US Soccer Development Academy Teams

In August of 2007 the Rapids Soccer Academy was accepted as a charter member of US Soccer’s Development Academy. The Development Academy program was developed to enhance the development of the country’s top players through high technical standards and a focus on meaningful competition.

 

The Colorado Rapids U16 and U18 Development Academy teams were formed in accordance with Major League Soccer’s 2007 Homegrown Player Initiative.

 Our goal is to create a program for each player that will allow him to reach his full potential, whatever that may be. For the majority of our players college soccer will be the pinnacle of their careers, but a select few will have the ability to play beyond that level. Major League Soccer now allows clubs to create a clear path from amateur soccer to the professional league while retaining the rights to the players that they help develop. The Academy’s top players in each age group will be identified as Homegrown Players after spending 12 months in the program. A Homegrown Player who is talented enough to play in MLS will now have the ability to sign a Generation Adidas contract for his hometown club and not be placed in the MLS SuperDraft.

 

Evaluating players for the DA teams is a year long process. We scout league games, host local and regional evaluation sessions, watch high school games and bring players in to train with our current teams. The process concludes with a final tryout in July. Initial rosters will be set after this tryout, but the Academy may add players at anytime during the year.

 

Training for these teams begins in November at the completion of high school season in the fall. Development Academy teams will train a minimum of three times per week at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Development Academy season begins with league games in November and ends with the Academy Finals in July.

 

Registration, coaching, referee and facilities fees as well as uniforms are provided by the Academy for these players. Actual travel costs and college preparation fees are the responsibility of each player.

  

  

 

For all players in adidas Alliance clubs (Colorado Fusion, Colorado Storm, Colorado Springs Pride, and Boulder Force), please contact your cl u b's Director of Coaching for tryout information.