The Colorado Rush Player Pathway is designed to guide talented and dedicated players from the foundational stages of soccer to the professional level. Represented by the Rush Pyramid, this pathway is built on Rush Soccer's Core Values, development programs, and elite opportunities. Each step provides a clear path for players to advance their soccer careers, whether they are just starting or aiming for the top leagues globally.
Nine steps from your first season at a local Rush club to top-tier professional soccer. Tap a level to see what it takes.
Recreational soccer introduces players to the game in a fun and engaging way.
It suits players who want to enjoy soccer at a level that matches their team, without a strong focus on competition. Parent volunteers coach the teams, with training plans from the Director of Coaching.
For players who want to advance and prepare for higher-level competitive play.
The Competitive Division trains with licensed coaches who refine dribbling, passing and shooting and build them into the Rush Style of Play. Formal tryouts run from late May to early June, and players can also trial with a team throughout the year.
Rush competitive teams compete in the Colorado Soccer Association League, also known as CSA.
CSA handles divisional placement and game scheduling, with games against clubs from around the state. Players in some regions can also be selected for the NPL platform, which offers more meaningful games, less travel and a pathway to postseason competition. Some Colorado Springs girls' teams also play in the N1L.
Elite teams compete on national platforms: girls in the Development Player League (DPL) and boys in the Elite Academy League (EA).
The DPL bridges the gap between local competition and elite-level play, with a focus on player development and college exposure. The EA brings together top-tier clubs with a unified approach to player development. Both prepare players for collegiate, professional and international soccer. Top players can also be nominated by their club or scouted for Rush Select, the all-star teams of top Rush players worldwide from U13 to U19.
The ECNL Regional League extends the ECNL's model to high-performing teams, with reduced travel.
Organized into geographic conferences, it focuses on player development and college exposure, with strong competition standards and more accessible participation. Coaches evaluate players and decide placement at Talent ID Days.
The Elite Clubs National League brings together the nation's top youth soccer clubs.
Regional conferences compete locally and nationally, and the league helps identify players for U.S. National Teams. Here, top Rush players are compared to the talent of the country on a consistent basis. Teams train three times a week and travel out of state. MLS NEXT is the other top boys' league in the country, and the Rush Select Academy and Spain Rush-SPF offer year-round residential programs.
Once a player has aged out of youth soccer, it's off to college.
For college-aged athletes aiming for a professional career, Rush Soccer offers leagues with high-level competition and exposure that keep players sharp in the off season. The College Advisory Program supports players and parents through the college search.
If college isn't your thing or you're ready for the next step, compete in DII or DIII professional leagues.
Rush Soccer provides unique pathways for girls with Dimas Escazú, a DII professional women's team in Costa Rica, and for boys with TFA Dubai's professional team in the UAE.
The final step: top tier Division I professional soccer.
For male players, Varaždin Rush competes in the Croatian First Division, one of Europe's top levels. For female players, SKN St. Pölten Rush competes in the Austrian Women's Bundesliga and is a regular contender in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
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