Outdoor
The Oysters and Pearls
Soccer Program
The CRMS soccer program provides an alternative athletic experience for our predominantly individualized sports by fielding a girls' and boys' Varsity squad that epitomizes team ethics and dynamics intrinsic in the game itself. The soccer program emphasizes skilled play, physical conditioning, and team building as essential components of the sport. The soccer program is noted for its dedicated players, passionate coaches, and high level of engaged play.Boys' Soccer:
The boys' Soccer Team can be competitive but also extremely fun to be a part of. We have the opportunity to test our skills against some larger schools in the area and play through the ups and downs of a full fall season. It is a great way to provide an exciting spark for the whole school, as we host many other schools at our games.Where we practice:
We practice at one of the most picturesque soccer pitches in Colorado, with Mount Sopris and its ever-changing fall face providing the backdrop.How we train:
We have a preseason camp to get ready for the fall and then start up with the whole team after our CRMS Wilderness Trip. While we are interested in overall fitness, we also recognize the need to play together as a team and work on our individual ball skills. Our training practices are balanced and challenging.How our campus gives athletes the competitive edge:
Because of our centrally located soccer field on campus, soccer games and practices bring a lot of support from our school’s community. Game-day cheer makes it difficult to steal a game from the Oysters on their home turf.Dedication:
Once the season is going, we practice for two hours a day Monday through Saturday, and game days can be eight-hour affairs with travel time and Varsity and Junior Varsity sides.What we offer:
Soccer at CRMS can often be very competitive, and we regularly challenge for one of the invited spots to the state tournament from our league. We offer both a Varsity and Junior Varsity team.Our competitive team:
We have 14-16 games over the course of the season, half of which are on our home field. We travel as far as Delta and Vail, both about an hour and a half away, as well as play against other teams in the Valley.Gear requirements:
Soccer cleats, CHSAA certified shin guards, a water bottle, and a ball (optional).Meet the girls' coach:
Amanda Leahy played soccer for her high school and college teams and has coached soccer at various high schools. She is now in her 11th year of coaching the CRMS girls' Soccer Team. She was a long-time assistant to AO Forbes and this years co-coached the boys' Soccer Team with Dan Pittz.Quote from the coach:
“I love doing it because the girls are awesome, fun, dedicated, crazy, silly, serious, tempestuous, trying, and—in the end—gratifying and rewarding to be around. We tend to solve life’s problems and laugh a lot while trolling the soccer pitch.”Meet the boys' coach:
Dan Pittz was an elementary school teacher looking for an extra outlet. He played soccer for Colorado University and is now in his 9th season of coaching at CRMS.Quote from the Coach:
“As cliché as it may sound, soccer is the world game, a beautiful game, and one that depends just as much on individual athletic skills and tactical management as it does on pure passion and emotion. Games can be absolutely beautifully orchestrated symphonies or pure rubbish, or both, but they are never not entertaining.”Girls' Soccer:
The team is a gritty group of girls who leave their hearts out on the field every gameWhere we team up us as Pearls:
The girls’ Soccer Team is named the Pearls after our school mascot and we team up every spring. At the beginning of the season we start with indoor practices in the gym. Once the snow, slush, and occasional deer scat is cleared off our soccer field, our players then head outdoors for their daily practices.How we train:
The team always trains with intention in mind. The girls have organized early morning sessions that focus on cardio and endurance. In the afternoons, we emphasize individual skills with a rotation of very active drills. We scrimmage incessantly in order to maximize "game day" scenarios. We also have a pretty cool cheer.How our campus gives athletes the competitive edge:
Our very own soccer field is located in the heart of our campus making training, practices, and games easily accessible. With our facilities and resources, the girls are used to a "go big or go home" attitude, and through this active program and training offerings, come game day, no one is going to push them around.Dedication:
The time commitment is intense: 5-6 days per week from the end of February to early May. As one of the few traditional team sports, dedication is everything because we are truly dependent on one another to ensure that we are primed and ready for each and every game.What we offer:
The girls field a Varsity team that competes in the spring High School League. All female participants, even if they are not Varsity, are invited to play as part of the squad.Our competitive team:
We participate in the Colorado High School Western Slope 3A League and, at times, play non-league games with larger schools. Both Varsity and Junior Varsity teams are formed which participate in the Colorado High School 3A League. Varsity plays approximately 14 games, 8 of which count for league standings. We compete against Aspen, Basalt, Rifle High School, Grand Valley, Vail Mountain School, Vail Christian, and Rangely with the goal of qualifying for states.Gear requirements:
Shin guards, cleats, a great attitude, a high tolerance for pain, and a large capacity for having fun are needed.
Girls' Coach: Amanda Leahy
Boys' Coach: Dan Pittz
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