As the Rapids’ U17/18 team begins play in the Development Academy championships on Friday evening in Carson, Calif., the club is on the cusp of making a major soccer statement for the state considering no Colorado team has ever won a Development Academy title.
Beyond that, the amateur club that’s enabled by the homegrown player rule — which allows MLS franchises to sign Development Academy players directly to first-team rosters — is also evidence of the professional team’s increased emphasis on developing and retaining grassroots talent.
“We’ve had two other teams that have done quite well with playoff runs in the Development Academy, and both of those teams had a pair of homegrown players,” explained Brian Crookham, the Rapids’ Senior Director of Soccer Development.