Soccer clubs in Colorado range from recreational youth academies to top-flight professional teams affiliated with Major League Soccer. Whether you are a youngster looking to develop your skills or an established player in need of career advancement, the state's soccer clubs provide plenty of opportunities to help you progress through the sport.
Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids was one of the founding clubs of MLS. The team competed in the first-ever MLS season in 1996, and has since established itself as the biggest club in the state. Results have been inconsistent over the club's short history, but 2010 marked a high point when the team won the MLS Cup for the first time. The team plays its home games at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver.
Real Colorado
Real Colorado, based in Douglas County, offers recreational and competitive soccer to players of all ages. According to the club's website, Real Colorado serves 4,600 players and features more than 450 teams as of January 2011. The majority of these teams are recreational, but adult players looking for serious competitive soccer can try out for the Real Cougars or the Real Colorado Foxes, the club's two senior teams. The Foxes compete in the United Soccer League's Premier Development League, the third division of the National Soccer Pyramid and a training ground for future stars.
Colorado Rush
The Colorado Rush Soccer Club was established as a nonprofit organization in 1997. The club has since become an expansive youth academy with a number of teams encompassing various age groups. According to the Colorado Rush website, it serves more than 5,000 youth players on an annual basis. The club is based in Littleton, Colorado.
Colorado Fusion
The Colorado Fusion Soccer Club is a youth academy for players in Denver and Aurora. The club divides its teams into three developmental stages. The Junior Academy is for 5- to 8-year-olds, while the regular academy is for players between 9 and 14 years of age and features a further range of age-specific subdivisions. The Senior Academy is for players between 15 and 18, and provides a final testing ground for players wishing to take their soccer to the next level.
EDGE Soccer Club
The EDGE Soccer Club is based in Arvada, Colorado. The club offers a range of training and competitive programs based around five ability levels: developmental, high school, advanced, adult and special needs. In December 2010, eight of the club's youth players were selected to attend the U.S. National Team Camp, a prestigious tryout program aimed at identifying future players for the U.S. national youth teams.
Fort Collins Soccer Club
Fort Collins Soccer Club offers developmental and recreational programs for youth players as well as competitive league soccer for adults. The advanced club program, known as the Arsenal Colorado, provides competitive soccer to youth players between the ages of 10 and 18. Arsenal Colorado also competes in the USL's Super 20 women's program. Adult players can join up with various competitive teams within the Fort Collins club system.
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