Rush Wisconsin West - Ducks UPSL
Where does it all begin for Rush Wisconsin West and what led the organization to set up the UPSL Ducks?
Rush Wisconsin West began in 2015 with 90 youth players and has sense grown to over 500. The club attracts players from a 60-mile radius which includes residents from three states; Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The idea of adding a higher tier team to our club was built on the concept of wanting to bring next level soccer to our community.
Some clubs draw players right up through a youth funnel, some clubs attract local student-athletes; where does your UPSL side get its players from?
The Ducks intend to attract players from all different avenues - local alumni, Rush alumni from across the country, college players of all levels, etc. We will provide housing and job opportunities for our players. We want to draw from everywhere and we do not want any barriers to entry.
Rush Wisconsin West has a flourishing youth program, from which they may be able to recruit into their Adult UPSL side, once they’ve developed through the funnel.
The US Open Cup recently updated its calendar to begin rounds in early March. Would you be able to participate if you qualified? Any interest in pursuing Cup qualification?
Of course, there is interest, but we need to stay focused on creating our foundation first. We want to focus on creating a culture that players are dying to be a part of. If we can do that, the sky is the limit for the Ducks. That being said, if the majority of our roster is made up of NCAA players, our hands will be tied on participating based on the current Cup calendar.
The Ducks represents an extended opportunity for men to play soccer - has any thought been given to establishing a women’s side in WPSL or UWS?
Great question. Yes, if the Men’s side goes well, we will be looking to add a Women’s side in the future. With the current format and available competition, the WPSL could be a good fit for us. Whenever we add programming, we want to make sure we are concentrating on quality. Adding the teams one at a time will help ensure we are setting each team up properly for success. We want to be able to give each team the individual attention it deserves and needs.
Rush’s UPSL squad, the Ducks, are developing swag to help fund club operations. We’re in for one of these scarves!
Some clubs are just fantastic at branding & marketing, while others aren’t playing that game - does Rush need to draw fans and sell swag, or are you focused on other aspects of sustainability?
We will be looking at all avenues to help us create sustainability. However, we believe sustainability starts with having a good product. We want to create a team and culture that the community feels passionate about supporting. While ticket sales, concessions, and swag will help us - we will be focusing the majority of our sustainability efforts on gaining sponsorships and investors.
Looking to support the Ducks? Check out our sweet gear here. One of our new partners will be Capelli Sport. Capelli Sport has been awesome to work with and will keep our fans and players looking sharp!
What should we expect from the Ducks in 2019 - what are the club’s goals?
1. Create a player centered environment
2. Create a culture that the community feels passionate about supporting
3. Build relationships that will create sustainability
The UPSL Ducks are looking to above and beyond at their level of play – potentially providing housing and pay!