The Colorado Rapids announced on March 11 that the club will end its formal affiliation with Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) after the current 2025-2026 season. CRYSC will rebrand as Colorado Storm in the summer of 2026.
This change marks a significant shift in how the Rapids plan to support and develop youth soccer across Colorado. The club said it is proud of its partnership with CRYSC since 2012, which has helped expand access to soccer, supported thousands of players and families, and strengthened the sport throughout the state.
The decision follows a year-long evaluation process that included town hall meetings with youth clubs statewide. As Major League Soccer and youth soccer continue to evolve, the Rapids are seeking new ways to serve young athletes. “As the professional club representing Colorado in Major League Soccer, we feel a strong responsibility to the game across our entire state,” said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith. “Thousands of coaches, volunteers, referees, and parents work every day for the benefit of young players, and we want to support that work by building meaningful relationships with every club, every coach, and every player in Colorado. Our goal is simple: to help grow the game here, together.”
A key part of this new approach is expanding the club’s player identification platform through its Futures Program. This initiative aims to create an open pathway for talented players from any club in Colorado to access elite training while still representing their home clubs.
In collaboration with the Colorado Soccer Association and other community partners, the Rapids plan to offer coaching education resources, parent and referee education initiatives, safeguarding best practices, and enhanced development platforms for players.
“Our ambition is simple,” Smith added. “We want Colorado to become one of the great soccer states in this country. That means putting the player at the center, supporting the people who give so much to the game, and working in partnership with clubs and the Colorado Soccer Association to raise standards across the board. The Rapids want to lead with care for the game, collaborate with the soccer community, and help create opportunities that inspire the next generation of players across our state.”
