The 2023 International Rush Cup has come to a close. The tournament welcomed 44 teams to Port St. Lucie, Florida at the Sandpiper Bay Resort. The weekend started off with a bit of rain which gave way to sunshine and competitive action on the field the rest of the weekend. The Rush Select program had 27 teams at the event. In the 2009-2011 age groups, the program had their regional teams from the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West regions. These teams competed head to head over the weekend along with the international talent of Canada for the 2010 and 2011 Boys and Bolivia for the 2009 and 2011 boys and 2010 girls. The results for the 2009-2011 groups were as follows and the current regional standings at:

2011/U13

Boys- Bolivia Rush
Girls- Northeast

2010/U14
Boys- South
Girls- South

2009/U15
Boys- Midwest
Girls- West

For the U16-U19 brackets the Rush Select teams faced off against some tough opponents. The Rush Select Academy hosted the event with three teams (2008 Boys, Gold Juniors, and 2005 Gold Seniors) playing matches. The Gold Seniors put on a show all weekend winning the U18/19 boys age bracket. For the U16 Boys, the Rush Select team battled for three wins and topped the group. On the girl’s side the Orlando City ECNL team came to play winning the group and only conceding 1 goal all weekend.

Overall the weekend was an incredible success. For the majority of the teams, the ability to stay on the resort and play matches was a huge plus. This allowed the game of the day matches to have a spirited and passionate atmosphere.

Next up for the Select teams is the PDT del Sol tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. The program will take 2 national teams per gender for the U13-U17 age groups and 1 national team for the U18 age group. This tournament is the group’s opportunity to compete against top outside opponents and be seen by College Coaches and the Rush Scouting staff.

We look forward to the International Rush Cup 2024!

The post Triumph and Talent: The 2023 International Rush Cup appeared first on Rush Soccer.

Trip recap by Danny Poche, Girls Development Academy Director – Virginia Rush 

Friday, May 19th: Today, all the players and coaches arrived in Munich and were met by fantastic tour guides from MZTA. After getting settled in, the team walked to nearby FC Teutonia Munchen facility to stretch and get in a light training session, and wrapped up the day with a team dinner at the hotel. 

Saturday, May 20th: The players and parents visited downtown Munich to experience German culture, as well as sightseeing and shopping in the beautiful weather. In the evening, the players attended a Mindset Workshop led by a former NCAA Division 1 and Bundesliga player, before putting in hard work for a team training session to wrap up the night. 

Sunday, May 21st: In the morning, the girls team had a great training session at the FC Teutonia training facility. That evening, the girls and parents attended a Bundesliga match at the beautiful WWK Arena, watching FC Augsburg vs BVB Dortmund.

Monday, May 22nd:  The group toured Allianz Arena, home of FC Bayern Munich, including a tour of the locker room and pitch side. The girls wrapped up the day with a great friendly against FFC Wacker Munchen U15 girls, which included a jersey and gift exchange.

Tuesday, May 23rd: In the morning, the girls visited the campus of TSV 1860 Munchen to observe a professional team training session, and were able to meet the players afterwards. In the afternoon, the girls worked through a tough training session before eating a traditional German dinner at the clubhouse of FC Teutonia Munchen. 

Wednesday, May 24th: In the morning, the players and families visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial and were able to learn about the history of the camp, walk through the camp and its exhibits, and commemorate the prisoners; it was a memorable experience for all who toured the memorial. In the afternoon, the team travelled to the FC Bayern Munich Campus to play against the FC Bayern Munich U16 girls team. After the game, the girls exchanged jerseys and gifts, and enjoyed a team dinner at the Campus restaurant. 

Thursday, May 25th: The players had a recovery training session in the morning before departing to tour Munich with their families on their own schedule. 

Friday, May 26th: The day kicked off with a fun players vs parents soccer game where the parents prevailed. The players and parents then loaded onto the bus to head to Tyrol, Austria, home of the International Cordial Cup. After dinner at a nearby restaurant, the girls headed to downtown St. Johann before marching into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony along with over a hundred other teams and thousands of players. 

Saturday, May 27th: The opening day of the 12th International Girls Cordial Cup kicked off in Hopfgarten, with group play matches against FFC Wacker Munchen (Germany), FAC Landhaus (Austria), and SGS Essen (Germany). Against tough competition, the girls managed a 1-1-1 record in the group stage and qualified for the quarterfinals. After the final game of the day, the girls and parents took gondolas to the top of Salvenberg Mountain to enjoy the view and relax. 

Sunday, May 28th: The girls played PKKU (Finland) and FC Koln (Germany) in the Placement round, going 1-1 for the day and placing 5th overall in the tournament. The girls exchanged gifts and contact information with several teams and cheered PKKU on to the finals. During the recognition ceremony, the girls received medals and applause from local teams as the only American team in the tournament. The girls then travelled back to St. Johann to watch the boys and girls championship matches, and cheered PKKU against SGS Essen in the girls final game. Players and parents wrapped up the day with the Closing Ceremony before departing for one last German dinner.  

The post Rush Select Goes To Munich appeared first on Rush Soccer.

Recently Rush Select formed national teams to compete at PDT to showcase their talents in front of college coaches as well as represent the Rush at the highest level.

The Rush Select teams, consisting of elite players from across the globe, competed in various age groups and emerged victorious with an impressive 9 championships. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the players, coaches, and staff involved in the program.

Championship-winning teams were:

• 2010 Boys Rush Select Blue
• 2009 Boys Rush Select Blue
• 2009 Boys Rush Select White
• 2009 Girls Rush Select Blue
• 2009 Girls Rush Select White
• 2008 Girls Rush Select Blue
• 2007 Boys Rush Select White
• 2006 Boys Rush Select Blue
• 2006 Girls Rush Select White

The President’s Day Tournament is one of the largest and most prestigious youth soccer tournaments in the United States, attracting teams from all over the country. The Rush Select program had its most successful record in its 12-year history with 62 wins, only 14 losses, and 7 ties. Rush Soccer’s Global Sporting Director Raoul Voss said, “The groups this year looked very strong. We made a very big statement across the country that our Rush Select teams are some of the best out there. It really was an impressive weekend.” This notable record created the highest win and draw percentage in program history at 83%. The Rush faced tough competition in every game, but their skill, strategy, and teamwork helped them secure victory after victory.

The Rush Select program is renowned for its commitment to developing young players and providing them with opportunities to showcase their talent on a national and international stage. The success of the Rush Select teams in the President’s Day Tournament is a testament to the effectiveness of this approach, as well as the skill and dedication of the players and staff involved. With such impressive results, it is clear that the Rush Select program will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in youth soccer for years to come. Congratulations to all of the players that were selected for the event and kudos on making history for the program. 

Overall, the program had a 62 – 14 – 7 (W – L – D) record.

Watch our PDT Recap video here!

The post Rush Select Makes History at PDT appeared first on Rush Soccer.

'10 Blue

'10 White

'09 Blue

'09 White

'08 Blue

'08 White

'07 Blue

'07 White

'06 Blue

'06 White

'05 Blue

The post Rush Select PDT 2023 Rosters appeared first on Rush Soccer.

The Rush Select program is proud to announce the Canadian Select team rosters for the 2022 International Rush Cup. The event will take place in Tampa, Florida December 1-4. The 2008-10 Select teams will play in regional team battles to determine which region is the strongest. While the 2005-2007 Select team will take on some of the top national and international teams. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting weekend!

Boys 2010

Boys 2009

Boys 2008

Boys 2007/06

Boys & Girls 2006

Boys & Girls 2005

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Name? Reese Kloetzer

Local Rush Club? Twin Cities Rush

How long have you been a Rush Player?

We entered into the Rush Environment in 2021, so this will be my second year as a Rush player. Before joining the Rush Program, we were Blaine Soccer Club, of which I played for an additional 3 years.

How do you feel the Northeast Cup and Showcase went for you? 

I felt that the Northeast Cup Showcase went extremely well for me. I was grateful for the opportunity within Rush to have coaches correspond, and coordinate my ability to play that weekend as college coaches from the East Coast were there to see us play. I gained a lot of confidence coming out of that showcase and walked away with a few college contacts and many lifelong fast friends. Bonus: I’ll now get to see them play, or I’ll be playing against them! 

What made that weekend so special?

This is a hard one to just name one. Looking back, it was the jump start to being recruited to Post University. The coaches and players for the VA Rush and other clubs have high respect for Post, and I was excited that they saw me play in all 3 games. This wouldn’t have been made possible without the VA Rush team allowing me to seamlessly join them. To have a “new kid” join a team, play for only a weekend, and treat me as “one of them” was incredibly humbling to experience. I not only walked away with more experience but more teammates that are now my friends I chat with weekly, if not daily. I teared up a little when I sent my text to the head coach letting him know that I committed to Post University, to have several players send me screenshots of the sweet, sincere, and funny (I can’t help this Minnesota accent) of congratulations. That meant the world to me!

What did you learn from other players at the event?

The other Rush players, coaches, and teams were so supportive on and off the field. They were very respectful and had great sportsmanship. 

What advice would you give to a younger Rush player? 

Cherish the time you have with your teammates and coaches, time flies by fast. Don’t take any day for granted. Keep reaching for your goals, and train every practice like it’s your last time on the field. Stick with it and don’t let anyone doubt you. Use that doubt to work even harder tomorrow, to prove them wrong. Go to all of the showcases and guest play with as many teams as you can by reaching out to your coach, or your Club’s CAP representative. You will gain many new professional and personal friends, as well as learn so much about other styles of play and players worldwide!! 

What does it mean to you to sign for Post University?

It means a lot to me to sign to Post. I have worked so hard to get to where I am today. I’m told I “grind” the hardest and “most passionate” by most people who know me or have played against me. I travel 120 miles round trip 3-4 times a week to practice, and that doesn’t include games and tournaments. I set goals for myself, and with the help of my family, friends, coaches, and teammates; The dream to play on the East Coast at the next level has been made possible.

Any other comments in regards to the select program? 

The Rush Select program is one of my favorite parts of Rush. I have gotten so much exposure with Rush Select and I am extremely grateful for that. Learning quickly how to fit into the team’s formation and the skill of play. Soccer IQ is put to the test, but trust your coach and the players that all have the same goal; to win. That’s what’s so beautiful about the game of soccer, even though we are “strangers,” as soon as we hit the pitch, we all know our parts to play to be successful as a team. I have made so many lifelong friends and gotten to know many of the Rush coaches around the country. It’s a very, very cool program to be a part of. I really love being able to be exposed to different styles of coaching, pushing my skills to the limit, as well as, getting the same opportunities as others in the Rush program. A great example of this is that my home club team is playing NPL, however, I’m playing with ECNL, GA, and international teams. I will definitely miss playing for Rush next year, but I will never forget the memories I have made! 

The post An Interview With Reese Kloetzer appeared first on Rush Soccer.

The Rush Select program is proud to announce the Select team rosters for the 2022 International Rush Cup. The event will take place in Tampa, Florida December 1-4. The 2008-10 Select teams will play in regional team battles to determine which region is the strongest. While the 2005-2007 Select team will take on some of the top national and international teams. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting weekend!

Boys & Girls 2010

Boys & Girls 2009

Boys & Girls 2008

Boys & Girls 2005-2007

The post International Rush Cup Select Team Rosters appeared first on Rush Soccer.

As Rush continues to expand its global footprint, one of the most exciting results of such growth is the inaugural International Rush Cup, scheduled for December 1-4, 2022, in the Tampa, Florida area.

 

International Rush Cup (IRC), the club’s most elite event, will pit both domestic and international clubs against each other in a top-tier tournament that will attract college coaches and scouts. Rush Select teams will also be present for the event, showcasing some of the club’s rising young stars.

 

“Long term we want this to be the World Cup of sorts for all Rush teams across the globe,” Rush COO Justin Miller said. “We want to create an unparalleled location for college coaches and professional scouts to see the top talent within the Rush. This is why we have centered the event around our Select teams. We are excited for this inaugural event and to watch it grow from here.”

 

Along with college coaches, scouts from professional and semi-professional teams Flatirons Rush, Vfl Wolfsburg, Minnesota United FC, HB Koge, Aurora FC, Colorado Rush, Bluffton Rush of the WPSL, Cedar Rush Stars, Medricher SV 02 Duisburg, and Virginia Beach United will be in attendance.

 

IRC will also feature a three-day coaching education workshop for all Rush coaches led by Pablo Toledo, Rush Soccer’s Sporting Project Director, and the club’s top technical staff. This hands-on workshop will provide coaches at any level with tools to sharpen their training sessions and help better develop players.

 

Attending players will also have the opportunity to participate in a college recruitment class led by Rush’s College Advisory directors.

To register or learn more about IRC, visit https://rushtournaments.com/international-rush-cup/

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Even as spring seasons are wrapping up across the country, Rush Soccer’s Select program is poised to make its fall program even more competitive after getting accepted into USYS’s new E64 league.

Michael Ritch, one of Rush Soccer’s National Technical Directors, explained how Rush’s entrance into the E64 will present more opportunities for higher levels of competition for Rush Select players across the country.

“This opportunity provides us the ability to kind of group together and really show what we can do and get our top players out there to be seen,” Ritch said. “We get them what they need from an exposure standpoint. But also you really see what that next level is like for them so they can develop and really press towards what they’re going to be.”

E64’s season will consist of a 14-game regular season and will include two showcase events as well as an end-of-the-season playoff, providing Rush Select players with more exposure and opportunities for development.

This unique structure also enables Rush Select some flexibility for the staff as well as for the players and their families.

“What USYS has allowed us to do is kind of create bigger pools than your normal team would be,” Ritch said. “So what it allows for is a club—say Mississippi Rush—that may have a tournament on the singular weekend when there’s an Elite 64 competition and their players may not be widely available, while maybe Coastal or Cajun Rush would be free and allows us to pull those players from those clubs to really fill out that roster.

“Obviously, you want as much continuity as you can, but it will also give us the flexibility to manage the travel aspect for parents and players as well as the financial piece there for them as well so everyone doesn’t have to commit to every single thing that’s happening.

“We can really see how our teams do when they’re in that merged environment, competing for a trophy over the course of the year versus showing up for regional events where they play the other regions.”

The Rush Select events will remain in place as the E64 will simply provide an additional playing experience. Heading into the inaugural 2022 fall season, two Rush clubs—Lobos Rush in west Tennessee and Idaho Rush in Boise—will compete in the league along with two Rush Select teams, Select Desert and Select South.

“The beautiful thing here is, if you’re in a Rush Club, you have access to this,” Ritch said. “We can pull players in from all over the country within that network and utilize that big player pool. So, keep an eye out, keep an ear out for what we’re doing and how it’s kind of evolving and over the next couple months we’ll be able to share a bit more.”

The post New Opportunities Abound for Rush Select Players appeared first on Rush Soccer.

The 08 Boys Blue team took part in the Dallas Cup this past week. Overall it was a very successful event for the boys. They started in group play facing off again the Houston Dynamo academy. The boys executed a very good press scoring 4 goals and winning 4-1.

The next day the team was up against DKSC. This was a tough opponent that had big strong physical players and unfortunately, the boys gave up an early goal and could not find the net after that losing 1-0.

The last game of group play was against Concorde Fire. They had yet to win a game in the group but were a very well-organized team and had some solid attacking players. The boys were motivated to score and win as 1st place and a spot in the quarterfinals was still in reach. The first half saw two nice crosses from the right that lead to two very good header goals and another goal to seal it in the second half.

We turned our attention to the other game in the group where a Houston win over DKSC would see us go through. Thankfully Dynamo pulled out a 1-0 victory which allowed us to advance to play Dallas Texans in the quarterfinals. This was a hard-fought game with both teams not giving up much. Unfortunately, the Texans found a small chance with 10 minutes left in the game and scored. The boys battled to the end but could not come up with an answer.

Overall the coaching staff was proud of the fight in the group and how quickly they jelled as a team. The Select program staff is looking forward to what this group can do in the future.

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