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What influence has soccer had in your life?

Soccer has taught me leadership skills and how to stay calm under pressure. Soccer is always a way for me to stay active and focus on something other than school. I have also learned the value of friendship from soccer. I remember when I was moving up a team a when I was around 12 and I felt like I was losing my connection with my old teammates, but I didn’t, instead I was able to stay in touch with them and they still talk to me till this day.

Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?

I push myself and others around me while always trying to stay positive.

What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?

I enjoy the coaches. I have coach Clint right now and he keeps our practices fun and productive. I have also known plenty of other coaches and they are all great.

Out of everything I enjoy the travel tournament the best. I get to be with my coach and teammates for around 3-4 days and I get to know everyone so much better. Clint always makes the tournaments fun, he brings a phone bag to dinner and we all put our phones in and just talk for an hour.

I also enjoy the friends I have made, my teammates. They are always there for me and make me enjoy coming to practice everyday.

What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of being named a captain of my team. It’s nice to know that not only my coaches believe in me but also my teammates.

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

I have made high honors role both semesters this year and have all A’s.
Not academic, but I am very proud I made all conference second team my freshman year for soccer.

How do you think your teammates would describe you?

Funny, aggressive, and a leader.

What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?

I went to Arizona for a school trip. We did service work there on top of one of the Hopi-Navajo first mesa. We helped clean trash off the side of the mesa. We found a doll house, pan, and lots of other house hold items. The Hopis have lived on top of the mesa for hundreds of years and they originally threw food off the mesa but after times they started throwing non-compostable items, so it started to collect. Most of the people on top of the mesa are elderly so it’s hard for them to climb down the side and pick it up. After spending a few hours picking it up we went up and talked to the elders. They told us about their history and their lives. They were so appreciative of us listening to them. I will never forget the experience.

What’s your favorite soccer player and team?

Alyssa Thompson

What do you hope to pursue in the near future?

I hope to continue playing soccer through college and major in sports management.

Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!

My brother. His main sport is baseball, but he also plays soccer for school. He is always there for me and pushes me to do my best. We will sometimes go out side and just kick around a soccer ball for a while and talk. I also get to talk to him everyday on the way to school and it is never boring.

What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?

Inside of school I enjoy being a three-sport athlete. Outside of school I enjoy the CU soccer camp. I do it every July with a few of my teammates and I make so many awesome memories.
I also enjoy going on service trips. I have been to Mexico, West Virginia, and New Mexico for service trips.

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.

As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.

As the spring season comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the progress made, the successes achieved, and the challenges faced throughout the past months. The transition from one season to the next offers a unique opportunity for self-reflection and planning, setting the stage for continued growth and improvement as a coach.

Now is the time to look back on what went well, the moments that stood out, and the lessons learned. It’s also a chance to take a deep dive into what needs improvement, how you can evolve as a coach, and how you can make next season even more impactful for your players. Here’s how you can use this season’s end as a springboard for the fall, focusing on creating an engaging, player-centered environment, fostering self-reflection, and strengthening parent relationships—all while thinking about how you’ll build on your success and tackle areas for growth.

Reflecting on the spring season, think about the moments when your players were truly engaged—whether it was a high-energy activity, a breakthrough in understanding the game, or simply seeing players more confident in their roles. These are the wins that highlight your success in creating a player-centered environment.

• What worked well? Maybe you had an activity where players were particularly engaged, or perhaps your focus on decision-making led to more permanent learning. These are the moments to celebrate and to carry forward into the fall.
  • What coaching strategies or techniques did you find most effective? Did you notice areas of growth in your own leadership, player development, or session management?
• What are your areas of growth for next season? Maybe you want to get better at managing game moments, enhancing your tactical awareness, or refining your feedback during practices. Identifying these areas now, while the season is still fresh, allows you to think strategically about how to approach these challenges moving forward.
  • How can you continue to develop? Consider new activities or adjusting your session structure to make sure your players stay active, whether it’s by incorporating more small-sided games, increasing player autonomy, or adding decision-making opportunities throughout training.

As you prepare for next season, reflect on how you can build on these successes. How can you further integrate a player-centered approach that keeps every player engaged and growing? These are the conversations to have with yourself and your coaching peers as you look to set the stage for the fall season.

Looking back at this past spring season, you’ve likely identified growth areas—whether it’s refining your communication, perfecting a specific coaching skill, or tackling a new methodology. This is a great opportunity to reflect on your own growth and make a plan for the future.

To continue your growth, peer feedback is key. Consider how you can lean on colleagues or mentors for guidance. Regular, constructive feedback will ensure that you remain on the right track and keep improving.

If you haven’t already, reflect on how you’ve used self-reflection throughout the season. Were you able to step back after sessions and think critically about your own coaching? As you prepare for the fall, prioritize making reflection a consistent part of your coaching routine. This will help you sharpen your skills and keep evolving throughout the year. Consider using the stop light reflection:

As the season winds down, it’s time to think about your parent relationships and how they have impacted the season. Did you have effective conversations with parents about their child’s progress? Were expectations clearly set and managed? Reflecting on these relationships now will set you up for success next season.

• What worked well? Perhaps you had great communication with parents, or maybe they were particularly engaged with your feedback. Recognize the positive aspects of your relationships and how they supported the overall team dynamic.
• What can be improved? Reflect on any challenges you encountered in managing parent expectations, whether it was balancing their hopes for their child’s development with the realities of player growth or addressing concerns that arose during the season. Thinking about these areas now will help you tackle them head-on for the fall.
• How will you address these challenges? Consider setting up more structured communication channels, such as regular updates on player development, team meetings at the start of the season, or one-on-one check-ins with parents. This ensures that everyone is aligned and working together to support the team’s growth.

As you reflect on the spring season, this is your chance to not only celebrate the successes but also to make actionable plans for next season. Whether it’s continuing to build a player-centered environment, refining your self-reflection practices, or improving your parent communication, every part of your coaching approach is an opportunity for growth.

This is where our coach development offerings come in. As you look ahead to the fall season, consider the following:

• Summer Development Opportunities: CRYSC offers a variety of summer courses, including the Grassroots, D, and C Coaching Licenses, which will provide the tools, resources, and feedback you need to continue growing as a coach. These courses focus on aligning your coaching with our Game Model, building your tactical understanding, and helping you refine your coaching interactions.
• Ongoing Mentorship: Consider mentoring or being mentored by a more experienced coach. Whether you’re looking to gain insights on session planning, game management, or player development, mentorship is a valuable resource for continued growth.

As the spring season wraps up, take time to reflect, celebrate your successes, and identify areas for improvement. With the fall season ahead, now is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for a productive, development-focused approach that will benefit both you and your players. Let’s continue building on this season’s foundation and make next season even better!

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) serves approximately 10,000 players ages three through 19, beginner to elite, in year-round leagues, camps, and tournaments. As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CRYSC has been named a top 15 youth soccer club in the U.S. by Soccerwire and the top youth soccer club in Colorado by Colorado Parent Magazine. CRYSC’s mission is to provide an environment where young soccer players from diverse backgrounds are guided and inspired to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.

As the spring season winds down and we shift toward summer, now is the perfect time to reflect on what makes development at Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club special. While our coaches plan sessions and our players give their all on the field, the truth is: real development doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we all lean in—coaches, players, parents, and directors—working together to support each child’s journey.

At CRYSC, we believe that shared responsibility is the foundation of meaningful youth development. When we all understand our role in the process, players are more confident, resilient, and motivated to learn—not just to win.

Every person in a player’s soccer life plays a role in shaping how they grow—not just as athletes, but as learners, teammates, and people.

Coaches

• Create game-realistic training environments based on fun, development, belonging, and safety
• Promote learning through guided discovery and high standards
• Model growth mindset, resilience, and care

Players

• Bring energy, curiosity, and effort to training
• Learn to take ownership of their development
• Reflect on mistakes, try again, and support their teammates

Parents & Guardians

• Reinforce the importance of effort over outcomes
• Ask questions that promote reflection (“What did you learn today?”)
• Trust the process—even when the results aren’t immediate

Directors & Club Leadership

• Set the standards for development and coach education
• Align programs with our Game Model and Key Qualities
• Create safe, supportive environments for everyone involved

Our shared purpose, “The Heart Behind the Crest,” is more than a slogan. It means we are united by a deeper mission: to help kids grow through soccer. Not just as players, but as confident, thoughtful, and resilient people. This doesn’t happen in one training session or one weekend. It happens over time, across thousands of moments—moments where coaches, parents, and teammates say: “We believe in you. Keep going.”

• At practice: Coaches prepare engaging sessions, parents get players there on time and encourage them to engage in the learning process, and players show up ready to learn.
• On the sideline: Parents cheer (but don’t steer) respectfully and focus on effort, coaches manage the game through learning moments, and players try their best regardless of the score.
• After the game: Parents ask reflective questions, coaches provide specific feedback, players process the experience, and set goals for the week ahead.
• In the summer: Directors offer workshops and resources, coaches plan for next season, players rest and recover, and families reconnect to what matters most.

While the official season may be winding down, CRYSC continues to offer engaging summer camps for players of all levels. These are opportunities for kids to stay active, build skills, make friends, and have fun in a positive, development-focused environment.

Check out our full list of CRYSC Summer Camps on our website. Whether your player is new to soccer or looking to sharpen skills for the next level, there’s a program for them!

If you’re a coach—or looking to grow as one—stay tuned for our upcoming Coaching Newsletter, where we’ll feature:

• Details on the Summer Coaching Workshops
• U.S. Soccer licensing course opportunities
• The Phase 2 launch of our online learning system
• Tools to help you reflect, grow, and recharge this summer

In the meantime, view our full list of summer courses here: CRYSC Summer Coaching Course Offerings

When we work together, we’re not just building better players. We’re building:

• Better problem-solvers
• Better teammates
• Better communicators
• Better humans

So as we head into summer, let’s keep leaning into this shared journey. Let’s support each other, learn from each other, and continue to raise the standard together.

Your voice, your support, and your presence matter. Whether you’re on the sidelines, at a coaching workshop, or helping your child lace up their cleats—you’re part of something bigger. Thank you for being part of our CRYSC community.

Let’s keep growing. Together.
– Zac Crawford, CRYSC Chief Technical Director

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) serves approximately 10,000 players ages three through 19, beginner to elite, in year-round leagues, camps, and tournaments. As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CRYSC has been named a top 15 youth soccer club in the U.S. by Soccerwire and the top youth soccer club in Colorado by Colorado Parent Magazine. CRYSC’s mission is to provide an environment where young soccer players from diverse backgrounds are guided and inspired to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.

This June, Nico will be presented with a plaque and a gift card to acknowledge his achievements. We met with Nico to learn a bit more about him. Check out the full interview below!

What influence has soccer had in your life?

I have played and loved soccer since I was 3, and it is my favorite sport / activity among many that I do. Most of my best friendships have come from soccer. Soccer has helped me understand that in order to succeed you must put the team’s interests first. Doing many other activities in addition to soccer has helped me learn how to prioritize things and balance my time, and has also helped me to develop healthy living habits like making good eating and sleeping choices to help me perform at my best across all activities.

Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?

I think I was nominated because of my actions on and off the field:

• On the field my willingness to work and always give my hardest effort no matter the conditions. I always try to be a good teammate and stay positive with everybody. I try to be a very unselfish player, find the right pass and do the right thing for the team rather than look for my personal glory.
• Off the field I think my hard work to accomplish unique things like recently earning my 1st degree black belt in taekwondo, and learning to speak 4 different languages, has helped show my discipline and perseverance.
• I think my coaches can see that I always try to have fun with my friends and just be a good person.

What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?

I love playing with my teammates and spending time with them and my coaches. I really enjoy the ambience between us and I love our style of play. In trainings I like that we have a mix between high expectations and supportiveness amongst teammates and coaches. When it comes to games I really appreciate how our coaches let us play and learn from our mistakes.

What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am pretty proud of winning the Coach’s Award at a soccer camp I attended in France a couple of years ago. Nobody spoke English so I had to rely on my then-very-limited French to get by, and I was the youngest player (9 at the time) in a group where everyone else was 11 – 14. It was a lot of fun even though it was very challenging.

But receiving this UC Health Player of the Month award now tops my list!

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

I’m very proud that I’m pursuing fluency in my 4th language. I speak Italian at home with my mom and sister, English with my dad and friends, Spanish in my language immersion school, and I am advancing my French in my free time. Achieving this means a lot to me because I know when I’m older my language skills will open possibilities to me and who knows maybe one day I can play for a European team.

How do you think your teammates would describe you?

I think my teammates would describe me as a funny yet focused and kind-hearted person. I think they see me as a person who is composed in challenging situations and one who works very hard and puts the team’s interests first.

What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?

I try to always be kind around others. I don’t like when kids are mean to other kids and, when this happens, I stand up for others. An example of this happened a few weeks ago, at school. A kid wanted to play foursquare with us and a classmate came up to him, grabbed the ball he was holding and kicked it away. I felt super bad for the kid being bullied and told the bully that what he did was not very nice. After that I ran and got the kids’ ball and let him play with us.

What’s your favorite soccer player and team?

My favorite soccer team is Liverpool, and my favorite current player is Luis Diaz because he combines his skills with his work rate to make good things happen. The player I most want to play like, however, is Xavi (Hernandez), because I love how he always maintained possession and found the right pass.

What do you hope to pursue in the near future?

My dream is to one day play pro, but I also hope to get a scholarship to play in college and create my backup plan in case I don’t make it as a professional player. A very important steppingstone will be making MLS Next, so that’s what I’m working towards now.

Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!

My mom and dad are an inspiration to me. They work really hard to give me everything that I have but they still always make time in their busy schedule to be with me and help me in my life. My dad has a lot of experience in soccer and is always helping me and giving me tips to achieve my goals. My mom is always there for me comforting me when I need it. Both of them have always guided me and encouraged me to be kind, respectful and just to be a good person around everybody.

What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?

Apart from soccer I love big mountain, mogul, and park skiing; and I’m currently pursuing my 2nd degree black belt in taekwondo. Also I really enjoy doing activities outdoors like biking, rollerblading, scootering, camping, and playing pickleball.

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.

As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.

As we approach our upcoming player assessment window, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what truly matters in player development—not just what players can do, but how they see and understand the game.

At Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, our commitment to holistic player development is at the core of everything we do. It’s in our purpose to be “The Heart Behind the Crest,” and it comes to life through our club-wide focus on developing self-regulating players who can think, adapt, and thrive in game environments.

One of the most important—and often most overlooked—skills we seek to develop is a player’s ability to read and understand the game. It’s not just a buzzword. It’s a fundamental component of the player’s development journey and the number one Key Quality in our coaching framework.

Our Technical Plan: One Club, One Community identifies game understanding and decision-making as the centerpiece of our developmental model. This quality connects directly to our Game Model, Game Idea, and Main Principles, which shape how we want our teams to play—and how players are expected to behave within the game.

A player who sees the bigger picture—space, timing, positioning, pressure, and options—is a player who can:

• Solve problems independently
• Adapt to challenges
• Make teammates better
• Connect training to performance

And as we begin our player assessments, our Key Qualities will be at the heart of our evaluation process. We have created a “learning line” for players to progress through different program areas regarding the development that should occur at at each level.

Game understanding isn’t just a standalone trait. It’s deeply intertwined with the rest of our Key Qualities:

• Game Understanding & Decision-Making: Are players scanning before they receive? Are their decisions purposeful? Can they recognize and respond to tactical cues?
• Responsibility & Initiative: Do players take charge of their learning? Are they asking questions, seeking feedback, and experimenting with new ideas?
• Growth Mindset & Competitive Mentality: How do players respond to setbacks? Are they resilient and reflective, or reactive and results-focused?
• Technical Execution: Are their technical actions appropriate to the situation? Do they choose the right skill at the right time?
• Physical Execution: Are they physically ready to apply their decisions at game speed and intensity?
• Learning Ability: Are they curious learners who adapt and grow across the season?

Each of these qualities shapes how we evaluate players—not just based on outcomes, but based on how they go about solving problems and evolving in their role on the field.

Rising Rapids
Competitive
Tiers 1-3

Our Game Model and Learning Plans are more than documents—they’re tools that help coaches foster these qualities every day. Whether you’re working with U9 players learning to spread out and support, or U13 players mastering switching the point of attack, it’s about creating game-realistic problems and guiding players toward thoughtful solutions.

Three essential takeaways from our plan:

• Game Understanding must be trained, not just expected.
• Reality-based training connects decisions to performance.
• Inquiry-based coaching creates thinkers, not followers.

This means fewer static drills and more dynamic problem-solving. Fewer commands, more questions. And always, always tying moments back to the Game Model and Key Qualities.

As player assessments approach, let’s remember: evaluation is not about labeling players—it’s about identifying where they are in their journey and how we can best support their next steps.

Use the Key Qualities to frame your assessments. Consider:

• What has this player learned over the course of the season?
• How have they responded to adversity or new challenges?
• How well do they understand and apply our Game Model principles?

The more specific, objective, and learning-focused your observations, the more helpful they become for player development. Assessing “game understanding” isn’t easy—but when you break it down into observable actions, it becomes clearer.

Here are a few ways to build game understanding in training this month:

• Use scanning prompts (e.g., “What did you see before that pass?”)
• Run conditioned games that reward good decision-making
• Design constraints that connect to Game Model behaviors
• Encourage self-assessment—ask players to reflect on their decisions

For more guidance, revisit:

• Age Group Learning Plans (send request to access) for tactical objectives within our Game Model

Parents and guardians play a powerful role in this process. Instead of focusing on goals scored or games won, ask your player:

“What did you learn today?” or “What was the hardest part, and how did you respond?” or “What was the most fun part of today?”
Helping young athletes reflect on their game understanding builds self-awareness, resilience, and long-term love for the game.

As we close out the spring season and begin the player assessment process, let’s recommit to what matters most: growing players who see, think, and play with intention. Game understanding is our foundation—not just for performance, but for shaping lifelong learners of the game.

If you’d like support in designing training sessions that build game intelligence or using Key Qualities in your evaluations, reach out or explore the Learning Management System. Our staff is here to help.

Let’s keep growing together.

-ZC

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) serves approximately 10,000 players ages three through 19, beginner to elite, in year-round leagues, camps, and tournaments. As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CRYSC has been named a top 15 youth soccer club in the U.S. by Soccerwire and the top youth soccer club in Colorado by Colorado Parent Magazine. CRYSC’s mission is to provide an environment where young soccer players from diverse backgrounds are guided and inspired to reach their full potential, both on and off the field.

This May, Colin will be presented with a plaque and a gift card to acknowledge his achievements. We met with Colin to learn a bit more about him. Check out the full interview below!

What influence has soccer had in your life?

Playing soccer has taught me how to work hard and be a team player. It’s helped me grow not only as an athlete but also as a person, teaching me how to overcome challenges as a team.

Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?

I think I was nominated this award because I stay positive, encourage my teammates, and try to be a leader on and off the field.

What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?

I love the community and competitive environment of the club. My coach pushes me to be better every day, and my teammates make me feel welcomed.

What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of sticking with soccer throughout the years and developing various skills along side my teammates, who I’ve gotten to become close to throughout my years in the CRYSC program.

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

I’m proud of achieving excellent standardized testing scores while still being able to balance playing soccer.

How do you think your teammates would describe you?

I think my teammates would describe me as dependable and willing to help. I try to keep my team’s energy up no matter what.

What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?

During a tournament, one of our opponents got injured, and I helped make sure they got off the field safely. It reminded me that sportsmanship matters more than the score.

What’s your favorite soccer player and team?

My favorite team is the Colorado Rapids.

What do you hope to pursue in the near future?

I hope to study mechanical engineering and eventually work in designing renewable energy systems.

Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!

My coach inspires me because he always emphasizes discipline, hard work, and respect.

What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?

Outside of soccer, I enjoy spending time being active—whether that’s skiing with friends are going to the gym. I also enjoy digital art and traveling.

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.

As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.