Rush Soccer
{{Short description|International soccer organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| formation = 1997
| founder = Tim Schulz
| type = Youth Soccer Organization
| headquarters = New York
| logo = Rush Canada logo.png
}}
Rush Soccer is an international soccer organization that was founded in Denver, Colorado and is headquartered in New York.{{Cite web|last=Wire|first=Soccer|date=August 31, 2016|title=A look at Rush Soccer's meteoric rise into a youth soccer empire|url=https://www.soccerwire.com/resources/a-look-inside-rush-soccers-meteoric-rise-to-global-youth-soccer-empire/|access-date=November 25, 2020|website=Soccer Wire}}{{Cite web|last=Spedden|first=Zach|date=December 8, 2017|title=Rush Soccer Looks for Success With Penn FC|url=https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2017/12/rush-soccer-looks-for-success-with-penn-fc/|access-date=November 28, 2020|website=Soccer Stadium Digest}} Rush Soccer partners with over 80 youth and professional clubs across the world.{{Cite web|last=Wert|first=Jason|date=April 3, 2020|title=New Southwest Missouri Soccer Organization Founded|url=https://ozarksindependent.com/2020/04/03/new-southwest-missouri-soccer-organization-founded/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921132300/http://ozarksindependent.com/2020/04/03/new-southwest-missouri-soccer-organization-founded/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 21, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2020|website=Ozarks Independent}}{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Jaideep|date=March 25, 2018|title=India Rush Soccer Club hopes to make the best of their IWL opportunity after backdoor entry|url=https://scroll.in/field/873052/india-rush-soccer-club-hopes-to-make-the-best-of-their-iwl-opportunity-after-backdoor-entry|access-date=November 26, 2018|website=Scroll.in}}
History
Rush Soccer was founded in April 1997 in Denver, Colorado.{{Cite web|last=Anyiwo|first=Dike|date=November 15, 2017|title=RUSH SOCCER EXPANDS FOOTPRINT TO THE UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE|url=https://www.soccernation.com/rush-soccer-expands-footprint-united-soccer-league/|access-date=November 29, 2020|website=Soccer Nation}} The Colorado Rush, the first domestic Rush club, has won over 12 National Championships, and 1 World Youth Tournament since the inaugural season began in 1997.{{Cite web|last=USL 2|date=January 22, 2020|title=Colorado Rush Joins USL League Two|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/1079985|access-date=November 29, 2020|website=USL 2}} The first partnered club was Virginia Rush in 2002 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In 2009, Rush Soccer began to expand internationally after partnering with a small district in South Africa called Nkomazi.{{Cite web|last=Longman|first=Jeré|date=June 10, 2010|title=Youth League Fights AIDS With Soccer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/sports/soccer/11aids.html|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=The New York Times}} Since then, Rush has formed partnerships with clubs in Africa, South America, Central America Europe and Asia. Rush is represented in 48 states of the US and in over 30 countries.{{Cite web|last=Hockman|first=Chris|date=June 1, 2018|title=Rush and Penn FC More Than a Partnership|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/872518|access-date=December 2, 2020|website=USL}}
In 2024, Justin Miller was appointed as the new CEO of Rush Soccer, bringing with him a long history with the organization. Miller, who grew up in Littleton, Colorado, began playing for Colorado Rush at the age of 13 in 2005. After a brief stint with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Miller rejoined Colorado Rush, first as a general manager, then moving to the national office in New York. Through a series of promotions, he became Chief Operating Officer (COO) before assuming the role of CEO. Miller’s leadership has been pivotal in Rush’s continued expansion, especially in untapped markets like Asia, where the organization has already established clubs in Dubai and Mumbai, India.
Rush has continued to grow with the organization emphasizing its flexible approach to youth structure globally. Rush Soccer also has influence at the professional level influencing teams in Europe with a unique collaboration with SKN St. Pölten Rush, an all-women’s club in Austria and NK Varazdine a men’s 1st division team in Croatia.
The organization’s continued success is rooted in its ability to connect the grassroots of the sport with professional-level opportunities, building a stable foundation for players of all levels.
Founder
Tim Schulz is the founder of Rush Soccer.
Notable players
- Christian Pulisic{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Andy|date=2018|title=How did Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic make it into the European big leagues?|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/how-did-christian-pulisic-make-it-into-the-european-big-leagues-dortmund-2765-1243|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=Bundesliga}}
- Lindsey Horan{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Jamie|date=January 9, 2019|title=Portland Thorns' Lindsey Horan hasn't looked back since unprecedented decision to turn pro at 18|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2016/04/portland_thorns_midfielder_lin.html|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=The Oregonian}}
- Cole Bassett{{Cite web|last=MLS|date=2018|title=Cole Bassett|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/players/cole-bassett|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=}}
- Collen Warner
- Paolo DelPiccolo
- Kekuta Manneh{{Cite web|last=Hajducky|first=Dan|date=August 9, 2019|title=Kekuta Manneh's long and winding road to Cincinnati|url=https://www.espn.in/football/fc-cincinnati/story/3913855/kekuta-mannehs-long-and-winding-road-to-cincinnati|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=ESPN}}