After the virtual experience in 2020, Rush Summit was held in Missouri this year and the Coach Development Department had a very active role, presenting in four different instances. In this article we interview Pablo Toledo, Sporting Project Director and the department’s leader.
July 29, 2021
Coaching Education At Summit
We talked a lot about the future and the project for sporting development at the global level. Our club is so large and diverse. That demands a very strategic, well thought and organized plan to create a clear, realistic, and measurable structure of non negotiables that reflect our values and beliefs while still giving room for flexibility to adapt to the local context. To find that balance is fundamental – Pablo Toledo
How was the atmosphere and what were the topics presented?
There was such a good atmosphere the first day, people were very connected, thoughtful, asking high-impact questions, so after two or three hours I decided to make a change in the schedule and, instead of starting with a presentation about Coach, Parent, and Player Educational Resources, I switched and presented about the Rush Way & our Player Development Approach. This, at the end, was the most important presentation I had during the entire event, because it was about discussing the cornerstones of the sporting project we have for the next ten years.
For 90 minutes we talked about what we believe in and how these core beliefs are imprinted in every layer of what we do. From very macro to very micro, to end up transferring to our curriculum. I’ve always been obsessed about that idea: Everything that we do on and off the field has to be a reflection of who we are as a club. Every activity, every session must have a place in the big picture. There has to be a reason, and that reason has to be justified by our core beliefs.
The way we coach is also a part of that, so we spoke about the Blue Thread as well and the idea of using these principles in every session. That’s why, apart from the engagement side and participation in the learning experience, I thought it was honest to ask the coaches to evaluate my compliance with these principles as I coached the session on the second day. I wanted to provide an example of how to apply them, show that this is not just theory, we’re pragmatic.
The second day found us presenting on coaches, players, and parent resources. The most celebrated service was the new season planning feature , part of the Rush Coaching Manual. “We did a live exercise, in which I gave my phone to Danny Poche, and asked him questions about his team to define the parameters of the season plan. Then I asked him to check the Coaching Manual app on my phone tell us what he could see (a new fully Rush customized season plan for his team). It was impactful. Then we explained how clubs can manage this from a central/admin account, with the ability to create all the club’ teams, assign coaches to each team, and create a season plan for each one of them”.
Our last presentation was also very well received, we spoke about the role and project of Futsal within our club.
“For the fourth and final presentation we invited Rob Andrews, president of United Futsal “, Pablo explained. “We started discussing from a theoretical perspective: Why and How Futsal can be a tool to maximize opposed playing hours, one of the pillars of our player development approach. From there, Rob talked about the current status of the sport in the United States, and deepened onto the different models that clubs use to set up a Futsal program at the local level, analyzing them from both operational and financial standpoints”, he added.
What are your main takeaways from Rush Summit as far as sporting development?
It was extremely important to set the foundations of the sporting project for the next 10 years, literally. I’m pleased because it was not another purely philosophical conversation, we spoke about the real steps we are already taking to transform a network of 110 clubs into one club with a common vision to develop players, and how we are going to measure that, if we are good ambassadors of our club’s culture. The clubs’ humility humbles me, their openness to work together, passion and commitment is unreal. I couldn’t’ be more grateful.
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Introducing the Coastal Rush Coaching Staff for 2025-2026 Coastal Rush is excited to announce our coaching staff for the upcoming season. Our team brings together experienced professionals dedicated to developing young talent and advancing our players to the next level. ECNL-RL Assignments: Boys: 2013 Boys - Ryan Goldsmith 2012 Boys - Kyle Sealy 2011 Boys - Kyle Sealy 2010 Boys - Dean Logan 2009 Boys - Dean Logan 07/08 Boys - Peter Fuller Girls: 2013 Girls - Michael Munoz 2012 Girls - Chandler Castleman 2011 Girls - Bert Gatica 2010 Girls - Rob Simon 2009 Girls - Rob Simon 07/08 Girls - Austin King Leadership Team: Sporting Director: Bill Elliott Registrar: Whitney Sumrall Coastal Rush Program Director: Kyle Sealy Managing Director: John Guidroz Support Staff: Girls Program Advisor: Joe Bartlinski FL Girls College Placement Advisor: Jason Providence FL Boys College Placement Advisor: Felipe Lawall AL College Placement Advisor: Nick Cooper Pre-ECNL Director: Michael Munoz Goalkeeper Director: Rudy Seelman Our coaching staff is committed to providing the highest quality training and development opportunities for our Coastal Rush players. Together, our leadership team and support staff work to create an environment where players can achieve their full potential both on and off the field. If your interested in tryout out for a Coastal Rush team go here
We’re excited to announce that Coastal Rush will be moving from the Florida ECNL Regional League to the Gulf Coast ECNL RL for the upcoming 2025–26 season. Over the past two years in the Florida ECNL-RL, our program has recorded over 200 victories, earned multiple state championships, and developed dozens of players now on the path to collegiate opportunities. We are incredibly proud of what our players, coaches, and families have achieved during this period. The Directors and Leadership team at Florida Club League have been outstanding and we appreciate all their leadership and support! This move to the Gulf Coast RL is a strategic decision that will benefit our players and families in multiple ways: 1. Improved Travel and Geographic Efficiency: The newly formed Gulf Coast division of ECNL RL includes clubs that are closer in proximity to Coastal Rush, reducing the burden of travel for families and allowing for more efficient scheduling. We expect this change to save our families thousands in travel costs. 2. Continued Access to Top-Level Competition: This division resembles the old NPL, however, it has been strengthened by the removal of lower-tier teams and the addition and/or growth of several top-level clubs. These changes should create a new and challenging environment for our players and coaches. 3. National League Showcase Access: ECNL has informed Coastal Rush that, in addition to attending Regional League showcases as we have done in the past, we have earned access to National League showcases for the 25/26 season. Also, ECNL leadership has indicated that we can expect an invitation to participate in the ECNL-RL Leaders Cup. (a new competition for the nation’s top-performing RL clubs) Coastal Rush will continue to ensure our older teams participate in high-level college recruiting events. NOTE: Coastal Rush has had over 80 players sign for college in the last 2 Seasons. 4. Stronger Alignment with ECNL Structure: ECNL has informed Coastal Rush that the Gulf Coast division better aligns our club for potential future promotion into the National League as ECNL expansion continues. While the league changes, our goals remain the same: to develop top-level talent, provide meaningful competition, and prepare our players for collegiate and beyond. We are grateful to our families, coaches, and partners for their ongoing support. We can’t wait for this next chapter in the Coastal Rush journey! Stay tuned for tryout dates, updated match schedules, and more info coming soon. You can visit the links below to see how our Coastal Teams are currently performing in the Florida RL League. Coastal Rush Current ECNL-RL Standings Season 2024/2025: Boys Current Standing Girls Current Standing For more information on our 2025/2025 tryouts, please visit the link below where you can also submit any questions for the upcoming season.
Coastal Welcomes the Newly Formed Mobile United Rush
