This August, 621 teams from 6 states, 10,000+ players, and over 21,000 people descended upon Colorado to play 1,025 games, score 4,621 goals, and win 92 trophies at the 2023 Rapids Classic! Check out the sights, sounds, and some special moments from the tournament in our brand new #CRYSCRapidsClassic video above (click here or the thumbnail), or follow the links below to view the full photo album from the weekend and a recap from the fields on our Instagram story.

"This year’s Classic has again been crowned as Colorado's largest youth soccer tournament! Our mission to be the premier tournament destination for all levels of youth soccer teams across the western US would not have been possible without each and every player, coach, and team that joined us. Seeing the quality of teams increase year after year, not just the quantity of teams, has been our main priority from the start. Congratulations to all our champions, and we wish all teams the best of luck in their Fall 2023 season!” - Marcus Owerko, CRYSC Tournaments Director

We hope to see you at another CRYSC event soon and invite you to check out our fall tournament series schedule below. Discover the perfect fall tournament for your team, and sign up today!

6 years of bringing together Rapids teams from across 100+ miles of the Colorado Front Range to prep for the new season! The Fall Friendlies are a chance for our players to build culture, make connections, and sharpen their skills before kickoff in September. Thank you for joining us and GOOD LUCK to all of our teams this season!

CRYSC hosts annual tournaments for players ages 6U-19U, from beginner to elite. Attracting regional and national competitions, CRYSC tournaments offer a unique experience for players, parents, and coaches. Whether your team is looking for their first tournament experience or wants to hit the ground running against premier opposition, Rapids Youth Soccer has an event that fits every niche you may be looking for! Click here to view a chart breaking down the ages and levels offered at CRYSC tournaments in 2023.

Get ready to enhance your soccer skills in an exciting new way! Introducing Rapids Youth Futsal, our fastest-growing program focused on developing high-intensity, high-level players to compete on the court with the best in the world. We're gearing up for our fourth season as the most comprehensive futsal program in Colorado and want YOU to be a part of this journey.

Tryout registration for the 2023/24 season closes September 8, so this is the LAST CALL to register your interest to play!

• What? Rapids Youth Soccer 2023/24 Futsal Tryouts
• Who? 8U-18U (2016-2006) Boys and Girls | Tryouts are open to advanced-level players. Elite experience is highly encouraged.
• When? September 10, 17, and 24, 2023
• Where? Berce Athletic Center at Regis University | 3333 Regis Blvd, Denver, CO 80221
• Cost? $75 fee for access to all 3 days of tryouts. Future expenses for players include 2-5 required travel events (depending on team placement) and season training costs.
• Schedule? To be released one week before the event.
• Contact? Elite Futsal Admin, Christie Hurt | christie.hurt@rapidsyouthsoccer.org
• Deadline? Friday, September 8, 2023, at midnight MST

Follow the first link below to register via PlayMetrics or the second link to view the information guide sent out in August!

Introducing the CRYSC mini-pitch complex at Gates South! This state-of-the-art addition is set to revolutionize soccer practices, offering an ideal training ground for players of all skill levels. The excitement is palpable as coaches, players, and supporters envision the countless hours of productive practice sessions that will unfold on these high-quality fields!

"Stepping onto the nation's largest mini-pitch complex is an experience that transcends the ordinary. It's not just a collection of pitches; it's a testament to our commitment to fostering a new era of play, camaraderie, and shared passion. This complex is more than a destination; it's the embodiment of our vision to inspire the next generation of athletes, uniting them in the joy of the beautiful game." - Aaron Nagel, CRYSC Executive Director

Read more about the new mini-pitches at Gates South on the CRYSC blog page by following the link below!

Don't miss a second of Rapids Youth Soccer, Rapids Women, and Rapids Youth Futsal this season by following us on social media! Our social channels are the best way to find videos and photos from the fields, important information on upcoming events, live tournament updates, Player of the Month coverage, action-packed highlights, and so much more. Rapids Youth Soccer on social media is your online forum for celebrating the moments that matter to us as #OneClubOneCommunity!

When we choose to be part of CRYSC, we become part of a community that abides by certain standards of conduct to create a positive environment for players to grow. As the fall season gets underway, it’s always a good thing to remind ourselves and our other Rapids companions of our commitment to the club’s Let Us Play philosophy.

When taking the field this fall, let’s continually renew our commitment to Let Us Play! Take the Let Us Play Pledge here and check out the Pledge & player testimonial videos too– they’re powerful! In addition, each time you’re on the field and see Let Us Play signage, let it serve as a reminder of our role as positive, civil spectators who provide players with the encouragement and ‘head space’ they need to become masters of their on-field decision-making.

CRYSC international tours are a great way for players to experience soccer through the lens of a different culture! From playing local competitions, experiencing different environments, and seeing new sights, there’s so much to be gained from expanding one’s horizon and taking your game abroad. We encourage anyone looking for an unforgettable opportunity focused on travel and soccer to sign up for the perfect trip with CRYSC International!

The sign-up period is quickly coming to a close for our CRYSC competitive players to secure their spot on our 2024 International Trips. Follow the link below for an overview of our upcoming trips to England, Scotland, Spain, Costa Rica, and Germany / the Netherlands!

In this August blog, CRYSC College Placement Program Director, Anthony Presnell, provides a one-stop-shop information guide for players heading into the fall season! Check out fall presentation details, resources for recruiting, survey opportunities, and more by following the link below.

SportsRecruits Information 2023: All high school players have been provided with a FREE account on the SportsRecruits platform that will allow them to set up an athletic and academic profile, search for potential colleges, create and host highlight videos, and communicate directly with any college soccer coach in the country!

The Rapids College Placement Program recommends that student-athletes and their families take advantage of this opportunity by completing their profile with an updated photo, GPA, jersey number, email, and graduation year!

CRYSC offers athlete assistance in the college recruitment process through the CRYSC College Placement Program (CPP) starting their freshman year in high school. This free service helps teams and individuals with player profiles, video development, online support guides, college communication, and understanding of college timelines. The CPP provides players with the opportunity to take their education and game to the next level.

If you want to get involved or have questions about the program, please contact Anthony Presnell at anthony.presnell@rapidsyouthsoccer.org or visit the college soccer page on the CRYSC website!

This August, CRYSC hosted hundreds of players at our elite summer camps! THANK YOU to everyone who attended, and we can't wait to see how you'll take the skills you've picked up at camp into the fall season.

Check out videos from our camps this August by clicking the thumbnails above. The first video shows highlights from our Elite Residential camp and the second video shows highlights from our Pre-season Day camp!

The Rapids Success newsletter section highlights moments throughout the past month that have been shared with our social media team! The section above doesn't always capture the full scope of success across the Club, so we encourage you to send in your content by emailing us at social@rapidsyouthsoccer.org.

Congrats to Clayton Thomas on being named the UCHealth Player of the Month award for August 2023!

Clayton plays left midfield / forward for our Rapids 06B ECNL team, where his teammates and coaches know him as a hard worker and role model for aspiring young leaders. Off the field, Clayton is an exceptional student at East High School, maintaining a 4.8 GPA and making the Principal’s Honor Roll, all while maintaining a busy training schedule.

Read more about Clayton in our Player of the Month profile by following the link below!

In this August blog, CRYSC's Director of Mental Performance Katie Pagel examines how teams create and build upon team culture as a key ingredient to a high-caliber season.

"Team culture has a massive impact on every level of a team’s functioning; it determines and directs a team’s focus, establishes norms for acceptable behavior, lays the groundwork for managing conflict, and directly influences athlete growth, enjoyment, and performance." Read more by following the link below!

With ACL tears and knee injuries rising, our partners at UCHealth Steadman Hawkins have put together an extraordinary injury prevention warm-up program that should be done before practice and games as a team!

The whole program only takes 7 minutes, can be incorporated into your team’s dynamic warm-up, and will give lasting benefits to help prevent knee injuries in our athletes. Check out the follow-along, printable poster for 7U-12U and 13U and up athletes. If you would like a laminated copy of either, please reach out to our Head Athletic Trainer at julie.graves@rapidsyouthsoccer.org, and Julie will get you taken care of!