Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC), one of the nation’s largest and most trusted youth soccer organizations, offers international, educational soccer tours for CRYSC membership. These international soccer trips include fully customized itineraries, access to world-renowned youth academies and facilities, and an opportunity for players, coaches, and families to expand their horizons while being immersed in a soccer culture.
Trips will be offered for players across all five regions of the Club. Competitive & Elite Program members will have access to a composite, club-wide trip at every age group from 11U through 19U, with each tour targeting a unique international soccer destination. In addition to club-wide travel offerings, individual teams from any region, age, program, and level can work with the Director of Club and International Partnerships, Jeff Oleck, to create their own custom trip experience encompassing the destination, dates, and purpose that best fits the team. The role of the Director of Club and International Partnerships is to provide members with a seamless experience from trip sign-up to tour departure.
Jeff Oleck is CRYSC’s residential international traveler and former Director of Goalkeeping. Jeff has planned and overseen dozens of international trips for soccer players, alongside his passion project as a core representative for Field of Dreams Uganda – a non-profit organization that provides hope, empowerment, and a future to the vulnerable children in Uganda through the vehicles of soccer and education.
Director of Club & Intl. Partnerships
USSF “A” License
Traveler, 23 Countries Visited
Jeff.Oleck@
303.834.7328
| Competitive Age Group | Destination* | Travel Dates | Registration Deadline |
| 2012 (12U) BOYS | London & Manchester | March 8-16, 2024 | November 8, 2023 |
| 2012 (12U) GIRLS | London & Manchester | March 15-23, 2024 | November 15, 2023 |
| 2011 (13U) BOYS & GIRLS | Edinburgh, Scotland | July 26 – August 3, 2024 | March 27, 2024 |
| 2010 (14U) BOYS | Barcelona & Madrid | March 8-16, 2024 | November 8, 2023 |
| 2010 (14U) GIRLS | Barcelona & Madrid | March 15-23, 2024 | November 15, 2023 |
| 2009-2008 (15U-16U) BOYS & GIRLS | Costa Rica | January 12-19, 2024 | September 13, 2023 |
| 2007-05 (17U-19U) BOYS & GIRLS | Dusselldorf & Amsterdam | June 6-14, 2024 | February 6, 2024 |
| *click link for sample itinerary |
Usually held 8-10 months prior to travel. Review of the itinerary, education about fundraising and payment plans, and registration opens.
Registrants will receive a $150 discount if they register within 10 days of the trip meeting.
Once registered, individuals can take advantage of the Gift of Sport or Manchester United Raffle fundraising resources provided by WorldStrides Sports. Teams/groups can also facilitate their own fundraising in their local regions and communities. Click here to view the WorldStrides Fundraising Guide!
Trip registration will close 120 days prior to the departure date. This allows WorldStrides Sports to finalize ticketing, tours, hotels, and soccer content.
CRYSC Coaching staff will facilitate training sessions prior to departure in order to familiarize players with one another. Pre-Departure meetings will be held to finalize the itinerary, review packing list, and answer any questions from participants.
“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.”
Ryan & Elaine, Rapids South Parents, Ireland ’22
“Playing against elite youth in England was eye-opening. The physicality and intensity were like nothing our boys had seen before. There’s only so much you can learn in a week on the pitch, but what really stuck with him was how good you have to be to continue to play at an elite level. It was humbling, yet amazingly beneficial. Even three years later, we still talk about the stadium tours, the scrimmages, the landmarks, the hotels, the friends and the fun we had.”
Robert & Christina, Rapids Central Parents, England ’19
“I thought the trip was an amazing experience and truly was a great time playing the sport I love with some of my close friends. I feel this trip brought me closer to my teammates and fellow Rapids members and made me a better player.”
Noah B., Germany 2023, Participating Player
“My daughter and her teammates thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Spain. They trained and played competitive games against Spanish teams. Combining soccer and tourism was a fantastic way to spend our spring break.”
Sean O., Spain 2023, Participating Parent
“The soccer-centric activities and tours are what makes this tour. We got to experience the extreme depths of football culture. Our experience included professional matches, touring incredible stadiums (some state of the art), and playing a few teams whose love of the game will match your player’s passion for the sport.”
Sara W., England 2023, Participating Parent
“I believe international experiences like this open the eyes of the players to a world outside their comfort zone. It will certainly develop them as soccer players, but more importantly, it will develop them as people.”
Miguel R., Spain 2023, Participating CRYSC Staff
“Our 2022 summer trip to Ireland was a life changer not only for my son but also for me. We saw firsthand the passion for soccer, history, and culture during each stop along the way. The behind-the-scenes access was incredible! I had been to Ireland before but this was an entirely different and deeper experience. Seeing my son’s jaw drop at not only the level of soccer talent but also the national and natural treasures have left a lasting impression on him. I personally loved getting to know the families better and seeing them on the sidelines today is a whole different ball game. Most importantly, the bonds the boys formed having traveled and played internationally will pay them dividends for a lifetime!”
Greg B, Rapids South Parent, Ireland ’22
“This was an amazing trip. It was very well organized and had a great mix of soccer and sightseeing. The tour directors were fantastic, fun, and very knowledgeable. The coaching staff were fun, friendly, and so good with the boys. My son loved it. Overall, it was the experience of a lifetime and I’m so glad we went. “
Ryan H., Germany 2023, Participating Parent
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!
Through the week of March 20th, 77 Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club players, families, and staff traveled to Spain, where they took a similar path to the boy’s group the week before - but had their own unique experiences and created their own special memories in Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Madrid.
This March 11-19, 88 CRYSC players, parents, and coaches descended upon Spain for a week full of soccer, culture, and soccer culture! Learn more about the boys trip and experience abroad in this #CRYSCInternational recap blog!
Our Rapids 2011 Girls visited England for eight days this past March. They went to London, Manchester, and Liverpool on their trip, taking in various aspects of English soccer and culture. Learn more about the girls trip and experience abroad in this #CRYSCInternational recap blog!
This March, our Rapids 2011 Boys visited England. On their trip, they went to London, Manchester, and Liverpool. While our boys were heavily immersed in English soccer, they also got to experience English culture, food, and history. Learn more in this #CRYSCInternational blog!
This June and July, the Rapids 10B South Select team visited Ireland and Northern Ireland to travel around the countries, play against local competition, and immerse themselves in a new soccer culture!
What was I doing in Spain? Coaching of course…because #soccerislife
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It was a cool experience, one I am thankful for. International coaching was a bucket list item of mine. Proud to represent the Rapids Youth Organization. Being the first team to get an international win was pretty awesome, too 😉.
#oneclubonecommunity #soccercoach #soccer #soccerlifestyle #worldstrides #soccerlife #scoregoals #coachinglife #rapidsyouthsoccer #international #bucketlist #teamashley #teamwork #headcoach #cryscinternational
Our very own 09B Select players Nick W., Connor B., and Sawyer H., traveled to Spain with rapidsyouthsoccer and worldstridessports for a #CRYSCInternational experience last month! ⚽️
As part of a larger Rapids 2009 Age Group, they spent time in Barcelona and Madrid sightseeing and of course playing futbol!
The teams played three scrimmages against local clubs and attended a pro training session with RCD Espanyol coaches.
What a great experience for our kiddos! 🤩
#rapidsfc #rapidsyouthsoccer #worldstrides #heartbehindthecrest
☘️✈️☘️ Our Rapids 10B South Select team landed in Ireland this week for an overseas adventure where they will get to experience soccer in a new culture!! Safe travels & enjoy the trip guys! #CRYSCInternational #OneClubOneCommunity
✈️🇩🇪📰 NEW BLOG ➡️ cry.sc/Germany-23
In January, 33 of our Rapids boys had an amazing opportunity to travel to Germany, immersing themselves in German culture & soccer! Stay tuned for more #CRYSCInternational trips this year! #OneClubOneCommunity
✈️🇪🇸📰 NEW #CRYSCInternational BLOG ➡️ cry.sc/Spain-09G
In March, 77 players & family members from our Rapids 09 Girls teams visited Spain, creating amazing memories in Barcelona, Zaragoza, & Madrid!
#OneClubOneCommunity
✈️🇪🇸📰 NEW #CRYSCInternational BLOG ➡️ cry.sc/Spain-09B
In March, 85 players & family members from our Rapids 09 Boys teams visited Spain, experiencing rich culture, learning new styles of play, & taking in sights like Camp Nou & Civitas!
#OneClubOneCommunity
📰‼️📰 The CRYSC February Newsletter is out now, featuring spring rec registration, Summer College ID event info, a recap of the #CRYSCInternational trip to Germany, spring break futsal camp opportunities, & more! Check it out 👉 cry.sc/February-23
#OneClubOneCommunity
🇮🇪🤝🇺🇸 A HUGE thank you to Linfield F.C. Academy, @ballymenaunitedya, & @shamrockroversofficialacademy for hosting our Rapids 10B South Select team in Ireland & Northern Ireland!! An unforgettable experience - the boys had an absolute blast! #OneClubOneCommunity #cryscinternational
In collaboration with Regional Technical Directors and Coaching Directors, the travel dates for each age group take into consideration: soccer season rhythm, tournament & showcase conflicts, destination pricing, destination’s soccer season rhythm, and minimizing school absences. We understand that trip dates will not perfectly fit everyone’s individual schedule, but by announcing trips 8-10 months in advance we hope that players & families can plan ahead for any missed school, soccer, or social events.
Depending on the trip registrations from each team, there may be opportunities for players from different team levels to be combined in order to form a viable travel & playing roster. Our goal will always be to create the most competitive roster for enjoyment and parity.
Yes! Teams that have an interest in traveling as a group may work with the Director of Club and International Partnerships to create a custom trip for their team. We encourage the team to survey the desire amongst the team 10-12 months prior to potential travel dates so that plenty of time can be allocated to designing the itinerary and fundraising.
Yes! Upon registration for any of our trips, participants will have access to their online travel portal which contains the “Gift of Sport” fundraiser and the Manchester United Raffle. Both avenues allow players to keep 100% of funds raised and apply it to their trip costs. Players & Teams can also create group fundraisers prior to travel and use the WorldStrides “Fundraising Guide” as a resource for ideas.
Absolutely. Upon registration, only a deposit is required and then families can decide to set up a payment plan from the options provided HERE.
