How long have you been a part of Colorado United?

I've been with the club since summer 2022. My family and I, we moved from Denmark to Colorado and as my wife was busy looking for schools for the kids, I found it even more important to look for soccer clubs for the kids. And I did my research across various clubs that I could find online and Colorado United stood out to me on paper, just having the exact right values. And, as well as the training program of all levels from rec to the highest competitive levels with national platforms as well. I literally drove out, and met with the club. I met with the then and still COPA director, Felipe, and we talked for a while and I just fell in love with the club immediately. The passion inside the club and the commitment to develop players while still having the right environment, a holistic approach to what soccer actually can do. So, I signed myself up as a coach immediately and I signed my kids up to play in the club and I've been coaching all levels ever since. Started coaching rec, been coaching competitive and elite camps in competitive as well. Love coaching and love being at United.

What has been your favorite experience at Colorado United?

I want to give a couple of examples of my favorite moments as a coach. I think one that really stands out is I was coaching in rec and at the end of the season, the team was moving on in different directions, and one father came over to me and he said, Morten, do you have any idea how much it has meant for my son to be on your team? The environment you have put together and the comradeship and team spirit, as well as the individual growth on the field has given my kid so much that he's a different person in school. He's a different person with his friends. He really has excelled from what we have done and what you have been part of doing in the soccer world, and I took that really close to heart because as much as we are developing individual players and teaching them skills to excel as soccer players. Really if we can create and instill values and learnings that work on the field as well and even more so outside of the field, then we can make a significant impact in every child's life, and that moment really stood out to me. Another episode, let's be honest, winning championships is super fun, right? And I like to say, and I really believe this in we do really well at Colorado United. We play for development. We do not play for isolated wins. When I coach a weekend game, we're looking at our success formula is not if we win or if we win by how much, it's to what degree do we implement the learnings we've had on the practice field during that week, where we focused on X or Y or, or C specifically. But I still want to tell a championship story. And the story goes like this, we're in a nail-biter in the final, up 1-0, the other team equalizes. It's a tie and it goes into PKs. One of my favorite coaching moments is exactly this. It's PK's coming up. It's me and the opposing coach standing right next to each other in a great dialogue about, not about, hey, my team's going to beat your team, but how this, what we're doing as coaches to develop players. And I'm still in dialogue with this coach years later, cause we really were in it, not for the championship win, but for the development of players overall. Anyways, fast forward to the PKs, it goes back and forth, we miss, they miss, and we then at 4-4 with our last kick, have a chance to win it. And we put it in the net and we win it. And, yes, championships are fun, but what was mostly fun to me was just the pure joy and excitement from the kids when that moment celebrating the goalkeeper, celebrating the kid who scored the goal, and just literally taking in that moment because they worked so hard to get there. And that's also part of the journey, right? If you want to grow and if you want to excel, if you put in the work, that prize is up there for the grabbing if you get lucky to be in such a position. I'll include one last story, and when we play, of course, safety is always at the heart and soul of what we do. There was one game in particular that turned into a snow fight, not that the kids fighting with snow, but snow started coming down. It was still deemed safe to play. It wasn't frost on the field and it was fine. It was just light, light snow. And the kids just had a blast, and they were just playing their heart out. And I think playing in snow, and I think that memory will just last with them forever. Still want to meet some of those former players. Do you remember the snow game, coach? Sometimes even in hard circumstances, it can still be a joy, and a great experience. So that's another favorite moment of mine.

How has the club impacted you as a coach?

At Colorado United, we typically, like, probably like most other clubs, two teams share a field and have a half of a field each. And a long time, I was sharing a field with coach Jason, and Jason had this expression. He was like me, coming straight from work, busy day, and then you're rushing through traffic and you're trying to get, make it in time and obviously a little bit before so you can set up to coach the team. And Jason would always look at me and say, Morten, remember, we don't have to coach. We get to coach. And I think there's a huge difference in the mindset. I really respect all coaches that put in so much time and effort to go out there and be there for the kids, boys and girls, making a huge difference in their life. But in a busy daily life and with kids of your own and your work and whatnot, It's not always easy. So reminding yourself, I don't have to coach. I get to coach and how rewarding it is to then go out there and make a huge impact for these kids. It's just a tremendous impact it has had for me. So, my highlight as a coach is literally I get to coach and the opportunity to be out there and work with these kids, and whether it's a lower level rec player or a high level competitive player, can I move them from A to B, just one step up the ladder, in skills, but even as important, as important, can I make sure that they feel the love of the game, and that they are having fun, that they feel they're part of something bigger. They're part of a team. And then what we do together, whether we win or lose, we grow together. And the things we learn in terms of being on a team and the commitment to improve is just a blast to be part of. And I think I take that in my own life as well. I love to coach, but then when I look at my own life, do I love what I'm doing? I need to be as passionate as what I do and everything I do, so it gives me the greatest joy, just like it does when I'm out there coaching on the soccer field.

What does the club's vision, "Developing Players for Life," mean to you?

Developing players for life. I play in what I call an old man's league at the age of 47. So one could say, I'm taking this too hard myself, literally playing my entire life. But, if I can play at 90, that'll be fantastic. But I think as much as developing players for life, intuitively can think, oh, we want kids play to adults and grown-ups and whatnot. Really, what I like about developing players for life, if you say it like this, develop players. Pause. For life. I think it's fantastic to see what the game of soccer can do, what we do on the field, how we work together on the focus and the effort. And being coachable, being with other people, learn that environment is so important, and you'll see it in the classroom and you'll see it at the office that some of the skills and the values we preach and do at Colorado United has such a huge impact on people's lives as they go through middle school, as they go through high school, college, and throughout a professional career, maybe as soccer players. Yeah, I know that's many people's dream, but realistically in their regular life, I think that's where we really make a difference if we consider how can we apply what we instil in these kids, how can they apply it in their daily life outside of the soccer field. So I coach. Obviously, at the end of the day, my job as a coach is for her and for she or he that I coach. Can I lift that player to their next level? Can I grow their skills? That should be the ultimate goal as a coach, but it doesn't stand alone. Can I instil the right values and ethics through my coaching? And can I bring the individual names. I don't know that I initially get on a roster together as a team, a team that loves being together, a team that competes but also has a ton of fun, and stand high when they lose with dignity and play with respect of the opposing team and respect the game towards the ref and also of course celebrate the great joy of successes togethe. If we do that then we have what obviously in US soccer, we also call, we create that sense of belonging, be part of something. You are wearing the United badge, we are then in return, trying to develop players. For life. As we coach.

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

One of the things I really like about the communication at Colorado United is the Instagram account. It's of course being pushed out from the club, and there are certain messages that has to come from the club. Some of them might even be boring with a weather cancellation or whatnot that is needed, but really what we see is the heart and soul of the players and the coaches because it's a lot of their stories and their joy and their experience, their customer journey, if you will. Like any club, Colorado United has players and parents, but they're also customers and users of the product and the services that the club provides, and I really feel that that's their experience really comes out really, really well in why they love to play for United. So I think that the communication is very user-driven or at least putting the users in front of the camera is really, really impactful and something Colorado United does really well. So if nothing else, follow that Instagram account.

Would you recommend Colorado United to a friend or colleague? Why?

It is probably no secret that I'm a huge fan of Colorado United. So yes, I would recommend Colorado United to any family, to any player, and it really goes from what I normally say to, and I actually get asked this, we're considering playing for United, should we? And I said, well, what I love about United is they really care. And they care in the way that if you want to play rec soccer without any ambition of more than that, that's perfectly fine. We love that. And we have one of the best rec departments across the state and highest full-time staff per player ratio, if you like. If you want to play competitive soccer, fantastic. That's also an opportunity. And what if there are a couple of years in between where we have a copa program where you can kind of get used to that competitive environment while it's still not competitive soccer. And competitive soccer comes at many different levels. You can learn a lot even from playing in a lower-level competitive team, and I strongly recommend that even if you don't have the skills to go and play some of the national platform programs United has. But at the same time, we also have that as the highest level, so you can, you can achieve that. But beyond that, Coloardo United really a club that is open to all levels. I love that we have a really, really strong club both on the boys and the girls' side, so we're not heavy on one or the other. We really go all in on both. And then it is evident from all the staff and directors and coaches I have, I've talked to, they don't play to win soccer games. They play to develop the individual player and providing them a lifetime of experiences and joy and opportunities to play this beautiful game. And I think that mindset is why somebody should come play soccer for Colorado United.

How long have you been a part of Colorado United Soccer Club?

My family has been part of the Colorado United Soccer Club since 2017 when my kids were 4. Initially we were attracted to it because the soccer club has been part of our community for so many years, and I played youth soccer with Colorado United when I was a child. We've had such great experiences and heard so many good things when we first joined and wanted to be a part of a club that not only built the players and ensured they were learning things, but also was invested in the community and making it better for all kids.

What has been your favorite experience at Colorado United Soccer Club?

My favorite experience with Colorado United Soccer really has taken place over the last 9+ years we've been involved. It's the friendships that we've made with players, with their families, and that we've kept up with over a number of years. My kids still talk with teammates that have moved to another team, maybe have moved, have left the club, but that they played with and built solid friendships with. I personally have a lot of close friends that I've made through Colorado United Soccer on the sidelines by seeing each other on a weekly basis at practices and games, and many of these people will be lifelong friends. I anticipate we will continue to keep up with each other after our kids play soccer in high school and then go off to college. Colorado United really does facilitate a family-friendly environment, and it really is evident by the solid relationships and friendships that we have built over the years.

What are your thoughts on the club's day-to-day environment?

On a day to day basis, when my kids enter that field, either for practice or a game, I know that they are going to hear something positive from their coaches that they've done, whether it's a soccer-specific play or recognizing them as an individual. They're also going to get some constructive feedback that's going to make them a better soccer player and a better teammate. These coaches truly care about their players and the kids, and really want them to be a stand-up human being and a good soccer player. They also want to ensure they're having fun, so that they continue playing soccer for their life, and it isn't something that they get burnt out on and tired of. The facilities are wonderful. They've got all of the equipment they need. There's trainers available. The turf is great. Overall, there's just no issues with any of the facilities. Communication about any weather delays, any lightning issues is very quick and rapid. Any updates from coaches are pretty consistent. That are needed. And the volunteers also work very hard to make sure that families are receiving communication that they need, especially those families. It's so important when you have multiple kids on different teams and sports to know what's going on. And the club has been doing a really great job at making sure communication is clear and abundant.

Tell us about your child's camp experience at Colorado United Soccer Club.

Both of my kids have been involved in a number of camps with Colorado United Soccer, from futsal camps to competitive camps to copa camps when they were younger, to just camps for fun, so that they're getting out and getting their foot on a ball. Their favorite part of the experience, and my favorite part, is really how excited they get for the upcoming season when those camps take place. They leave the camp excited, knowing their coaches a bit better, knowing teammates a bit better, getting to know some other coaches that maybe they don't have the opportunity to interact with consistently throughout the season. While they're working on technical skills and really kind of getting ready to take on whatever the next event is with soccer, and that's clearly very important. They're just getting excited and amped up for the season, and that's always a great way to kick the season off for them.

Would you recommend Colorado United Soccer Club to a friend, colleague, or another soccer family? Why?

I would recommend Colorado United Soccer to friends, family members, colleagues, individuals that are considering moving clubs. I actually know some families that have moved from other clubs and comment on how well the club is run, how much fun their kids are having, how great the other teammates are, and how welcoming the families are. One of the things I appreciate the most about Colorado United is the level of coaching that my kids get. They get to experience different coaches, which helped them to really hone different skills. Personally though, I've made a great number of friends throughout the years that my kids have been on teams with their children, and we've kept those friendships. The community aspect that Colorado United really employs that's important to them is ensuring that everybody in our community has the opportunity to play soccer. That is very important to my family, to myself personally, and Colorado United really does live by their values. We are a very family-focused soccer club. And I greatly appreciate that they also just want kids to have fun playing soccer. Yes, everybody can get caught up in the competitive nature, but at the end of the day, they are looking to build soccer players that are players for life, that are having fun and enjoying a sport. I absolutely would recommend Colorado United Soccer to anybody that asked where should their kid go.