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Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids Announce Youth Development Plans

May 31, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


Commerce City, CO (Thursday, May 31, 2007)- The Colorado Rapids announced plans today for an extensive youth development initiative that will begin this summer that includes the formation of U17 and U16 teams that will compete in the Super-Y League.

Beginning in June, the Rapids Academy will field U16 and U17 teams in the Rocky Mountain Division of the Super-Y League. Tryouts for the teams will be held on an invitation only basis. Players born in 1990, 1991 and 1992 will be eligible for these teams.

The Rapids will partner with Colorado Youth Soccer and invite all players selected to the final Olympic Development Program Pools in these age groups to be a part of the player pool. Players not affiliated with Colorado Youth Soccer will be accepted into the tryout upon recommendation of a professional coaching staff member, high school coach, or through an evaluation by a Rapids Academy staff member. The schedule for the league will allow players to continue playing with their existing clubs in regional and national cup competitions as well as enabling them to participate in ODP Regional Camps.

In accordance with NCAA regulations, all players will be considered amateurs and will not be provided with any non permissible expenses.

The Rocky Mountain Division of the Super Y League will feature teams from the Rapids Academy, Kansas City Wizards, Real Salt Lake, RSL-Arizona, Boulder Force and the Colorado Rush (U-17 only). Competition for the league will start in early June and will be completed in the second week of August.

The Colorado Rapids have hired Brian Crookham as their Director of Coaching for the Rapids Academy. Crookham spent the last three years overseeing Colorado Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program and was the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Metro State College in Denver for the nine years prior to that. Crookham holds a USSF "A" License and serves as an instructor for US Soccer's National Coaching schools as well as for US Youth Soccer's Region IV coaching staff. Crookham has also served as the color analyst for Rapids television broadcasts on Altitude Sports and Entertainment since 2004.

In the coming weeks the team will announce the details of the training program that will meet the requirements of Major League Soccer's new Youth Development Initiatives.

For more information please contact the Rapids Academy Staff at 303.727.3576.

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