Welcome to Rapids Elite

About Rapids Elite

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club Elite programs consist of the Boys and Girls Elite Club National League (ECNL), ECNL Regional League (ECRL), National Premier Leagues (NPL), Rapids Pre-Elite U11/U12, Futsal, and United Soccer League – Women’s (USL-W).

The goal of each of these programs is to provide an environment that is player-focused, provides a high level of competition, and helps prepare them for the next step in the player pathway.

The player pathway can look very different depending on the player, however, it is our goal to assist and provide an environment that allows each player to achieve whatever that next step may be for them — whether this is playing in college, playing professionally, or simply playing for the love of the game.

Our Rapids Elite players practice and play games at our Elite Performance Center at Regis University, which includes two turf fields, a grass field, and a dedicated futsal facility.

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The Process

Participation in the CRYSC Elite Program(s) is invite only. Evaluating players for our elite teams is an ongoing, year-long process. Current CRYSC players are constantly being evaluated and placed on a team appropriate to their development. We also scout league games, host local and regional evaluation sessions, watch high school games and bring players in to train with our current teams.

Prior to each elite program’s season start, we hold kickarounds. These are generally held in April and May ahead of the following season. These are made up of current elite team players and others who have been invited by Elite Program staff. Contact our Elite Programming Staff with any further inquiries and to find out about kickaround dates. Or simply complete the Interest Form on the specific program page: Boys ECNL, Girls ECNL, or Pre-Elite 11s/12s.

Elite Pathway

pathway update

College Placement Program (CPP)

The Colorado Rapids College Placement Program (CPP) assists players and their families with the college athletics recruiting process. The CPP will foster and develop relationships with university and college programs to create a consistent avenue for our players to achieve their goals of attending college and playing soccer. Because many of our elite level players will choose to continue their career onto the college level, our College Placement Director will help navigate the college selection process through online resource guides, quarterly workshops, ACT/SAT test prep program and assisting with Sports Recruits.

Uniforms

Rapids Youth Soccer partners with Soccer.com for all uniform needs. Elite players will receive an email from Soccer.com with a link to order the uniform at the beginning of each season. Our Elite uniforms operate on a two-year cycle.

It is important to note that uniforms are NOT included in registration costs.

The Rapids Youth Soccer Elite kit includes two match jerseys, two match shorts, two pairs of socks, training shirt, training shorts, training socks, training jacket, training pants and a backpack.

On your personalized ordering page it will show your name and jersey number. Right above your name are three tabs; Uniform Kit, Recommended and Fan Wear. Nothing under the Fan Wear tab is part of the uniform kit, they are extra items.

The items below are optional for our Rapids Elite 11s/12s:

  • Maroon Adidas miTeam 19 Track Jacket
  • Grey Adidas miTeam 19 Track Pant
  • Maroon Adidas Striker II Team Backpack

 

For instructions on how to order uniforms, please visit the CRYSC uniform page.

Elite Refund Policy

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club Elite programming follows a strict no-refund policy. Once you and your player accept an invitation for a Rapids Elite 11U/12U, ECNL, EDS, or Futsal team, and make a payment, all registrations are non-refundable. The refund policy is in place for a reason. It allows us to budget appropriately and provides coaches, facilities, administration, and additional resources that are necessary to run a non-profit youth sports organization.

If your player tries out and is invited to join a United Futsal team, and is later placed on a training team only, you may opt not to participate in the program and receive a refund of your initial registration fee. 

The club may, however, in its sole discretion, consider refund requests under the following: (1) a player moves more than 50 miles from a Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club region prior to the start of the season, (2) a player becomes injured or ill and can no longer participate in the season, or (3) any other exigent circumstances the club deems necessary or appropriate. Please note that in order for refund requests to be considered due to injury, such requests must be made within two weeks of the player’s injury/illness and must include a physician’s note for verification. No refunds will be provided for any reason after the third scheduled game of the season. All refunds, if granted, are subject to a processing fee.

Any travel expenses, including plane tickets, transportation, accommodations, coaches’ travel expenses, and coaches’ per diems purchased for team travel are non-refundable.

Elite Program Staff Members

Staff Member

Title

Contact

¿Habla
Español?

Katie Johnson

Elite 9U-12U & Camps Administrator

[email protected]
720.295.0751

No

Katie Johnson

Elite 9U-12U & Camps Administrator

Originally from Park City, Utah, Katie was a competitive soccer player herself for many years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Texas A&M University and went on to teach high school mathematics and become department chair. She lived abroad in Australia, where she met her now husband, before landing in Colorado in 2009. Most recently, she has been developing Calculus curricula to support teacher efficacy. She has several years of history and involvement with the Rapids community as a coach for her own two children at Rapids, Team Manager, Team Treasurer and volunteering for various team opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, travel, camping, quilting, and seeking out new local restaurants. She is passionate about fostering growth for students and athletes alike and is dedicated to promoting the core values of CRYSC.

Habla Español?: No

Ryan Rademacher

Elite 11s/12s Boys Director

[email protected]
719.377.3979

No

Ryan  Rademacher

Elite 11s/12s Boys Director

Ryan and his wife are moving to us from Houston, Texas. He grew up all over the country before his family settled in Wisconsin.  Ryan attended St. Mary's University of Minnesota majoring in mathematics while playing collegiate soccer. His coaching journey began in New York primarily in the coaching education and the Pre-Academy at New York Red Bulls. He spent 3 years coaching within the Orlando City Development Academy before taking an MLS Next Director role at Total Football Club in Houston. Ryan has numerous friends and family in the area and if anyone ever is looking to offload their Broncos, Nuggets or Avalanche tickets, let him know!

Habla Español?: No

Maryn Beutler

Director of Elite Performance Analysis - Elite

[email protected]
719.394.3347

No

Maryn  Beutler

Director of Elite Performance Analysis - Elite

Maryn Beutler is originally from Bend, Oregon where she played youth soccer for Oregon Rush and collegiately at the University Oregon. Her coaching career began post collegiate play, when she became a Head Coach with the Eugene Timbers Soccer Club, while also taking on the role as a Graduate Assistant for the Women’s Soccer Program at the University of Oregon. After two years as a GA with the Ducks, Maryn became the Assistant Coach at Western Oregon University and was heavily involved in coaching and director roles within the Thorns ODP program.
Beutler was a midfielder for the University of Oregon from 2012 through 2016, playing in 78 career matches while scoring eight goals. Of her eight goals, five were game winners. At the close of her career, Beutler ranked sixth in program history in career games, tied for seventh in game-winning goals and was ranked ninth in shots. She was named PAC 12 Conference player of the week and holds Honorable Mention honors over her 4 years of competition.
Maryn holds her USSF C License and is a Certified Instructor and Consultant with Equilibria in Sport. She is currently the Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach at MSU Denver.

Habla Español?: No

Daniel Agnew

Boys Director - Elite

[email protected]
719.401.0470

No

Daniel Agnew

Boys Director - Elite

Originally from Northern Ireland, Daniel's playing experience started with Ballymena United Football Club within the Northern Ireland Football League's (NIFL) professional development phase before moving to Ashford University, a nationally ranked men's soccer program in Iowa. Daniel has worked from grassroots to elite youth, holding numerous roles throughout his eight years with the Colorado Rapids, spanning four Regions of the Youth Club and the Major League Soccer (MLS) Academy. He plays an integral role in identifying and developing the best young players in the State of Colorado for a seamless transition to play at the next level, both regionally and on the national stage. A lifelong student and true soccer enthusiast, Daniel's dedication to education on and off the field is reflected in his master's degree and continued professional development across multiple governing bodies, including UEFA and USSF. He was selected in the 2023-24 class of the United Soccer Coaches 30-under-30 program, an education and mentorship opportunity designed to support up-and-coming members of the coaching profession who are 30 years of age or younger, leading the way in developing soccer players and enhancing the game.

Habla Español?: No

Diego Cerro

Director of Recruitment & Development

[email protected]
719.394.8854

Diego Cerro

Director of Recruitment & Development

Habla Español?:

Joey Vella

Director of Goalkeeping - Elite

[email protected]
719.359.5802

No

Joey  Vella

Director of Goalkeeping - Elite

Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Vella began his college playing career at Palomar College in San Marcos, CA before transferring to Chico State University and playing his final two years for the Wildcats. Following his college playing career, Joey spent two years with the San Diego Flash in the NPSL.
Joey began coaching in 2017 with the Colorado Rapids Youth Academy as a Goalkeeper staff coach. After spending two years with the program he moved onto FC Boulder as their Director of Goalkeeping. In addition to that job he is also the Boulder Region Director with the Core Goalkeeping Academy and is the Goalkeeper Coach for the Women's program at Regis University. He has earned his Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches.

Habla Español?: No

Jen Metz

Elite Programming Administrator

[email protected]
719.357.9747

No

Jen  Metz

Elite Programming Administrator

Jen is a Colorado native who grew up playing soccer. She graduated from Colorado State University with a BS in Business. She has worked in youth soccer for eight years and has been with CRYSC since 2019, primarily as an administrator. Since 2020 Jen has also served as the conference delegate for the Mountain Conference of the WPSL League, which the Colorado Rapids Women are part of. In 2021 the Colorado Rapids Women were crowned Mountain Conference champions and were also awarded with Franchise of the Year honors. She enjoys getting to work with such a great group of directors and coaches and for having the opportunity to create a positive experience for our members!

Habla Español?: No

Sebastian Giraldo

Regional Technical Director / Interim Girls ECNL Director - Elite

[email protected]
719.301.0742

Sebastian  Giraldo

Regional Technical Director / Interim Girls ECNL Director - Elite

Sebastian is originally from Pamplona, Colombia and has spent time with soccer clubs in Michigan, Texas, and Tennessee. He holds a Ph.D. in Elite Athlete Development from the University of Texas-Austin and a US Soccer A License. He also works with US Soccer Coach Education and is involved with several research initiatives examining elite youth soccer athletes and coach education.
Sebastian comes to Rapids Youth Soccer from US Soccer where he operated as a Coach Education Instructor on USSF Licenses and Grassroots Courses across the country. Additionally, he brings a wealth of experience from club-level, where he has held multiple positions in education and coaching methodology at San Antonio City SC and South Texas FC. Sebastian’s high-quality coaching background includes time spent in the ECNL, GA, ODP, and as Head Coach of USL League Two club Corpus Christi FC. At CRYSC, he will be using his experience and understanding of the youth soccer landscape to enhance and support the development of Central staff, coaches, and players.

Habla Español?:

Roxy Kamal

15U-19U Girls Director - South

[email protected]
719.357.9173

No

Roxy  Kamal

15U-19U Girls Director - South

Coach Roxy Kamal comes with years of soccer and futsal experience as both a coach and a player. She was a four-year scholarship athlete at San Jose State University where she was a two-year captain and led her team to a WAC Championship in 2009. Roxy played for two local futsal clubs in the Bay Area winning multiple Regional and National titles and was a member of the U.S. Futsal Women’s National team in multiple international events including the AMF World Cup in Colombia in 2013, the Pacific Cup in Australia in 2014 and played in the  Women’s Futsal Cup in Spain in 2015. \r\n\r\nShe currently holds a U.S. Soccer “B” License, has a Master’s in Sport Management and has been a Technical Director and DOC in several Bay Area soccer clubs before starting her own Futsal club in 2014 - Gamer Futsal School. She has also been the head coach of the U.S. Futsal Women’s National team for the past six years, leading the team to a Pacific Cup Championship in 2016 and an IFA Women’s World Cup Championship in 2017.

Habla Español?: No

Jeff Oleck

Elite Regional Manager and Director of International Partnerships

[email protected]
303.834.7328

No

Jeff  Oleck

Elite Regional Manager and Director of International Partnerships

Jeff Oleck has been with Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club since 2016. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the majority of his coaching development took place on the college side of the game at schools such as Northwestern University, Valparaiso University, and Wabash College. While involved in the college game, he also served youth programs as a coaching/goalkeeping director at Team Evanston, NWI United, Dynamo FC, and Indiana ODP. His passion for coaching comes from a desire to help each player find themselves, both on and off the field, and use soccer as a vehicle to enhance life experiences and personal growth. Oleck graduated from Valparaiso University in 2006 with a B.A. in Biology with a Business Administration minor. He also earned a M.S. in Sports Administration from Valparaiso University in 2011. He holds the USSF National “A” License and the USC Advanced National Goalkeeper Diploma.

Habla Español?: No

Rommy Ferreira

Elite Director of Futsal

[email protected]
303.720.6827

Rommy  Ferreira

Elite Director of Futsal

Rommy Ferreira’s love for the game goes back many years when he started playing as a young boy in Brazil. At the age of 17 Rommy graduated from Sport Club Recife Futsal academy. He the pursued his professional career in Brazil and Europe. After a knee injury, Rommy turned his love and passion for the game into a successful and extensive coaching career in the US. Rommy moved to the United States in 2008, Starting in New York City, he then moved to Connecticut working with the elite Everson Futsal Academy as Futsal Director until 2017. Following new opportunities, He moved to Boca Raton Florida, joining The Joga Bonito Futsal Academy. Rommy married his Wife Bridget in 2014 and together they have an almost two year old little boy, McKinnon James, along with a wild mostly crazy pup, Benny.

Habla Español?:

Christie Hurt

Elite Futsal Administrator & Travel Coordinator

[email protected]
719.401.1278

No

Christie Hurt

Elite Futsal Administrator & Travel Coordinator

Originally from North Dakota, Christie and her husband, Kyle, have made Colorado their home for the last 20+ years. She has her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, Master's Degree in Special Education and Principal licensure. She spent 19 years serving Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools as a Teacher, Dean, Assistant Principal and Principal before stepping away to stay home with her three kids. When the kids are not in school they are very active in the sports community. The boys play ice hockey and her daughter plays soccer for the CRYSC. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, going to the dog park with her two dogs, and volunteering in the community.

Habla Español?: No

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Address: 111 Havana St, Aurora, CO 80010, #120
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8am to 5pm

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 303.399.5858 ext 212

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