According to the Aspen Institute, in the past 10 years, the number of children between the ages of 6-12 playing team sports in the United States has dropped by eight percent. Several Factor have contributed to this decline, inclduing location, transportation, and cost. To address these barriers, the Rapids are using the One Flag kit as a platform to provide local youth with greater access to soccer.
As part of the One Flag launch, the club is excited to announce a partnership with Colorado Soccer Foundation (CSF), a local nonprofit whose mission is to make the game of soccer accessible to all kids who want to play. CSF offers after-school programming, tournament and league play, as well as pick-up play for youth and adult. For the 2024-25 seasons, the Rapids are partnering with CSF to sponsor soccer-specific after-school programming in elementary schools within the Adams 14 school district. Students are coached by teachers from their schools, practice at their schools and play games at Soccer City Aurora. CSF partners with Positive Coaching Alliance to train the teacher-coaches to embrace the “power of positive” and to teach beginning soccer skills. In addition to the after-school programming, the Rapids will also be sponsoring free pick-up play at both DICK’S Sporting Goods Park and Soccer City Aurora during the summer months of June-August.