February 15, 2022

Determined Dream Pursuit

Hawaii Rush standout Aislynn Crowder continues chasing Pro dream in Europe

 

Growing up in Hawaii, Aislynn Crowder had aspirations of playing professional soccer—she just wasn’t sure how far she could go. Now, she’s on the verge of reaching one of her biggest goals.

 

“When you live in Hawaii, you don’t get as many opportunities as other players,” she said. “I was hesitant to think I could continue playing at a higher level.”

 

Until she started getting recruited to play for major colleges.

 

“When coaches started talking to me, I started to think that maybe I could play in college and play professionally,” said Aislynn, who played club soccer for Hawaii Rush.

 

However, after playing her freshman season at UCLA, a delayed one due to the pandemic, in the spring of 2021, she was certain of what she wanted to do, just not the way she wanted to do it.

 

“I decided to just take a step back after my freshman year because I came to the realization that college—not just UCLA where I had good coaches and teammates, but college in general—just wasn’t for me,” she said. “So I decided to start pursuing professional soccer because it was something that I wanted to pursue for myself right now.”

 

In mid-January, Aislynn’s journey toward signing a professional contract just two years removed from high school took a big step forward when she had the opportunity to try out with several European clubs.

 

“When I was thinking about leaving school, I called my club coaches back in Hawaii,” Aislynn said. “I told them I wasn’t sure if I could do this any more, and they were like, ‘It’s okay. You’re fine.’ So just to hear that was encouraging for me. And then they all started working to help me take the next step.”

 

Working in conjunction with her former coaches and Rush CEO Tim Schultz, who she trained with when she was younger, Aislynn landed a few opportunities to show off her skills in hopes of landing a contract.

 

She spent a week training with Sweden’s IFK Kalmar club before training with GPSO 92 Issy in France. After that, she retreated further south to Valencia, Spain to train with Valencia FC in a climate that she’s found much more agreeable to her Hawaii roots.

 

“Every time we trained in Sweden, I had to be bundled up,” she said. “They don’t care how cold it is there, they just go out and play. But Valencia feels a little more like the weather I’m used to back home.”

 

But Aislynn isn’t picky as she sets her sights on achieving a long-time dream, grateful for the way Rush has not only helped her get this opportunity but prepared her for it as well.

 

“There’s so much that Rush has done for me,” Aislynn said. “I think the coaches and the teams where we had such good chemistry, that was all helpful in my development. But they prepared me a lot for not just soccer itself, but for life too. I think the best thing about them is how my Rush coaches are like second parents to me. They helped me get through some hard times in my life. And I think they prepared me super well mentally and physically for life.”

 

While getting a professional contract is a big goal for her, there’s still a bigger one looming out there—representing her country on the women’s national team.

 

Aislynn, who has been consistently called up to USWNT camps since 2017, hasn’t let go of that dream either. And with a crop of fresh faces replacing long-time fixtures on the roster for the USWNT’s upcoming SheBelieves tournament, she found renewed hope in that dream.

 

“I was kind of shocked when I first found out about the roster changes,” she said. “But it was also really inspiring for me. It made me want to work harder. If the national team is giving younger players a chance to make it on the big stage, that pushes me and motivates me to work even harder.”

The post Determined Dream Pursuit appeared first on Rush Soccer.

Hudl Flex User Guide

By Lucas Sampaio • October 10, 2024
Coastal Families, Hudl TV has been a fantastic addition to our game streaming this season. Below, you'll find links to the Hudl Flex User Guide to assist anyone responsible for setting up and recording with the Hudl Flex cameras. We also have a recorded video call from Hudl with our Coastal Rush players that covers some helpful topics. Be sure to check out these helpful tutorials and resources for Coaches, Team Managers, Athletes, and Parents: Athletes Guide to Hudl : Share this out with athletes and parents for a walk through of all things Hudl on the Athletes side of things Coaches/Managers Resource Guide : Share this out with coaches for a step by step walk through of the Hudl platform on the coaches/managers side of things Coastal Rush Hudl Fan Landing Page : Share this out with friends and family who can’t attend games in person and want to watch via livestream If you have any additional questions, please email Coach Kyle at kyle@coastalrush.com.

Coastal Rush Soccer Breaks Record with 57 Player College Commitments for Fall 2024

By Lucas Sampaio • June 24, 2024
[Pensacola, FL, June 24, 2024] - Coastal Rush Soccer, a soccer club within the largest youth soccer organization in the world, is celebrating a remarkable achievement with a record-breaking year of college commitments for Fall 2024. The National average for high school soccer players continuing their athletic journey in college stands at 7.5%, but Coastal Rush Soccer has surpassed expectations with an impressive 57 college commitments, which is 5x the national average. This outstanding success is directly attributed to Coastal Rush’s College Advisory Program (CAP). The announcement of 57 college commitments sets Coastal Rush Soccer apart as a leader in nurturing young soccer talent and providing them with opportunities to further their education while pursuing their sports dreams. The organization's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes has clearly paid off, with a significant number of players set to embark on their college soccer careers in the upcoming fall. Rush Soccer's College Advisory Program (CAP) has been a great resource in guiding players through the college recruitment process, ensuring that they are well-equipped to make informed decisions about their future. The local CAP offerings led by John Michael Guidroz, Felipe Lawall and Nick Cooper offer personalized support and expert advice, the CAP has empowered players to explore their options and find the best fit for their academic and athletic aspirations. "Our College Advisory Program (CAP) team is dedicated to empowering players through the college recruitment process. With a proven track record of exceeding the national average in college commitments by 5x times, CAP offers unparalleled support and guidance to families. No other club equips players for success quite like Rush Soccer. We are very proud of all of our athletes that will be attending college, for athletics and academic excellence,” said Josh Tyler, Global CAP Director for Rush Soccer. Kyle Sealy, Boys Director of Coastal Rush Soccer, adds, “By prioritizing academic excellence and holistic development, Coastal Rush has created a pathway for young athletes to pursue their passion for soccer while securing their future through higher education. We are very proud of each of our players for attacking the recruiting process head on and finding a fit for themselves academically as well as programs that fit their needs as individual players” Kenny Skinner, Girls Director of Coastal Rush Soccer, also adds, “We at the club would like to show our gratitude to all those who have helped the players find their fit at the next level. In addition to our local CAP directors we also have many great coaches and directors at the home club who have helped our student athletes. Also lastly, a big congratulations to all the players in making this next step!” As Coastal Rush Soccer continues to make a mark in the world of youth soccer development, the organization's emphasis on empowering student-athletes to achieve success both on and off the field remains at the core of its mission. With 57 college commitments for Fall 2024, Rush Soccer is setting a new standard for player development and college preparedness in the soccer community.

Coastal Rush Spring Update

By John Guidroz • March 22, 2024
Quick Spring Update 2024
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