In July 2020, the Colorado Rapids launched an online school program sponsored by the Audi Goals Drive Progress initiative. The program was designed to align player education with the demands of elite player development. To deliver this, the Academy partnered with Colorado Connections Academy (CCA) providing student-athletes with a comprehensive, NCAA-eligible online education platform.
Since its launch, the school program has grown into a central pillar of the Rapids Academy. It is now overseen by a full-time Academy Head of School (a role created in 2025) and supported by two Academic Advisors. Together, they work closely with student-athletes to monitor grades, ensure compliance with coursework, coordinate academic check-ins and schedule extracurricular activities, and volunteer opportunities.
The Head of School also collaborates with the Safeguarding department, Player Welfare Manager, Academy technical staff, and families to ensure every player’s academic, athletic, and holistic development is fully supported. Today, the program serves 58 high-school-aged Academy players across the U15–U19 age groups.
The Colorado Rapids are committed to providing talented young players with the opportunity to progress toward the first team. The Academy’s online school program has become a critical tool in supporting this pathway, ensuring that players can excel both academically and athletically.
The program provides student-athletes and the club with:
1. Flexibility: Players can participate in first team training without compromising their academic schedule or progress.
2. Developmental Contact Time: Increased time on and off the field with senior Academy players and the first-team pool, allowing staff to focus on individual development plans tailored to each player’s strengths and areas for growth.
3. Access to Resources: Greater availability of training facilities and support staff, enabling performance and medical teams to better manage physical development and training loads.
4. Performance Feedback: Enhanced opportunities for video and data analysis staff to deliver meaningful insights on training and match performances.
5. Strength & Conditioning: More dedicated time for targeted physical development.
6. Holistic Growth: Increased daily interactions that strengthen interpersonal skills, nutritional habits, lifestyle choices, and emotional resilience.
7. Academic Support: A superior student-to-advisor ratio compared to most traditional school settings, ensuring close monitoring and personalized academic guidance.