About Elite Clubs National League (ECNL)

The ECNL was founded in 2009 as a challenge to the status quo of youth soccer, with a vision to be better. In its first years, the league supported only girls programming, but that changed in 2017, with the addition of a Boys ECNL program.

ECNL is the top level of competition and player development in the country. Each step was fueled by a shared commitment to elevating the youth soccer experience.

Today, the ECNL represents the epitome of excellence in youth soccer, for boys and girls, as the league and its clubs, players, coaches, and everyone involved seeks to constantly “Raise the Game” for the future.

Rapids Youth Soccer focuses on being one of the top elite programs in the country and supporting Colorado youth to reach the highest levels of the game. Our ECNL teams train and play at our Elite Performance Center at Regis University.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GIRLS ECNL
LEARN MORE ABOUT BOYS ECNL
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Year-Round Calendar

With the addition of the Elite Performance Center @ Regis University, we are taking our programming another step further with wholistic development year-round, which includes:

  • A fully built out training schedule for the full year far in advance;
  • Classroom education sessions for players and coaches;
  • Integration of futsal training;
  • Position-specific training;
  • Individual player development plans;
  • Performance coaching; and
  • Video and data analysis

Elite Performance Center

The Rapids Youth Soccer Elite Performance Center @ Regis University will be located at Regis’s historic Northwest Denver campus. Through this partnership, CRYSC Elite programming will gain access to:

  • Match-fit natural grass field;
  • Two indoor futsal courts;
  • Classrooms with state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment;
  • Auditoriums for player, coach, and parent education and meetings;
  • Two offices on campus for Elite staff (Clarke Hall);
  • On-field concessions;
  • Locker rooms, when necessary;
  • Residential dorm housing; and
  • On-site food options.

Player Expectations

Joining an ECNL Team with the Rapids Youth Club is a commitment. It is a commitment of time, money, dedication and respect. We ask that all players who are invited to join an ECNL team follow the player expectations below:

  • Attend all team trainings, meetings, tournaments, and events
    as dictated by elite coaching staff
  • Commit to ECNL team from August through June of the following year, following a 10 month training and competition curriculum
  • Maintain financial responsibility and pay team fees
  • Allocate significant time and energy to the technical, tactical,
    mental, and physical growth as a player both in a structured
    training setting and independently
  • Represent Rapids Youth Soccer with respect and humility
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Additional Services

A personalized player development tool for each elite player that initiates ongoing communication between head coach and player based on the CRYSC Player Development Plan and pathway. Each Rapids elite player will now have transparent access to a personalized development plan, allowing them to better understand and take ownership of their own personal development with the support and guidance of our professional coaches.

This position is dedicated to providing support in the areas of athletic performance, injury prevention, rehabilitation from injury (return to play), as well off-season training/fitness programs for our elite players. Using sports data and testing through Loden Sports, this Director will also include baseline athletic performance standards into each player’s Individual Development Plan.

The Rapids Elite program will have a dedicated Video & Data Analyst in our program focused on providing support, analytics, and feedback to teams and individuals based on the CRYSC Player Development Plan and Rapids Actions. Each CRYSC ECNL (13U-19U) player will have full access to a personal/team HUDL account, as this will be another valuable tool used in our individual and team development plans.

The Colorado Rapids College Placement Program (CPP) assists all players and their families with the college athletics recruiting process. The program includes standardized test prep, admission and application information, communication development, and financial aid information. The College Placement Director’s role is to help parents and players navigate the college selection process through online resource guides, quarterly workshops, ACT/SAT test prep program, and assisting with Sports Recruits.

In coordination with our new Futsal Director and access to brand new futsal courts in the Berce facility, we will use Futsal as an additional development tool by integrating it into our weekly and off-season programming options.

Individual Player Development Plans

A personalized player development tool for each elite player that initiates ongoing communication between head coach and player based on the CRYSC Player Development Plan and pathway. Each Rapids elite player will now have transparent access to a personalized development plan, allowing them to better understand and take ownership of their own personal development with the support and guidance of our professional coaches.

Sports Performance Coach

This position is dedicated to providing support in the areas of athletic performance, injury prevention, rehabilitation from injury (return to play), as well off-season training/fitness programs for our elite players. Using sports data and testing through Loden Sports, this Director will also include baseline athletic performance standards into each player’s Individual Development Plan.

Video & Data Analyst

The Rapids Elite program will have a dedicated Video & Data Analyst in our program focused on providing support, analytics, and feedback to teams and individuals based on the CRYSC Player Development Plan and Rapids Actions. Each CRYSC ECNL (13U-19U) player will have full access to a personal/team HUDL account, as this will be another valuable tool used in our individual and team development plans.

College Placement

The Colorado Rapids College Placement Program (CPP) assists all players and their families with the college athletics recruiting process. The program includes standardized test prep, admission and application information, communication development, and financial aid information. The College Placement Director’s role is to help parents and players navigate the college selection process through online resource guides, quarterly workshops, ACT/SAT test prep program, and assisting with Sports Recruits.

Futsal Programming

In coordination with our new Futsal Director and access to brand new futsal courts in the Berce facility, we will use Futsal as an additional development tool by integrating it into our weekly and off-season programming options.

Rapids Youth Soccer =

Meet CRYSC’s Head Athletic Trainer Julie Graves

Julie Graves is Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club’s first, full-time Head Athletic Trainer. As a Colorado native, Julie has been around sports her entire life. She was a gymnast until ninth grade, and then pursued being a Student Athletic Trainer throughout high school until she graduated from D’Evelyn High School in Lakewood, CO. Julie attended and graduated college at Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training. She then moved to southern California to attend Azusa Pacific University for graduate school. As a graduate assistant, her main sports were men’s soccer, women’s water polo, and men and women’s tennis. Her favorite sport to work with was the men’s soccer team. After earning her Master of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Studies, she moved back to Colorado and was offered the Assistant Athletic Trainer position at Colorado Christian University. She worked with all 15 sports at CCU.

In March 2016, Julie was hired on with University of Colorado Health and CU Sports Medicine as the Head Athletic Trainer for Colorado Storm to build a Sports Medicine Program for the elite soccer club. Julie has now joined the CRYSC through the club merger with Storm. In her spare time, Julie loves exploring all the beautiful places Colorado has to offer and trying new Denver restaurants. She is also an avid Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan!

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ECNL Program Staff Members

Staff Member

Title

Contact

¿Habla
Español?

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Mark Harrison

Elite Boys Director

[email protected]
720-213-8363

No

Mark Harrison

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Elite Boys Director

Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Mark brings over a decade of experience in leadership and player development. Most recently, he served as MLS NEXT Director and Boys ECNL Director with ALBION Colorado. With more than 10 years along the Front Range, Mark has established deep connections within the Colorado soccer community and a proven track record of developing players and coaches. His leadership roles with ALBION Colorado, Boulder County United, FC Boulder, and Trebol Soccer Club helped shape long-term player development pathways across multiple levels of the game. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports and Exercise Science from Cumberland University, where he excelled as a student-athlete, earning multiple All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors. He also holds a USSF A-License, serves as a USSF B Course Educator, and brings an international perspective through Scottish FA Youth Badges 1–4.

Phone: 720-213-8363

Habla Español?: No

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Brittain Rademacher

Pre-Elite Girls Director & Elite Girls Goalkeeping Director

[email protected]

No

Brittain Rademacher

Unnamed 14

Pre-Elite Girls Director & Elite Girls Goalkeeping Director

Originally from Upstate New York, Britt played at East Stroudsburg University and in the WPSL before starting her coaching career with the New York Red Bulls. She went on to lead goalkeeping and assist at Montverde Academy, winning two Florida State Championships, and served as Goalkeeping Director at Houston Dash Girls Academy from 2021–2023. Britt has also coached at the WPSL and USLW levels, including with the Colorado Rapids Women (2023) and currently with the Colorado Storm USLW team.

Phone:

Habla Español?: No

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Anthony Presnell

Director of College Placement Program (CPP)

[email protected]
719.357.9137

No

Anthony Presnell

Ap

Director of College Placement Program (CPP)

Anthony joined The Rapids in 2018. Prior to joining the club Anthony served as the Men’s Assistant Coach at Regis University where he was a part of multiple NCAA national tournaments appearances and was nominated as the National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014. Along with his 10+ years of college coaching experience Anthony has worked with various clubs in Colorado and Arizona, Region IV ODP, Colorado ODP, Arizona ODP as well as time spent as a Boys High School Coach where he was the 3x Coach of the Year. He currently holds the USSF National “A” License, various USC Diplomas and is pursuing the U.S Soccer National Scouting License. Anthony resides in Denver, CO with his wife Meghan and their two boston terriers, Tusox and Pierre.

Phone: 719.357.9137

Habla Español?: No

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Daniel Agnew

Elite Technical Director

[email protected]
719.401.0470

No

Daniel Agnew

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Elite Technical Director

Originally from Northern Ireland, Daniel's playing experience started with Ballymena United Football Club within the Northern Ireland Football League's (NIFL) professional development phase before moving to Ashford University, a nationally ranked men's soccer program in Iowa. Daniel has worked from grassroots to elite youth, holding numerous roles throughout his eight years with the Colorado Rapids, spanning four Regions of the Youth Club and the Major League Soccer (MLS) Academy. He plays an integral role in identifying and developing the best young players in the State of Colorado for a seamless transition to play at the next level, both regionally and on the national stage. A lifelong student and true soccer enthusiast, Daniel's dedication to education on and off the field is reflected in his master's degree and continued professional development across multiple governing bodies, including UEFA and USSF. He was selected in the 2023-24 class of the United Soccer Coaches 30-under-30 program, an education and mentorship opportunity designed to support up-and-coming members of the coaching profession who are 30 years of age or younger, leading the way in developing soccer players and enhancing the game.

Phone: 719.401.0470

Habla Español?: No

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Jen Metz

Elite Programming Administrator

[email protected]
719.357.9747

No

Jen  Metz

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Elite Programming Administrator

Jen is a Colorado native who grew up playing soccer. She graduated from Colorado State University with a BS in Business. She has worked in youth soccer for eight years and has been with CRYSC since 2019, primarily as an administrator. Since 2020 Jen has also served as the conference delegate for the Mountain Conference of the WPSL League, which the Colorado Rapids Women are part of. In 2021 the Colorado Rapids Women were crowned Mountain Conference champions and were also awarded with Franchise of the Year honors. She enjoys getting to work with such a great group of directors and coaches and for having the opportunity to create a positive experience for our members!

Phone: 719.357.9747

Habla Español?: No

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Jeff Oleck

Elite Regional Manager & Director of International Travel

[email protected]
303.834.7328

No

Jeff  Oleck

Jeff oleck 1

Elite Regional Manager & Director of International Travel

Jeff Oleck has been with Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club since 2016. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the majority of his coaching development took place on the college side of the game at schools such as Northwestern University, Valparaiso University, and Wabash College. While involved in the college game, he also served youth programs as a coaching/goalkeeping director at Team Evanston, NWI United, Dynamo FC, and Indiana ODP. His passion for coaching comes from a desire to help each player find themselves, both on and off the field, and use soccer as a vehicle to enhance life experiences and personal growth. Oleck graduated from Valparaiso University in 2006 with a B.A. in Biology with a Business Administration minor. He also earned a M.S. in Sports Administration from Valparaiso University in 2011. He holds the USSF National “A” License and the USC Advanced National Goalkeeper Diploma.

Phone: 303.834.7328

Habla Español?: No