This program is for those players (6 years old to under 19 years old) who play for the love of the game. All of the coaches in the Recreational Program are volunteer coaches and donate their time to help our youth players and community. The recreational teams play a six to eight-week schedule in the fall and spring and will generally practice one to two times a week. There is no tournament travel in the recreational program.  Games will be local to the Northern Hills/Rapid City area.  

U7 to U19 - 6-year-olds up to 18-year-olds

Game/Practice Schedule:

U7/U8: Teams practice 1-2 times per week; Games on Saturdays
U9-U12: Teams practice 2-3 times per week; Games on Saturdays
U13/U14(Coed): Teams practice 1-2 times per week; 8v8 Games on Tuesdays
U15+(Coed): Teams practice 1-2 times per week; 8v8 games on Thursdays

Visit our Recreational Program page for more information. 

The Pre-Select Program is for competitive U8 - U10 players. We have created a training structure and curriculum that is the best in the region.  The program consists of three practices a week - two circuit style-training sessions and one individual team training (fall and spring), focusing on developing:

• Technically sound players confident with the ball at their feet and pressure coming at them (aggressive dribblers);
• Proper techniques on dribbling, using fakes and faints, passing and receiving while adding pressure, and to start making basic soccer decisions; and
• Continuing to build a love for the game.

All Pre-Select teams are coached by our professional coaches and will play friendly games on the weekends or they will compete in 2-3 tournament weekends each season (fall, winter, and spring). These young players will have schedules built with a proper work-to-rest ratio and will have many weeks of breaks built into the schedule to assure the players do not lose that enthusiasm to play the game of soccer.

Visit our Pre-Select Program page for more information.

The Select teams (U11 – U19) are coached by our professionally licensed coaches and follow the Colorado Rapids curriculum to ensure we provide the best training program in the region. Our coaches are required to advance their coaching education through national licensing courses and the Club’s in-house education program. Players train three days a week (fall and spring), and one to two days a week in winter (indoor Futsal) focusing on: 

• High-quality training;
• Playing in the top College Showcase events in the country to advance players with college/professional aspirations and/or playing at the most competitive event possible;
• Competing in the South Dakota State Championship and advancing to the US Soccer Regional Championship or the US Soccer President’s Cup (U13 and older);
• Assisting players with college recruitment;
• Going to the smartest and most cost-effective events for their level; and
• Getting proper rest and recovery.

Players will play in three to four competitive tournaments during each season (locally or regionally), and play matches on the weekends. Roster sizes may vary from team to team and tournament selection will be dependent on the skill of each team.  All Black Hills Rapids teams will work through a carefully planned schedule that assures proper work-to-rest ratios and players will have multiple 6-8 week breaks throughout the year. Player commitment is mandatory to be able to play on one of the Select teams.

Visit our Select Program page for more information.