Overview
Colorado Rapids has made the decision to prioritize player development as a key tool in developing players for the 1st team roster. The club has opted to invest in youth player development programming to provide a pathway for talented young players to be identified and developed by the club with the goal of preparing the player for professional soccer with the club’s first team. The player becomes eligible to be identified as a Homegrown Player (Professional Contract) after the player has spent 12 months training and playing in the Academy program.
The Colorado Rapids Academy was formed in accordance with Major League Soccer’s 2006 Homegrown Player Initiative. The Academy program is designed to identify and develop players that can ultimately play meaningful minutes for the Colorado Rapids first team. Launched in the spring of 2007, the Academy initially participated in the Super Y League. In August of 2007, the Rapids Soccer Academy was accepted as a charter member of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy, a nationwide youth development initiative, organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation, created to enhance the development of the country’s top players through high technical standards and a focus on meaningful competition.
In February 2013, the Colorado Rapids announced all Academy teams would be fully funded by the club. The Rapids’ program has now grown to include Academy teams at the U13, U-14, U-15, U-16 & U18 levels, with all administrative, coaching, facilities, equipment, travel and other costs covered by the club.
In 2020, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced the dissolution of the Development Academy. Major League Soccer stepped in to fill the void with the launch of MLS NEXT, a new elite youth development platform created by Major League Soccer in collaboration with the top youth academies around the country. MLS NEXT ushered in the future of player development in North America. The Colorado Rapids kicked off its inaugural season of MLS NEXT with U-19 and U-17 matches against Real Colorado on September 11, 2020, at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. The match was streamed to thousands of spectators to launch the new league. Since its inception MLS NEXT has evolved to include U15, U16 & U18 pro pathway divisions that ensure MLS teams are guaranteed that the majority of their competition is against MLS academies. In addition, as of 2025/2026 MLS Academies now play MLS NEXT Flex games against Elite Academies (Non-MLS) in an age division one year older.
For more information about MLS NEXT, please visit MLSSoccer.com/MLSNEXT.
How are the Rapids Academy teams different?
The Rapids Academy is an elite player pathway to the Rapids first team providing the platform to compete in MLS and MLS NEXT Pro with Rapids 2. The Colorado Rapids Academy teams play in the highest level of youth soccer in the US participating in MLS NEXT with U15, U16 & U18 teams playing in the Homegrown division and the U13 & U14 age group teams playing in the Frontier Division. When appropriate, High Potential Academy players are afforded the opportunity to train with our professional teams as a part of their ongoing development. All training and games take place at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, where players have access to top facilities both on and off the field. Our staff has created an environment that affords each player the support and programing to reach their potential.
How are players selected for the Rapids Academy teams?
Evaluating players for the Academy teams is a year-long process. Registered Academy players are subject to ongoing evaluation and rostered to teams appropriate to their developmental level. Our scouting department is responsible for evaluating talent locally and nationally through game and video observation. The Club will also host local and regional evaluation sessions along with inviting players into market to trial with our current teams to evaluate their suitability to become full-time members of the program. Please visit the Player Identification section for further information.
When and where do the teams train?
Full-time training for the Rapids Academy begins in August of each year. Our teams typically train Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. The U18 & U16 age levels train in the morning and complete their schooling online at the stadium post training each day. The U15 age group has the option to opt in to the online school program. These players participate in morning small group training sessions at Dicks sporting Goods Park. The U15, U14 & U13 teams train early in the evening on the turf fields at DSGP. There will be training and/or games played on Saturdays and Sundays each week. We have two artificial fields and three grass fields at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, which serve as our training home.
What is the schedule like?
Academy players commit to a 10-month schedule. During that period, players will participate exclusively in Colorado Rapids training sessions and approved competition. The training segments will be as follows (subject to adjustment):
- Fall Segment: August – Mid-December
- Winter Break: Mid December – Mid-January
- Spring/Summer Segment: Mid-January – Mid June
What costs are associated with the program?
Players do not pay to participate in the Colorado Rapids Academy. All coaching, facilities, registration, travel, meals and equipment are provided for the players who participate in the Rapids Academy. Players must provide their own transportation to and from practice.
Do you help with the college search process?
While the mission of our Academy is to produce players for our first team, the majority of our players will go on to play college soccer at a level that suits their academic and athletic talents as part of their development pathway. We feel it is important to start the college search process early. The club provides educational sessions for our players beginning with the U-16 teams. These sessions are age group/grade level specific and are made available to all high school age groups. In addition, our staff is in constant communication with college coaches. We are in the unique position of not only sending players off to college, but we are also monitoring players for summer training programs and the MLS SuperDraft. The relationships built with college coaches through this process ultimately benefits all the players in our program.
