The Durango Rapids Player Identity
“Developing the person, not just the player.”
1. The Foundation: Core Values (The "Who")
Character: Integrity on and off the pitch.
Commitment: Dedicated to personal and team growth.
Work Ethic: Relentless effort in every transition.
Selflessness: The team’s success is the priority.
Leadership: Leading through action and positive communication.
2. Technical Profile (The "How")
We prioritize players who are technically "clean" and intentional with every touch.
Dribbling Mechanics
Surfaces: Mastery of all parts of the foot (inside, outside, sole, laces).
The Move: Using feints and changes of direction to unbalance defenders.
The Explode: A decisive burst of speed after the move to exit into space.
Passing & Receiving Essentials
Back Foot Receiving: Keeping hips open toward the field and teammates to maximize vision.
1st Touch Forward: An aggressive first touch into space to maintain attacking momentum.
Inside of Foot: The "Gold Standard" for accuracy in both receiving and passing.
Communication: Every pass is accompanied by a verbal or visual cue.
3. Tactical Profile (The "Why")
Our players are "Game Intelligent," understanding how to manipulate space and opponents.
Game Model Principles
Big Shape / Small Shape: Expanding the field when we have the ball (Big) to create gaps; contracting and becoming compact when we don't (Small).
Draw Pressure: Using the build-out line to invite the opponent in, creating space behind their first line of defense.
Numerical Advantage (Overload): Identifying and creating 2v1 or 3v2 situations to bypass defenders.
Support Play: Always providing the ball-carrier with at least three options: Left, Right, and Central.
Find the Free Player: Recognizing where the numerical advantage is. We understand that it is OK to go backwards to find a switch or a free teammate.
4. Physical & Mental Traits
Grit & Endurance: Solid fitness baseline; we outlast the opponent.
Cognitive Maturity: Making "pro-active" decisions rather than "re-active" ones.
Resilience: Maintaining composure and work ethic under pressure.
5. The Playing Model in Action
We apply our principles across all formats to ensure a seamless transition as players age up.
Small-Sided Games (U9–U12): Focus on high-frequency touches and immediate application of Game Model Principles in tight spaces.
Full-Sided Games (U13+): Translating technical mastery into 11v11 tactical systems, emphasizing sustained possession and high-press intensity.
Super-Strength Focus: Identifying a player’s unique "X-Factor" (e.g., elite 1v1 defending or clinical finishing) and integrating it into the team’s tactical system.