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Durango Youth Soccer Association teams pack a punch
Courtesy: Kate Kelly and Janet Mosher

Durango Youth Soccer Association teams pack a punch

DURANGO, Colo. — In the world of Durango Soccer, the teams here have had quite a lot of success. Last year, the Durango teams were very successful at the 2020 Colorado Soccer Association Cup that was hosted by Durango Youth Soccer Association (DYSA) dba the Rio Rapids Durango Soccer Club (RRDSC). In 2021 CSA, once again, awarded its tournament to Durango. During this tournament, Durango saw 66 teams participate with players and families from Grand Junction, Montrose, Delta, Telluride, Farmington, Crested Butte, Pagosa Springs, Glenwood Springs, and Gunnison. Four different venues were used for the tournament and the players ranged from ages 8 to 19 with 117 games played over Saturday and Sunday of that weekend.

Courtesy: Kate Kelly and Janet Mosher

The RRDCS teams won championships in six divisions and reached the finals in another six divisions. The Durango teams that took first in their divisions included the 2012 Girls Storm, the 2012 Boys Heat, the 2010 Girls Aztec, the 2007 Girls team, the 2007 Boys team, and the 2003 Girls  team. The 2011 Girls Thunder, 2010 Girls Lightning and 2006 Girls team all reached the finals, as well as the 2010 Boys Rage, 2009 Boys team, and 2010 Boys Energy.

Kate Kelly, who is the Executive Director of Durango Youth Soccer Association (DYSA), said of these teams, “We are very proud of the performance of our teams in all age groups in which they competed. Although CSA runs the scheduling, communication, and refereeing of the tournament, it presents the same logistical challenges for us as our own Durango Shootout tournament that we hold in the Spring. Working with the Parks and Recreation Department and 9-R School District to provide fields, together we are able to generate revenue for the local economy and for the city through sales and lodging taxes.”

RRDSC was actually one of the only youth sport groups to play during 2020. They were successful with their COVID-19 protocols and there were no cases directly linked from the teams that played that year. This is one of the reasons that Colorado Soccer Association awarded Durango with the CSA Cup in 2020 and 2021.

One the of the great things about membership in this club is that it is open to all that want to play. The teams are supported by registration fees, club fundraisers like the Durango Shootout Soccer Tournament, and sponsorships from local Durango businesses. Another great benefit from the club is that it has contributed financial and other support for various projects that have been undertaken by the city and 9-R School district over the years, including the Escalante School fields, the high school field, and the Smith Athletic Complex.

The mission statement of the Rio Rapids Durango Soccer Club is “creating respectful leaders that positively influence others through the sport of soccer.”  Their purpose is to teach and promote the game of soccer, and guide all players through a journey of self-development. By working together to foster skill advancement and tactical understanding in a supportive environment, they help to mentor players to become individuals that have a positive influence on others. They believe that their players’ learning experiences in the game will equip them for success in life. The pillars of this foundation are rooted in these key areas of development: character, commitment, work ethic, selflessness, and leadership.

Courtesy: Kate Kelly and Janet Mosher

DYSA was established in 1993 and services players that range in age from 8 to 19. There are currently 372 members in the RRDSC. The staff includes Joanna Tucker, who is the U9-U12 Director of Coaching, James Hall, who is the U13-U19 Director of Coaching, Chris Zoltowski, who is the Director of Coaching for Bayfield, Janet Mosher, who is the Director of Goalkeeping, and Joanna Tucker also works as the Registrar and Administrator.

In 2022, there will be at least three tournaments in Durango, including the Energy Inspection Services Durango Shootout on May 6-8,, Kick It 3v3 in July, and CSA Cup Durango in October.

Janet Mosher also shared about her position as the Director of Coaching for Goalkeepers. She doesn’t work with one particular team, but the coaches will send her their goalkeepers one night a week for coaching. She has been coaching for 20 years and she began playing soccer as a 5th grader and then was recruited by Fort Lewis College. She says, “One tip that I give goalkeepers after they get scored on is to have a routine to get their head back in the game.” Mosher then added that her proudest moments as a coach have been “catching glimpses of tournament games of some of the keepers I’ve coached and seeing them use the training we’ve done in a game setting.”

Janet’s words of encouragement are “everyone learns differently and everyone is motivated differently. This has translated in my marriage, being a mom, and being in a leadership position in my career.”

Janet, and all the RRDSC coaches,  want to continue to be positive role models and influences in the lives of the soccer players they meet each year in Durango.

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