REAL COLORADO ACADEMY PROGRAM
The Badge on the Front. The Future Behind It.
The Real Colorado Academy: Where Future Legends Begin.
Our Academy Program is the cornerstone of elite youth development at Real Colorado — a proven pathway for high-potential players to reach their next level, on and off the field. With a focus on individual growth, technical excellence, and tactical understanding, our Academy builds complete players ready to compete at the highest levels.
In 2025, Real Colorado Academy teams will compete in the ECNL Texas Conference, one of the nation's most competitive and prestigious platforms. The ECNL delivers top-tier competition, unmatched exposure, and a holistic approach to player development. It’s more than a league — it’s a launchpad.
The journey starts here. The future is Real.
Real Colorado alumni who came through our academy program include Ethan Horvath, Tajon Buchanan, Tidaine Dia, Taylor Kemp, Ryan Sailor, Ian Smith and Adam Beaudry to name a few! Check out our Wall of Fame
If you are a player who is currently playing at the highest level in your club and looking for something more, please reach out and find out what more looks like. Our elite programming isn’t for just anyone, but it might be great for you.
Real Colorado Futures
The Real Colorado Academy Futures Program will be brought to you by Real Colorado; this program is designed to expose U10-U13 players and families to Real Colorado’s Academy environment. Every session will be led by Academy staff, the Club’s lead directors and special guest coaches with the aim of serving players from both inside and outside Real Colorado. Players from any of our Real Colorado communities can be recommended, and players outside can request an invite at any time during the year.
Futures is comprised of weekly training and educational sessions throughout the year broken down into two segments, spring, and fall, with additional opportunities available in the summer and winter seasons. Through this program, players can periodically participate in selected sessions with the opportunity to progress towards scrimmages, games, Academy matches, or external events through club partnerships. The intent is exposure and not displacement from their current environments.
The aim of Futures is to serve as an introductory program for players, parents, and clubs to allow more time to explore Real Colorado’s national platforms (ECNL and ECNL-RL), and ensure a proper fit is made for both player and club. The program will allow Real Colorado to play a greater role in the development of more players across the state without the player or club immediately having to commit to an academy program.
Please reach out to Shawn Comegys with any questions
Fall 2025/Spring 2026 Coaching Assignments
The Real Colorado staff is excited to announce our coaches for the upcoming Academy, ECNL and ECNL-RL teams. Even as we are confident in the accuracy of these decisions, it’s important to stress a player is accepting a position on a team at Real Colorado. Further, it’s our expectation if there are future changes to the coaching lineup, the experience for the player and her team will remain consistent.
Real Colorado Academy
(ECNL - Texas)
‘07/’08 Boys - Mike Garnhart
‘09 Boys - Ben Fredrickson
‘10 Boys - TBA
‘11 Boys - Ri Armstrong
‘12 Boys - Shawn Comegys
‘13 Boys - Tito Ward
Real Colorado National
(ECNL - Mountain)
Real Colorado Athletico
(ECNL - RL Mountain)
Real Colorado Nat’l North (ECNL - RL Mountain)