Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club introduces the Elite Academy League (EAL) to Castle Rock!
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) is excited to announce the addition of the Elite Academy League (EAL) to our boys player pathway in the Castle Rock region. Starting this fall, 13U-19U boys (born between 2012-2006) will have the opportunity to join an Elite Academy League team with Rapids Castle Rock and compete in the Southwest Desert Conference against local and national advanced-level competition.
Established in 2020, the Elite Academy League is dedicated to nurturing top-tier players within a club’s elite structure. Introducing the EAL to the CRYSC player pathway will provide players with a new elite platform in Castle Rock to enhance their development and create opportunities for exposure through regional and national competitions.
“We are excited to begin our journey within the Elite Academy platform. Offering a stage for our boys to showcase their abilities and challenge themselves is part of our long-term strategy to become a destination youth soccer club.” – Joe McNab, Castle Rock Technical Director.
The Elite Academy League comprises 86 member clubs representing the top elite competitive organizations within their respective markets. These clubs have demonstrated exceptional standards and will provide a high level of competition for our inaugural Rapids EAL teams. The league aims to uphold the collective standard of elite clubs nationwide and ensure the competition remains at the forefront of youth soccer.
At its core, the Elite Academy League is driven by a mission to provide a national platform characterized by standards-based competition. This platform empowers clubs to deliver comprehensive developmental models and pathways alongside top-tier competition and exposure. The league’s vision is to lead the youth soccer landscape by offering Elite Academy clubs the opportunity to shape their experience and drive the development of the sport in the United States. Through this league, CRYSC will expand the elite pathway to help more of our athletes thrive in the competitive arena.
Rapids Youth Soccer is thrilled to welcome the Elite Academy League to our Castle Rock region in 2024. This move underscores our commitment to fostering excellence and providing our members with unparalleled opportunities for improvement and achievement. We look forward to watching the EAL program grow at CRYSC and further develop soccer talent in our community.
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club Elite programs consist of the Elite Club National League (ECNL), ECNL Regional League (ECRL), National Premier Leagues (NPL), Rapids Pre-Elite U11/U12, Futsal, United Soccer League – Women’s (USL-W), Elite Academy League (EAL), and Development Player League (DPL). To learn more about these programs, click here to visit the Rapids Youth Soccer Elite page on our website!
