North Meck Soccer Club to become Carolina Rapids in partnership with MLS’s Colorado Rapids
North Meck Soccer Club and the Colorado Rapids have reached an agreement to become part of the Rapids adidas Alliance, with the North Carolina club changing its name to Carolina Rapids Soccer Club.
North Meck joins the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club as part of the Rapids adidas Alliance.
North Meck, based in Cornelius, N.C., just north of Charlotte, currently has a membership of more than 3,900 boys and girls of all ages and abilities, and the club is also a member of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy.
“Joining forces with North Meck is an exciting opportunity for us to create a player development model unique to the region.” said Rapids Sr. Director of Youth Development Brian Crookham in a release. “They already have a tremendous structure that keeps the best interest of each player in mind, and we’re looking forward to growing with their staff, players, administrators and parents as part of our Rapids Alliance.”
As part of the Rapids adidas Alliance, the Carolina Rapids will work with the Rapids staff to provide common coaching and parent education, and will receive administrative support from Rapids Academy staff, who will be on site several times throughout the year.
The clubs will also work together on future business initiatives and provide players experiences on both the team and individual level.
“We are excited to be partnering with an organization that shares our values about youth soccer development,” said Juan Miyares, president of the North Meck Soccer Club in the release. “This alliance will allow the North Meck Soccer Club to provide an even higher level of service to our members with resources that will benefit players across all our programs.”
In a story on DavidsonNews.net, North Meck executive director Thomas Finlay said the club will be hosting Colorado Rapids men’s and women’s teams in the future, likely through a preseason game.
DavidsonNews.net also reported that the North Meck club took about five months to consider the deal, and that there are potential revenues it could earn as a result, with the club seeing this as the best fit for its future.
About the Colorado Rapids adidas Alliance
On June 9, 2009, the Colorado Rapids launched the Rapids adidas Alliance, established to create a working relationship with existing youth soccer clubs that it says will benefit soccer development through shared resources and a focus on individual player development.
