Rush Select
Rush Soccer forms select teams (All-Star teams) that are comprised of the top Rush players from across the country at the U13-U17 age groups. These teams attend various events on a yearly basis. Player pools are established through club recommendations and identification at the Rush Festival and the Select ID Camps. Players can move in and out of the player pool based on their current form. Select Team coaches have the final say in which players make the roster for any particular event. Our Technical Director, Kristian Bates, is heavily involved in the program and coaches several of the Rush Select teams each year.
Please click here to visit the Rush Select Homepage.
Several of our players and coaches represented PA Rush in the Rush Select 2020/2021 season.
Please visit the picture gallery HERE to view the photos.
Rush Select History
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.
FAQs on the Rush Select Program
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].