As we move into a more safe and vaccinated reality, and likely tournament season, we want to make sure that the lessons we've been learning from Black Lives Matter and our commitment to racial equity do not get forgotten. We want to center our commitment to our BIPOC community (both local and ultimate) as we return to play in Aurora, Colorado. We also want to uplift the recommendations of a task force of Black players and Aurora community members- it is these recommendations that are informing how we are holding tournaments. This also provides you, our community, with the ability to hold us and USAU accountable to our commitments.  

We invite you to sign up today to try out for Cutthroat 2021! Tryouts start this Sunday, May 16th! 

REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS

Colorado Cutthroat is Colorado's premier youth ultimate club program. These teams represent Colorado at the National and regional levels. Players build strong bonds with leaders on other local teams and develop the skills they need to compete at the highest levels of the sport. 

We are excited to return to play and are sure you are too! We want to assure you that getting back to the fun will not come at the expense of safety. We have undertaken a rigorous "Return to Play Safely" protocol to increase the safety of all players, coaches, and families. These vigorous safety precautions include enhanced sanitation of equipment, program modifications to reduce close contact, social distancing on the sidelines, and more (full list of protocols).

Players develop together over the summer, during an intense practice each week led by expert coaches around Colorado. On top of training players to excel in knowledge, skills, and Spirit of the Game, coaches also teach Character Development based on the Cutthroat Code: Character, Community, and Competition.

REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS

Colorado Cutthroat is based on 3 tenets:

• Character: Cutthroat players treat ourselves, our teammates, our opponents, our coaches, and all others with respect. We hold ourselves to high spirit of the game standards as teams and individuals, and work to represent ourselves, our team, and our state in the most positive light.
• Community:  Cutthroat is a close and caring community. We take care of each other, emotionally and physically. We work to bring new members into our community and support the development of everyone within our community.
• Competition: As the elite youth club team, we are competitive. Regardless of who we play or what the score, we are constantly pushing ourselves and our teammates to play as competitively as possible

Contact Cutthroat Director

WHAT IS YCC?

Youth Club Championships (YCC) is a national tournament that takes place in early August in Minnesota. Participating cities each send a boys’, girls’, and mixed team. 

WHY IS YCC AWESOME?

Playing for one of Colorado’s YCC teams is an incredible experience. You get to play alongside some of the best youth Ultimate players from around the Denver/Boulder metro area. The coaching corps are highly experienced, passionate, and dedicated (and most of ‘em still play ultimate pretty darn well, too). The tournament itself is an amazing experience to play high-level ultimate with and against youth from all over the country.

DO WE PRACTICE?

To prepare for the high level of competition, we practice Thursdays (6 pm-dark) in Lakewood and Sundays (4-7 pm) in Lakewood.

We are also providing multiple opportunities for players to develop cohesion before the Youth Club Championships! The big opportunities are:

• 6/19-6/20: Summer Solstice at Stenger Soccer Complex in Arvada (U-20 Boys, Mixed, and Girls)
• 7/10-11: Colorado Cup Classic division (U-20 Boys, Mixed, and Girls)
• 8/07-8/09: Youth Club Championships in Blaine, MN with travel on 7/31 (Girls, U20 Boys, and U17 Boys)
• Date TBD: Club Sectionals (U-20 Mixed and Boys)*

* Practices between YCC and Club sectionals (2 months) will be once a week on Sundays

Also, most YCC team members play in the Denver or Boulder Youth League.

2021 CUTTHROAT TRYOUT DATES

This is a tryout series, and players are expected to make all tryouts (unless excused by Coach Hannah). This allows coaches to get the most well-rounded look at players' skills and abilities.

• Location: Location has changed- we will be at Washington Heights for all events (tryouts and practices)
• U17 Update: Currently we are lacking in numbers. Please invite friends you want to play with. We will likely not be doing tryouts- this is a great opportunity to develop your skills and get to know players on other teams!
• Girls: Currently numbers are lacking. We will be having monthly clinics (more info to come!). Read more about our mixed team below! 
• Mixed: We will be having a mixed team with awesome coaches, Ari Nelson and Thomas Echols. 
• U15 Fry: With U17 delayed, we will plan to just to straight into our first official practice on Thursday, May 27th, 6 pm at Washington Heights Park. Fry's head coach will be Cruz Alvarez-Machado. Practices will be Tuesdays at Harvey Park and Thursdays at Wash Heights at 6 pm. 

FOR U20 Boys Tryouts on Sunday (all others are delayed… read above)

1. Remember- tryouts are at Washington Heights Park (6375 W 1st Ave., Lakewood)... seriously, Wash Heights (park in the gravel lot near the art center)
2. Be cleated and ready to run by 4 pm 

REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS

DOES IT COST MONEY?

This season the cost to participate in Cutthroat U17 Boys, U20 Boys, and U20 Girls will be $650, Cutthroat Mixed and U15 costs $350. The bulk of this cost comes from travel expenses and lodging for our three traveling tournaments and the cost of fields. AYU believes that all players should have access to participate, and there are opportunities to apply for financial aid. If you need this, please make sure to note this in your registration.

Also, this year we are partnering with Sports Refund, a low-cost sports fee insurance that reimburses your registration fees if your athlete becomes injured or sick and can’t play.

Sports Refund coverage:

• Reimburses 100% of registration fees for time lost
• Includes athletes diagnosed with COVID-19
• Extends both on and off the court
• Relieves pressure on your child to hide or downplay injuries
• Has fast, easy sign-up and simple, stress-free claims

The best part? Sports Refund’s individual rate is just 4.25% of fees, providing low-risk peace of mind for your family. If they can’t play, you don’t pay. It’s that simple.

To learn more or sign up for Sports Refund

Contact Cutthroat Director

After a challenging 2020 is so many way, we will be back this year to provide as many leagues, camps, clinics, tournaments, and community programs as we can for as many kids as possible. We ask you to please support AYU's vital work by linking your King Soopers and Amazon Smile accounts and by showing your support through our Colorado ONE Team gear from Breakmark.