The 2023 Rock Cup is the perfect post-season, spring competition for all recreational and competitive teams!

With 450+ teams joining us in 2022, we’re excited to welcome back our Colorado soccer community for another great spring Rock Cup!

Follow the tabs to find more information on the 2023 Rock Cup.

General Event Details & Critical Event Timeline

Teams should register and play according to the 2023 Spring season. We will follow US Soccer’s Age Group Guidelines based on birth year. Returning in 2023 is the Jamboree format for all 6U to 8U teams!

• GOLD DIVISIONS – CSA P3, Elite, & Platinum Teams
• SILVER DIVISIONS – CSA Gold, Silver, Bronze + Rec teams interested in a challenge!
• BRONZE DIVISIONS – CSA Recreational Teams Only!
• Division breakdown is an estimate and the specific levels of teams who register in each age group will determine where teams are placed.
  • Example: If there are not many CSA P3 & Elite teams, then CSA Gold teams will likely be placed in the Gold Division.

The Registration Timelines:

• Early Bird Registration ends on April 21st, 2023.
• Registration Fee Increase: This will occur on April 21st, 2023.
• The FINAL Deadline will be on April 28th, 2023.
  • Teams waitlisted will be notified no later than by April 28th, 2023 of their acceptance into the event.

**The $100 discounted rates will increase to normal pricing for all registrations received AFTER April 21st, 2023.**

Acceptance Process:

• Acceptances will begin after January 1st, 2023!
• If your team is traveling for this event, please reach out directly to check the status of your application.
• We can accommodate early acceptances for traveling teams to help them plan their trips by accepting teams sooner.

Payment Process:

• Payment is NOT processed when you register or when you are accepted.
• Teams can pay their own fees online through the following steps:
  • Log into GotSport and click on “Team Management”, then “Registrations”.
  • In “Registrations”, click on the team name next to “Rock Cup”
  • In the registration pop-up, at the top click on “Billing”.
  • In “Billing”, click on “Pay Now” next to “TOTAL BALANCE”.
• All payments MUST be completed before May 12th, 2023!
• Any unpaid fees will be charged to the card on file on May 15th, 2023.

Bracket Release & Schedule Expectations:

• Tournament Brackets:
  • Brackets will be released to teams on: April 28th, 2023
  • Placement will be based on the questions you answered in the application as well as your GotSoccer ranking and league standings.
  • Please ensure to answer all questions HONESTLY and ACCURATELY.
• Ranking Process:
  • Once registration is closed, teams in each age group are ranked numerically, starting with 1.
  • Rankings are based on:
    • The difficulty of your League Schedule (I.e. what division you are in)
    • Most recent League Standings & Records (I.e. how well you did in that league)
    • Future team placement by CSA (I.e. if CSA is moving you up or down)
    • League Goal Differential (I.e. Helps differentiate teams in similar league standing)
    • Questions answered within our Application Process
  • Once rankings are complete, teams are seeded in groups based on their rankings in a “Snake” placement order.
    • 6-Team Group Example: Group A = 1, 4, & 5  |  Group B = 2, 3, & 6
    • 8-Team Group Example: Group A = 1, 4, 5, & 8  |  Group B = 2, 3, 6, & 7
  • This is the standard ranking procedure for top youth sports tournaments across the country.

• Tournament Schedules:
  • Schedules will be released to teams on: Monday, May 8th, 2023.
  • Teams should play to avoid any scheduled activities throughout this weekend.
  • When registering, please recognize the commitment that is made by registering for a tournament where games can be played at any time throughout the weekend based on your age group’s facility and schedule.
  • FRIDAY: SOME teams may have games on Friday between 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM. Our DSGP facility does have lights.
  • SATURDAY: ALL teams should anticipate 1 (If you played on Friday) or 2 games between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM
  • SUNDAY: ALL teams should expect to play at least 1 game between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM
  • SUNDAY FINALS: Finals will start around 11:00 AM and will conclude before 6:00 PM, depending on which division you are in.

The Rock Cup | Facility Information

Expected Locations for Age Groups:

• 3V3 GAMES – Gates North Complex (ALL GAMES)
  • 7 x 3V3 Fields
• 5V5 GAMES – Gates North Complex (ALL GAMES)
  • 4 x 5V5 Fields
• 7V7 GAMES – Multiple Facilities
  • Gates North Complex – 10 x 7V7 Fields
  • DICK’s Sporting Goods Park – 4 x 7V7 Fields
• 9V9 GAMES – Multiple Facilities
  • Gates South Complex – 12 x 9V9 Fields
  • DICK’s Sporting Goods Park – TBD x 9V9 Fields
• 11v11 Games – DICK’S Sporting Goods Park (ALL GAMES)
  • TBD x 11V11 Fields

Expected Game Times For The Rock Cup:

• Friday, May 19th, 2023
  • 3V3 – NO GAMES
  • 5V5 – NO GAMES
  • 7V7 – Some Local Teams from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
  • 9V9 – Some Local Teams from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
  • 11V11 – Some Local Teams from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
  • If you specifically want a Friday night game, please reach out and make a request! 
• Saturday, May 20th, 2023
  • 3V3 – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • 5V5 – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • 7V7 – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • 9V9 – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • 11V11 – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Sunday, May 21st, 2023
  • 3V3 – 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • 5V5 – 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • 7V7 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • 9V9 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • 11V11 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Check-In & Roster Verification Process

New features in GotSport have created an improved process to certify rosters and check teams that will save time and effort for team managers, administrators, and tournament staff alike! Click the button above for a full walk-through with video tutorials on every step you’ll need to take to complete your registration and get ready to play on day 1!

Rapids South & Central competitive team: Club Admins will complete roster verification for you!

Recreational Team Roster Approval Process 

• All Recreational Teams

• • You will submit A club-verified PDF roster ONLINE in your registration.
  • You will NOT build your roster online in GotSport’s Roster Builder. 
  • Bring 4 (FOUR) printed copies of your roster to Check In.
  • Bring 1 (ONE) printed copy of your roster to every game.
  • Click HERE to watch – “How to Upload Your Roster PDF After Registering”

• All Recreational Teams WILL NEED to upload the Medical Forms into GotSport:
  • All CRYSC teams do NOT need to submit forms as we already have your forms on file.

Competitive Team Roster Approval Process

• Build your Event Roster in GotSport’s Roster Builder.
  1. • All teams must build their roster within the GotSport Roster Builder located in your team’s Event Roster tab in your GotSport Account.
     • You can add and subtract players, coaches, etc., through this system.
     • Click HERE to watch – “How to Build Your Team Roster in GotSport”

• Upload Medical & Guest Player PDF Documents into your GotSport Registration.

1. • Medical Forms & Guest Player forms should be uploaded as PDF documents.
   • Medical forms MUST be collated into ONE file. They can not be uploaded one form at a time.
   • Click HERE to watch – “How to Upload Your PDFs After Registering”

• Wait For Your Approved Roster to Be Approved & Emailed to you!

1. • Once you have uploaded the roster, Tournament Staff will approve rosters. 
   • Once verified, it will be given an “Official Stamp of Approval” and emailed to your team’s coach, manager, and other staff listed.

• Prepare your players for a fun weekend!

1. • Before your first match, you must check in at the “Check-In Tent” at your facility, where you will play your first game.
   • You will need to show proof of access to all forms via electronic access (PDF)
     • Save PDF files to your phone as backups! (Google Drive, Apple Files Drive, Etc.)

GotSport recently launched their new software and over the past year have made a number of new upgrades to their GotSport 2.0 System. If you need help, please go to the link below and search for a help article!

In the button above you will find articles that can assist you with…

1. Building Your Roster

2. Adding Guest/Club Pass Players

3. How to Upload Documents

4. How to Update Your Profile

…Any many, many more of your easily-answered questions! You are just a few clicks away from the help you need! 

If you still need assistance, please feel free to choose between the options below:

1. Submit a Support Request on GotSport by clicking the BLUE “SUPPORT” Button on the GotSport website.

2. Contact us directly through email by CLICKING HERE!

Weather, External Conditions, and Cancellations

Regardless of weather conditions (unless for safety reasons), players and coaches must be on the field at the scheduled time, ready to play. The Tournament Director has the authority to reduce the length of matches due to weather conditions before the start of a match; all such matches will be considered official. The Tournament Director may also reschedule (time and location) a match before it begins. Only referees or the Site Director can suspend a match that has already started due to weather conditions. 

All matches that reach halftime will be considered final per Tournament Director if a delay is longer than 30 minutes. For example, a match is 1 second into the 2nd half, and the home team leads 1:0, lightning strikes, and the game is considered over. 

Lightning/Severe Weather Delays

1. Should a storm begin to threaten the event, state-of-the-art radar (WX Sentry) will be used to determine the storm’s distance and any lightning strikes that may be within a 10-mile radius.
   • Only Air to Ground strikes will be calculated. Air to Air strikes will not. 
2. If a lightning strike within a 10-mile radius occurs, games to be temporarily stopped, and teams must return to their cars.
3. Event Staff will initiate a stoppage in play at the location with ONE (1) long horn blast.
4. Once a singular long horn is sounded, all referees, coaches, and teams are to immediately stop their games and instruct all teams to leave the field and wait until the “all-clear”.
5. *Teams are to check Rapids Twitter and your emails for real-time updates.*
6. A “Waiting Time” of 30 minutes without a strike of lightning must be observed before the teams can safely return to the facility.
7. An “all-clear” signal will be signified with THREE (3) short burst horn noises. Once you hear this, it is safe to resume play and enter the fields.
8. If the “Waiting Time” exceeds 60 minutes, games will be ended at their time of stoppage if more than 50% of the game has been completed.
9. If less than 50% of a game has been completed, Staff has the authority to:
   • Allow the game to complete the first half and call it final at halftime. 
   • Cancel the game and award points based on a points-averaging scale.

Extreme Heat Scenarios

• In the event of extreme heat above 90* (Turf Fields = 85*), referees will implement hydration breaks midway through each half of the match. 
• The game clock will continue to run, and time will not be added. 
• In the event of a temperature above 95*, halves may be shortened for player safety.
• Decisions will be made jointly by the Tournament Director and Referee Site Coordinators. 

Rescheduling Policy and Potential Scenarios

1. Game Times Shortened:
   • If games are delayed by more than 30 minutes, Tournament Staff reserves the right to shorten game halves by up to 20 minutes:
     • 45 Minute Half = 25 Min half
     • 40 Minute Half = 20 Min half
     • 35 Minute Half = 15 Min half
     • 30 Minute Half = 10 Min half
     • 25 Minute Have = 10 Min half (Max 15 Minutes)
   • If less than 50% of a game was completed, Tournament Staff has the authority to:
     • Let the game complete the first half and call it final at halftime. 
     • Reschedule the game to a new time.
     • Cancel the game and award points based on a points-averaging scale.
2. Games Cancelled Are Rescheduled to the AM or Later in the Evening
   • If games are delayed by more than 30 minutes, Tournament Staff reserves the right to reschedule incomplete or canceled games to times later in the day or first thing the following morning.
   • Same-Day Reschedule: 
     • If all games on this day end earlier than 1 hour before dark or if we have fields with lights, this game could get moved to the end of the day (6:00 PM or later). 
     • If time allows, the game will restart at the same spot and finish out the entire time frame of the match. 
     • If time is short, 5 minutes will be given to finish the first half, and then teams will play a 25-minute second half (or as long of a half that time allows)
   • Next-Day Reschedule:
     • The game can be moved to a 7:30 AM kickoff the following day and play an additional 5 minutes of the first half and the second half of 25 minutes to complete the game before the first round of games at 8:30 AM

Cancellation Refund Agreement

For a tournament in progress (dates of the planned event), in the event of rain, snow or acts of God, the tournament director reserves the right to reduce game times and numbers of games.

• Refund Structure is as follows:
  • 100% refund – if the tournament is canceled in its entirety due to COVID-19. 
  • 80% refund – if the event is canceled entirely due to weather or any other external forces. 
  • 60% refund – If only 1 game is played of the 3 guaranteed games. 
  • 30% refund – If only 2 games are played of the 3 guaranteed games. 
• No refund is given if:
  • A team withdraws after tournament registration closes on April 28th, 2023.
  • A team decides to forfeit a game, giving them less than the guaranteed minimum of played games. 

Colorado Air Quality Monitoring

• Due to the ever-present threat of mountain forest fires, referee assignors on site will monitor the air pollution levels if necessary. 
• A process has been developed to average 3 separate Air Quality Indexes to create an average. 
• Should the AQI rise to 150 or higher, games may be shortened by up to 10 minutes per half.
• Should the AQI rise to 200 or higher, games will be delayed or canceled immediately and attempted to be rescheduled based on the rescheduling policy above.

We are partners with Traveling Teams!

TRAVELING TEAMS is pleased to partner with Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club to provide trusted hospitality services for the Colorado Rapids Tournament Series. For over 20 years, TRAVELING TEAMS has proudly served youth sports as the nation’s leading event housing partner.

*ALL TEAMS IN NEED OF HOSPITALITY BOOKINGS MUST USE TRAVELING TEAM SERVICES* 

Benefits of Booking Though Traveling Teams

• Competitive hotel rates with price ranges that can satisfy all participants and families alike.
• All members of a team will remain together in close proximity to the venue.
• We seek to provide hotels that cater to teams including complimentary breakfast and other amenities.
• A dedicated Team Travel Coordinator as well as a full-service call center is provided to handle all of your booking necessities.
• Ability to work with hotels in unfortunate event cancellation situations due to weather

For questions, please reach out to our good friend Michael McGill at Traveling Teams through the contact information below:

Michael McGill – Senior Account Manager

Work: (866) 468-3268 x8884

Mobile: (248) 513-2912

Fax: (800) 920-7023

Email: [email protected]

*National Referee Shortage*

All events, leagues, and organizations across the country are experiencing a shortage of referees. Please understand that our club is doing everything in its possible power to support our local referee association and ensure quality officials are at our events.

Want a “better” referee? Sign up for classes, study hard, and YOU can be the change!

**Under NO circumstances are spectators, coaches, or players allowed to verbally or physically abuse referees. This shortage does have a direct correlation to the poor treatment of youth soccer referees across the US. Any unacceptable behavior will result in your removal from our facilities.**

CSA Referee Administration

• Esse Baharmast – Director of Referees
• Deanna Duncan-Allen – Administrative Registrar

Colorado Referee Committee:

• Neal Fausset, State Referee Administrator / State Youth Referee Administrator
• Denise Duran, State Director of Instruction
• Younes Marrakchi, State Director of Assignment
• Eric Bryan, State Director of Assessment

Referee Disciplinary Committee:

• J. Kirk McGill
• Megan McCain
• Tom Widera
• [email protected]

REGISTER & START YOUR U.S. SOCCER CERTIFICATION TODAY!

Download these PDFs as a reference to understand the online coursework:

Instructions for Referee Candidates under age 18

Instructions for Referee Candidates age 18 and over

Have problems with your course? Check out this FAQ:

https://ussoccerfederation.force.com/lcsupport/s/article/Progress-Saving-Issue