How long have you been a part of Colorado Rush COS?

I've been part of the club now for the past 4 years. What originally attracted me was the club's clear commitment to tactical and technical development of teams and players. What's sustained my attraction is really the relationships that I've developed and the support that is given, particularly by the technical director, to all of the coaches across the program. And of course the relationships with the families, the parents, and the players within the team.

What has been your favorite experience at the club?

I don't have one particular moment that stands out. I have lots of moments in the overall journey, and some of those moments have been pretty spectacular. I've been with the same team for the last 4 years, and when we started with this team, we were in the elite division and promoted through to Premier 3, and we now find ourselves in Premier 1.

I think looking back on the moments of adversity, the difficulties that we've had to encounter and overcome as a team, and the huge moments of growth that we've seen across the players in the team and the team as a whole, is really what makes the whole four years so special. And of course, when you look at the details of each day and each week, there are many ups and many downs, but the culmination of those ups and downs and the ways in which the team and the players on the team come together to address the difficult moments in particular and then celebrate and enjoy the successes, that's what's made the overall experience so special.

How has the club impacted you as a coach?

I think the experience of being with the club for the last 4 years has definitely helped me to grow as a coach. It's helped me to improve my coaching practice. It's helped me to keep fresh, I think, in terms of the drills, the activities, the functional aspects of the practice that I run. Seeing what other coaches are doing, speaking with and securing the support of the technical director, and then my own self-reflection on kind of what has worked well and what's not worked so well and what could be improved. I think the continuity, kind of the sustained involvement over 10-11 months, 3 practices a week. It's really helped me to grow individually in my coaching, but I think it has also helped to grow the relationship with players, the relationship between the players, and obviously grow them technically and tactically, as soccer players. But you know, also help them to mature and grow as boys, as young men.

What stands out about the club's facilities, scheduling, or communication?

I think what really stands out is the lengths that the technical director in particular Mark Carrasco, will go to to support his coaches, his families, and his boys. He's really committed, I think, to doing the right thing for players, team, and coaches. And sometimes that can be difficult to reconcile those different interests, and I think Mark does a tremendous job at that, and he's a real, kind of standout feature and a real big reason why I've stayed involved for as long as I have.

Would you recommend Colorado Rush to a friend or colleague?

I would recommend the club to family, friends, and colleagues. I think the club does have a laser focus on the tactical and technical development of its players. I think the club has done some terrific work in getting in place some really high quality coaches that are developing real high quality coaching sessions. And like I said, I think the technical director has proven himself to be a superb support for everybody involved in the club. Families, players, and coaches.

How long have you been a part of Colorado Rush (Springs)?

We moved to Colorado Springs when I was in 3rd grade because my dad is in the military, and we've been here for 3 years. I was just happy to find a new team, and most times you move, you can't really find a good team, but here I found my family, my friends, and my home. I started playing soccer when I was 3 in rec in Texas and we were called the Starburst and then we moved to Kansas. I don't think we played soccer there, but we played in Oklahoma. We moved there after Kansas, and then we moved here.

What has been your favorite experience at the club?

I think the funnest part about being in this club... Rush is going to the tournaments, and most of the time we stay in a hotel together, and we have a lot of fun memories there like the pool and ding dong ditching. It's just great memories, and I also love the progression of our team. We've started from bronze and moved all up to platinum.

How has Colorado Rush impacted you as a player?

When I first came here to Colorado Springs, I joined Rush, and I did not know anything about club soccer. I played rec, and I joined competitive soccer, and I didn't know any formation. I didn't know the skills. But coaches along the way, the training has made me more skilled and competitive. It's bringing my soccer IQ higher up, and one really fun thing that we do is we do a juggle challenge each year, and it really is fun for me because I put in the work every day, and it just brings my intensity up to want me to work every day.

How has Colorado Rush impacted your life off the field?

Rush has helped me have a better character because they have core values and yhey've helped me be a better student, they've helped me be a better sister, a better child, a better person. They're really important, and I think that they value a lot in my life and a lot in soccer.

Would you recommend this club to another player or family considering joining? Why?

I would recommend Rush to any soccer players out there in Colorado Springs because Rush, like the coaches here, helps individual players if they're good or not, and they help bring your skills up, they help bring your personality up, they want you to be confident, not scared, and not overwhelmed with all the pressure on you. And also, I think that the coaches here are just amazing, and you can find family here, home, friends.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their journey with Colorado Rush?

The advice I would give to someone just starting in Rush would be to be kind to your teammates. Show up to practice and games with intensity and be brave. Don't be scared if you're wrong and just have fun.

What makes Colorado Rush different from other clubs you have been at?

I think Rush is better than most other clubs because their coaches and their assistants don't focus on the best players; they focus on every single individual player. If they're good or bad, they still get their skills up, they help them, and that's really important in soccer.