By offering a wide range of programs for players of different ages and ability levels, athletes have the opportunity to continue their growth and gain an edge on their competition before the spring 2023 season. Sign your player up today to guarantee a spot at the right camp for their enjoyment and development this winter season - space is limited and filling fast!

Follow the link below and search your region + the winter season + your player's age group to see camps available near you. New features this year are the ability to search for camps by name using the search bar and to see where the camps are located on the integrated maps!

Recreational & Elite Futsal Camps: Starting this December, Rapids Youth Soccer and Regis University will bring youth players across the state brand new opportunities out on the courts with THREE distinct winter futsal camps! Utilizing smaller spaces / team sizes and indoor collegiate courts to provide an unmatched player experience, 9U-14U players are invited to join our Winter Break Camp, MLK Day Camp, and/or President's Day Camp this December - February!

Elite Futsal Leagues: As part of the Rapids Elite experience and made possible by our new partnership with Regis University, we are excited to announce the debut of Elite winter futsal leagues this November for 9U-14U boys and girls! Rapids Elite winter futsal leagues feature 7 weeks of intensive, high-level play for advanced athletes looking to improve their game over the winter months. Elite players are invited to develop technique and skill in a premier environment this November - January (Winter League Session 1) or January - March (Winter League Session 2).

Winter Futsal Invitational Tournament: Colorado’s first 11U/12U premier futsal tournament kicks off this Thanksgiving break, November 25, 26, and 27, at our home for Elite youth soccer, Regis University! Teams from ages 11U to 12U are invited to test their futsal skills against the best competition in the state and join a tournament focused on fun, high-level play, and creating a competitive environment after the fall season concludes.

Over the course of their travels, the 08B EDS team played 9 games against some of the top professional academies in Argentina, including Boca Juniors, Banfield, Velez Sarsfield, and more. The trip was led by Argentina native and Rapids Youth Soccer Club’s Director of Recruitment & Development, Diego Cerro, who was able to provide our players with direct insight into how competitive, historic, and passionate these clubs are and how their players have dedicated their lives to the sport. Read more through the link below!

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. We encourage anyone looking for an unforgettable opportunity focused on travel and soccer to sign up for a tour with CRYSC international!

“Once again, it was great to see John in his element speaking to coaches and mentoring us all on our coaching journeys. Like players, every coach has a diverse set of needs and experiences, and it’s impressive to witness John’s ability to deliver relevant content for everyone. Specifically, John’s ability to highlight the core facets of CRYSC’s player development plan as essential to any young person’s growth within the context of soccer was powerful. John inspires all of us as coaches to know our players, let them lead, and create a game realistic environment where players feel safe to take risks and be brave.” - Let Us Play Director, Brian Sheehan.

Big Wave Jamboree | 1-Day, October 9 | FINAL DAY TO REGISTER!

Spend the day with your CRYSC community playing soccer, having family-fun, learning at coaches education events, and more at Big Wave Jamboree 2022! This October jamboree is hosted at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park and welcomes 6U-12U Boys & Girls Rec teams, as well as coaches seeking a day of education opportunities. In 2021, renowned speaker John O'Sullivan joined us for a discussion on coaching, how we relate to our players, and how we can better help them grow! Click here to check out photos from last year's event.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are calling on our CRYSC community to show support by wearing pink this October 22! The 22nd is a Saturday when our teams will be out on the fields, but teams can support the cause any time this month. Send in your pics and videos to social@rapidsyouthsoccer.org with the name of your team (ie. Rapids 10B South Burgundy II) to feature in our next newsletter or on social media! #WearItPink

Beyond a love of soccer and youth sports, participation on the CRYSC board involves a minimum of a 2-year term, with at least four (4) in-person meetings per year (2-3 hours per meeting), plus occasional special sessions and virtual discussions. For more information, or to submit an interest form, please click here or follow the link below! The deadline to submit your interest is October 31.

"As the college soccer season reaches the later parts of its season, coaches begin to shift their attention back to recruiting. The dates and information in this guide highlight important opportunities for players and parents to ensure they are prepared for the next phase of their recruiting process."... read more by clicking here or following the link below!

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 their 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 would like 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 through the link below!

Congrats to Alex Gallimore on winning the UCHealth Player of the Month award for September 2022!

Alex plays for our Rapids South 08B Select I and Champions League, Premier I teams as a center-midfielder. He's known by his teammates as an exemplary Rapids player who always showcases a positive attitude on the pitch. Alex consistently works to improve all areas of his game and is often selected by coaches to lead the team in practices and on matchday. Overall, Alex has shown dedication to improving on and off the field, the ability to build trust with teammates, and the desire to grow in his role by always asking for feedback from his coaches. Read more by clicking here or through the link!

The form to nominate athletes for our October UCHealth Player of the Month is open and available to fill out through the link. Monthly winners will be featured in the newsletter, highlighted on social media, and have their story hosted on the UCHealth Player of the Month page. We can't wait to learn more about the amazing people playing at CRYSC!

"When an injury occurs you are losing out on practice and time to improve your technique in your sport. The body part needs to heal completely before gradually starting a return to play program so that re-injury doesn’t happen. A lot of the time, this can be avoided with proper injury prevention techniques and education.”... read more by clicking here or following the link below!

Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members. Find out more about the CRYSC Sports Medicine Program and our partnership with UCHealth by visiting our website through the link below! For questions or concerns related to sports medicine, please reach out to the CRYSC Head Athletic Trainer Julie Graves at julie.graves@rapidsyouthsoccer.org.

"Suicide, while massively important, is a tough topic; it isn’t one that people itch to discuss. It’s uncomfortable. It’s scary. For many of us, it’s personal. I know that is the case for me, which is why - no matter how many times I write on suicide - it still hurts. It’s still hard. The cost of not writing, reading, and talking about it, though, is far too high." Read CRYSC Mental Performance Director, Katie Pagel's blog post by clicking the link above or below + check out the video for a bit of inspiration from your friends at Rapids Youth Soccer!

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Please note that the content of this blog may be triggering; if you need to step away, or read it with the support of a loved one, please do so.

CRYSC is committed to building psychologically safe, growth-oriented, high-performing soccer environments for all of our athletes, coaches, families, and fans to thrive in and enjoy. A part of that commitment is to provide resources that our community can use to assess real world situations. Check out the Sport Psych webpage to learn more about the department and view mental health resources!

Congratulations to our 08G ECNL's Brooklyn Smith on being invited to play in the US WYNT 15U ID Camp in Chula Vista, CA. Brooklyn joined 60 of the nation's best players to train and play at the highest level of youth soccer in the US.

LAST CALL FOR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO TOMORROW'S RAPIDS GAME! Help us celebrate our Fan Appreciation Night and the final home game of the 2022 regular season with access to discounted tickets as your Colorado Rapids take on FC Dallas this Saturday, October 1 at 1:30PM MT!

Bring your friends and family to join us in celebrating the most important part of the team: the fans! The afternoon matchup will feature giveaways, celebrations and more, all in appreciation of the dedicated Rapids fans who supported the Burgundy Boys all season.

If you have any questions or need assistance when purchasing, please contact Mario at 303.727.3743 or Mario.Castro@teamkse.com. I’ll look forward to helping out and seeing you at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park for Fan Appreciation night this Saturday

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer bingo sessions are back! Volunteer at two local bingo halls, as part of the Club's fundraising program. We are proud to offer these unique opportunities for our members to offset registration fees, tournament/travel expenses, and other CRYSC soccer-related expenses through volunteer fundraising programs.

The health and safety of our member families is of foremost importance to the Club. Both Turn 2 and Barry's Bingo are taking extra measures to ensure the safety of the Club's staff and volunteers. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Bingo administrators directly. You can find more bingo information and all Rapids Youth Soccer fundraising opportunities by visiting the fundraising page on the CRYSC website.

If you are looking for more content from CRYSC including sports medicine guides, deep-dives into sports psychology, and articles on past events like our Guinness World Record Award winning FootGolf tournament in 2018, you can find all of that and more on the CRYSC blogs page! We recommend taking a look back at 2021 for an entertaining recap of the numbers and statistics that defined Rapids Youth Soccer Club last year.