Please note that all 2020-2021 tryout dates are subject to change due to a postponement in programming. Updates will be shared in the coming weeks
2020-2021 Challenge Tryouts
High School Boys Tryouts
Challenge High School Boys Tryouts, for players born 2006-2002 will be held in December at WRAL Soccer Park. Registration for Challenge High School Boys Tryouts will open in mid-October. Please check our home page, challenge tryout page, and social media pages for updates and announcements.
New Challenge Players
All prospective Challenge players must register and attend tryouts in order to be evaluated and potentially placed on a team.
Returning Challenge Players
Returning Challenge players who want to be placed on a new Challenge team must register and attend tryouts. These player will be removed from their previous roster and placed in the tryout pool.
2012 (U9) Program
The 2012 (U9) age group is a developmental portion of the Challenge program. All U9 players are required to attend Challenge tryouts again in the following Fall to be selected for a U10 team. This means all U9 Challenge players must tryout to make U10, this is done to ensure parity at the U10 level and above.
Dates and Times
Tryout check-in opens 45 minutes prior to the start of the first day of tryouts for each age group. Please plan to arrive to the complex at least 30 minutes prior to the start tryouts each day.
All Challenge tryouts will be held at WRAL Soccer Park.
Girls Challenge Tryouts |
| HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS |
| Age Group | | Date | | Time |
| 2003/2002 (U18/19) | | Friday, May 29 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2004 (U17) | | Friday, May 29 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2005 (U16) | | Friday, May 29 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2006 (U15) | | Friday, May 29 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| YOUNGER GIRLS |
| Age Group | | Date | | Time |
| 2007 (U14) | | Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
| 2008 (U13) | | Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
| 2009 (U12) | | Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4 | | 6:00PM - 7:30PM
6:00PM - 7:30PM |
| 2010 (U11) | | Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4 | | 6:00PM - 7:30PM
6:00PM - 7:30PM |
| 2011 (U10) | | Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
| 2012 (U9) | | Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
Boys Challenge Tryouts |
| YOUNGER BOYS |
| Age Group | | Date | | Time |
| 2007 (U14) | | Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
| 2008 (U13) | | Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
| 2009 (U12) | | Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4 | | 6:00PM - 7:30PM
6:00PM - 7:30PM |
| 2010 (U11) | | Wednesday, June 3
Thursday, June 4 | | 6:00PM - 7:30PM
6:00PM - 7:30PM |
| 2011 (U10) | | Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
| 2012 (U9) | | Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
2:00PM - 3:30PM |
Tryout Details
Our intent is to have Challenge teams at every age group and gender in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Garner, Holly Springs, and Durham-Chapel Hill. Whether or not teams will be formed in each region depends upon try-out numbers and Challenge Director's discretion.
All tryout check-in will be in the Fitness Center at WRAL Soccer Complex. The Fitness Center is the blue building next to the club house. Check-in will be divided by age group, gender, and region. Please make note of which region you registered under in your NCFC Youth account. At check-in, Challenge administrators and volunteers will check your player in, and give them a number to wear on their shorts during tryouts.
Tryout Process/Timeline
- Registration: All players wishing to attend tryouts must register online before the registration deadline.
- Tryouts: Challenge tryouts will be held for each age group and region at WRAL.
- Draft: Immediately after the second day of tryouts, the draft begins. Based on evaluations made during tryouts, coaches use a draft system to form competitively-balanced teams within each region and age group.
- Phone Calls: If your child is drafted to a Challenge team, you will receive a phone call either from the coach or from Challenge staff within 72 hours after tryouts. You will be asked to either accept or decline the spot on the team.
- Emails: After all phone calls have been made to newly drafted Challenge players, the Challenge department will send out an “All Calls Made” email. If you receive this email and you have not received a phone call offering your child a spot on a team, then unfortunately, your child was not selected for a Challenge team.
- Acceptance Link: If you received a phone call and accepted a spot over the phone, you will also receive an email through Blue Sombrero with an acceptance link (approximately 7-10 days after the end of tryouts). The link will be sent to the email address associated with the Blue Sombrero account your family used to register for tryouts. Click this link to either formally accept or decline your child’s spot on the team.
- Payment: Accepting your child’s spot on the team in Blue Sombrero will also enable you to make payment for your Challenge fees.
- Paperwork: Team Managers will reach out via email to collect all paperwork necessary to register the team with NCYSA. Each player must submit a medical waiver, a photo, and a birth certificate.
- Uniform: Team Managers will send a link from Soccer.com to all new families through which you can order your child’s uniform.
- Carding: All Challenge players will have a player card that will be checked by the referees before the start of each game. We are required by NCYSA to validate each card by verifying that all information on the card is correct. We do this through carding events, which are hosted throughout the Triangle during the last week of January and first few weeks of February. Players must be present at the carding event.
Player Information: What to Bring to Tryouts
White Shirt
Dark Shorts/Dark Socks*
Shin Guards
Cleats
Water Bottle
Soccer Ball (pumped)
U9-U12(2011-2008): Size 4 Ball | U13-U19(2007-2001): Size 5 Ball
*Dark Jacket/Hoodie if Cold (Black/Navy/etc).
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is closed for Spring 2020, will open for Fall 2020 soon.
Financial Aid is available to families experiencing family, medical, or extenuating financial hardships. Families wishing to submit a Financial Aid application should complete their application as they register for our NCFC Challenge tryouts. The 2019-2020 Financial Aid application cycle will open prior to tryouts. All players should submit their completed application prior to their Challenge tryout date. All applications received by the appropriate due date will receive first consideration and have the best opportunity to receive the most aid. Those received after the player's tryout will only be considered to the extent funds remain. We strongly encourage all players who need assistance with fees to submit their completed application (including financial supporting documentation) as early as possible. Click here to learn more about our Financial Aid program and application deadlines.