for identifying and managing performance anxiety.
- Fear of Failure: Alongside performance anxiety, fear of failure is a common struggle athletes encounter at the start of a new season. This two-part blog series addresses the impact that fear of failure has on our body, mind, and performance, and shares skills for managing and overcoming fear of failure.
Helpful Hint: Many athletes cite within-team competition as a primary source of stress for the start of a new season. But let’s take a moment to look at the origin of competition. The word itself is from the Latin competere (com- with or together, petere – to strive/seek/agree to go). In its truest form, the word literally means to strive or seek together. What’s more, early instances of modern “competition” were born from the realization that individuals perform better when performing alongside someone than when they do so alone. It had very little (if anything) to do with one person beating or being better than the other, but rather that both individuals would perform better if they trained and performed amongst others. Keeping this perspective in mind – that playing alongside someone else helps you improve at a faster rate than if you did so alone – can be incredibly helpful for mitigating within-team competitive stress.
Setting the Stage for a Successful Season
While managing stressors is necessary for an optimal start to a new season, it is not sufficient; in order to truly set ourselves up for a season of maximal growth, enjoyment, and quality performance, there are a number of other aspects to bear in mind. If you (or your athlete) are looking to do all that you can do to set the stage for a successful season, check out the resources below for guidance on actions to take and mindsets to cultivate.
- Goal Setting: The start of a season is one of, if not the, most natural times to set goals. Well-built and pursued goals not only enhance performance, but also show positive changes in anxiety, confidence, motivation, and fulfillment. Read through this blog for practical tips on how to best approach goal setting and goal pursuit.
- Growth Mindset: It’s no secret that going into any development opportunity with a growth mindset is beneficial. This two-part blog series shares strategies for cultivating a growth mindset and reminders for how to engage in quality practice, both of which will promote maximal learning and growth throughout the season.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Starting with a new team or coach can often mean meeting new and different kinds of people. This blog reminds us of the benefits of diversity and shares actionable best pratices for creating inclusive environments, two crucial aspects of ensuring everyone has a top-tier experience, on and off the field, this season.
Helpful Hint: Some of the most important contributors to a quality soccer season are also some of the most overlooked. As athletes return to both school and sport, and schedules inherently get more and more full, it is imperative that athletes prioritize the pillars of their physical (and mental) health. Eat three quality meals a day, and be sure to have snacks on-hand as needed. Drink plenty of water. Sleep 8-10 hours each night, and build healthy routines for nighttime and waking. While these actions seem simple (and obvious!), consistency in these areas is often one of the first things to go when schedules get busy. Maintaining these healthy habits throughout the season is essential for optimal learning, development, and performance.
Looking Ahead
No matter how you (or your athlete) are feeling kicking off this Fall season, we hope this blog provided some practical and useful information that will benefit you on and off the field. CRYSC Sport Psych is excited to continue to create and share quality mental performance and general wellness resources with our members throughout the season, in order to build our athlete’s mental strength and stamina alongside that of their bodies. This focus is achieved not only through learning and applying concrete mental skills (such as goal-setting, visualization, self-talk, and emotional management among others), but also through reflection and discourse pertaining to our personal identity within the game, how we relate to soccer, and what stories we believe to be true about ourselves as athletes and people. With that in mind, keep an eye on this space for monthly resources pertaining to mental skills that optimize growth and performance and discussions with staff and coaches on their experiences with and their relationship to the sport we all love.
To see the full slate of CRYSC Sport Psych resources, visit the Sport Psych blog page and webpage. Thanks for reading, and here’s to a great Fall 2022 season! We look forward to seeing you on the field.
CRYSC Sport Psych wants to hear from you! If you have a blog topic you’d like to see addressed, or have any questions about mental performance or general wellness, email CRYSC’s Director of Mental Performance at [email protected]