2019-2020 Challenge Tryouts
December 2019 - High School Boys Tryouts & Supplementals for 2011-2006 Boys & Girls
In December, the Challenge program holds tryouts for High School Boys (U15-U19), who will play exclusively in the Spring season. Supplemental tryouts are also held for U9-U14 teams to fill empty roster spots for the Spring on already formed teams. We are currently evaluating the need for new players in various age groups and regions, and will be updating this page with firm numbers as we get further into the Fall season. We encourage interested players to go ahead and register. If there are no available spots in the selected age group/region of choice, you will be contacted by our Challenge administrators.
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.
2011 (U9) Program
The 2011 (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.
Challenge Payments and Schedule
Challenge High School Boys |
| | Registration | | Acceptance Payment | | 2nd Installment Payment
(if applicable) |
| Returning Players | | $25
Deadline November 18 | | $100
Due December 5 | | $225*
Due January 15
|
| Tryout Players | | $25
Deadline December 6 | | $100
Due December 31 | | $225
Due January 15 |
*a $25 discount will be applied if the Acceptance Payment is made by December 5.
Challenge 2011 - 2006 (U9-U14) Boys & Girls |
| | Registration | | Acceptance Payment | | 2nd Installment Payment
(if applicable) |
| Returning Players | | No Registration Fee | | No Payment Required | |
No Payment Required
|
| Tryout Players | | $25
Deadline December 7 | | $100
Due December 31 | | Remaining payment
Due January 15 |
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.
High School Boys Tryouts |
| Age Group | | Date | | Time |
| 2005 (U15) | | Friday, December 6 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2004 (U16) | | Friday, December 6 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2003 (U17) | | Friday, December 6 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2002 (U18/19) | | Friday, December 6 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
| 2001 (U18/19) | | Friday, December 6 | | 6:30PM - 8:00PM |
Supplemental Tryouts 2011-2006 Boys & Girls |
| Age Group | | Date | | Time |
| 2011 (U9) | | Saturday, December 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM |
| 2010 (U10) | | Saturday, December 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM
|
| 2009 (U11) | | Saturday, December 7 | | 10:00AM - 11:30AM |
| | | | | |
| 2008 (U12) |
| Saturday, December 7 | | 12:00PM - 1:30PM |
| 2007 (U13) | | Saturday, December 7 | | 12:00PM - 1:30PM |
| 2006 (U14) | | Saturday, December 7 | | 12:00PM - 1:30PM |
| | | | | |
Rain Make-up |
| Age Group | | Date | | Times subject to change |
| 2005 (U15) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 1:00PM - 2:00PM |
| 2004 (U16) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 1:00PM - 2:00PM |
| 2003 (U17) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 1:00PM - 2:00PM |
| 2002 (U18/19) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 1:00PM - 2:00PM |
| 2001 (U18/19) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 1:00PM - 2:00PM |
| | | | | |
| 2011 (U9) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 3:00PM - 4:00PM |
| 2010 (U10) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 3:00PM - 4:00PM |
| 2009 (U11) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 3:00PM - 4:00PM |
| | | | | |
| 2008 (U12) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 5:00PM - 6:00PM |
| 2007 (U13) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 5:00PM - 6:00PM |
| 2006 (U14) | | Sunday, December 8 | | 5:00PM - 6:00PM |
- Supplemental tryouts scheduled for the December 6 - 8 weekend will be the only held tryouts for the Spring 2019 Challenge season
- If players are unable to attend their scheduled age group's supplemental tryout, we will not be able to offer an alternative tryout date/time.
If your son/daughter is currently playing at another soccer club, he/she will need to be released from their club prior to attending our Supplemental Challenge Tryouts.
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 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.