Rush Select

What Is Rush Select?

The Rush Select Program is designed to give extended opportunities to the elite level players in Rush. This allows the top players in individual clubs to play with players at and above their level. Domestically it gives older players additional opportunities to be recruited at college showcase events that perhaps their local club will not be invited to, and allow the younger players to compete against the best players in the country. The Rush Select teams also have the opportunity to travel internationally, training and playing games against local, regional and youth professional teams from various nations. There are international training programs and international tournaments of which both often include attendance to professional games including Champions League games. The immediate goal of the program is to win, so players are selected based on their ability to help the team win and not necessarily for the long term potential development. The long term goal is to identify and put players in a competitive environment for the potential selection for a Rush men's and women's professional team.

The Select program is the foundation of identifying the best talent in Rush. In 2004 Colorado Rush, Virginia Rush and Pikes Peak Rush put together the first Select Team, the Rush 86/87 Boys (U17). The team entered the US Club Soccer National Tournament and after winning their Regional Tournament went on to become National Champions. Since then, the program has grown to having a full-time director and coordinator while running as many as 22 Select teams in a calendar year.

F.A.Q.

How can I make the Select team?

Players are scouted beginning at U12. The program takes recommendations from each club’s Technical Director to form the pool of players for each age group. The group is constantly evolving and players come and go as the team ages up. Making the Rush Select team once does not mean a player will always be involved and players can be added to the group at any time.

What are the Rush Select ID Camps?

The Rush Select ID Camps are for the U13 - U15 age groups. 60 boys and 60 girls in each age group attend a 3 day trial in Casa Grande, Arizona, where Rush Select staff will train and evaluate them. This event gives the coaches a much better picture of the players than the recommendations from clubs can and ensures that we select the very best group.

Who is eligible to play for a Select Team?

Any Rush player between the ages of U13 and U18 is eligible to be selected.

Who coaches the Select teams?

Top Rush coaches from around the country make up our coaching staff. We currently have coaches from more than 20 clubs around the nation on our staff.

What are the costs involved?

Costs vary depending on the event, but will usually be in the $400-$800 range. International trips will cost more due to airfare, but fundraising opportunities will be provided to help offset costs. There is also a limited budget for scholarships.

Who runs the Select program?

The Director of Rush Select is Brian Lux and he can be reached via email at [email protected].
The Rush Select Operations Director is Nicole Lukic and she can be reached via email at [email protected]

RUSH SELECT TESTIMONIAL

Sarah Piper from Texas Rush started with Rush Select at U13 at the President’s Day Tournament in Phoenix. After leading the team to a win over the #1 team in the nation with a last-minute game-winning goal, Sarah has been hooked to Rush Select. Since then, Sarah has played in other Rush Select events and has been called up to the U-16 United States National Team. Sarah recently was picked to travel to Germany with generation adidas as one of two players picked by the Rush Select Program each year. Here is her recap of the event: The generation adidas trip to Frankfurt, Germany to play against members of the FFC Frankfurt Academy was definitely an experience I will never forget!! I am extremely thankful that I was able to meet the people I met and am blessed to be able to travel to such beautiful and historic places through soccer. The trip was balanced with hard work while on the field, but also touring of modern and historic cities such as Frankfurt and Wurzburg. The first three or four days of camp were full of two-a-day trainings and games where we were pushed physically very hard, but through passing, moving, and playing soccer instead of preseason running. Going into camp I was seen as a midfielder but, like many camps, midfielders are an abundance so I decided to drop back to center back where I am also quite comfortable playing. By our first game everybody was worn out, easily falling asleep each night!! Our first game was against FC Frankfurt 00s in which our back line took a clean sheet in a 10-0 win. After this win, our surplus of touring began as we toured Frankfurt that afternoon, Wurzburg the next day, and finished up Saturday with some shopping and sightseeing around Frankfurt once more.

One of my favorite parts of touring was definitely the architecture and detail in many of the buildings in Germany which we don’t see in the US very often. As we toured the two cities we learned much of the history, took tons of pictures and bought too many gifts for family and friends (especially chocolate!!). It would be impossible to share all of the joy I was able to get out of this trip through meeting friends and seeing different coaching styles and I am so thankful for any chance I have to go abroad and experience another culture through their food, technology and language. I’m extremely thankful to the Rush Select program and Rush Soccer for giving me this opportunity, but in the big picture, giving me the ability to experience the world through a sport I love so much!! I had a great time over in Germany and am sad to leave, but also so happy that I have been able to create more friendships and relationships in the last week that I am able to bring back to the states and keep forever.

Thanks for everything,