Interested in being a Challenge Coach next Fall? 
Contact challenge@RCYSL.com for details

1. Challenge is a new RCYSL soccer league division providing the more serious soccer players competitive and challenging soccer training and play above and beyond recreational soccer.

2. Challenge is only offered to the U10, U12, U14, U16 & U19 age divisions.

3. You must TRYOUT to be considered for the Challenge League.

4. To TRYOUT:

• You must have soccer experience. You must have played at a minimum two previous seasons of organized soccer.

• FOUR days per week of soccer. You must be willing to commit to 4 days per week on the average to your soccer team.

• Tournament Play. You must be willing to participate in several tournaments throughout the year with your team.

• Indoor Soccer: You must be willing to participate in Winter Indoor Soccer at some level.

• Higher Competition: You must be a player who enjoys competitive soccer, a higher level of skill training, and has dedication to the sport of soccer. Challenge teams will play games against same sex and opposite sex teams, as well as same age and older age divisions.

What is Challenge?
• Challenge is a new tier of soccer formed by RCYSL to be more competitive and challenging.

How is Challenge soccer different from Recreational soccer?
• Recreational soccer is open to youth of all ages in divisions U6 through U19. Challenge is currently only available to the following age divisions depending on participation and coaching availability:
• U10:
• U11: Two teams maximum per gender.
• U12: Two teams maximum per gender.
• U13: Two teams maximum per gender.
• U14: Two teams maximum per gender.
• Recreational soccer is open and fun for all soccer players regardless of size, skill, and athleticism. Challenge is looking for players who take soccer more seriously than most and want to achieve a higher level of play and competition.
• Recreational teams player same division, same sex recreational soccer teams. Challenge teams will play same division, older divisions, same sex, opposite sex, recreational, and competitive soccer teams. Challenge teams are expected to participate in indoor soccer to some extent and participant in several tournaments.  Challenge teams may travel to outlying areas for games (Hot Springs, Lead/Deadwood, Spearfish, Sturgis, Belle Fourche, and possibly Wyoming).
• Many Recreational soccer coaches are volunteer parents with little or no soccer experience. Challenge coaches are required to have coaching experience and have some level of licensing.

Does Challenge soccer cost more than Rec soccer?
• Basically, no. The RCYSL fees to play Challenge are the same as for Recreational soccer. The only additional fee is a $15 field fee per season for reserved training space.  Depending on the age group, there may be some additional costs for traveling to surrounding areas for games and tournaments. The coach, parents, and players of each Challenge team determine tournament participation. There will be an additional fee assessed for uniform cost.

Is the Challenge soccer season different from Rec season?
• Both Rec and Challenge soccer seasons are the same. Challenge teams may have more practices, and possibly tournaments than a Rec team, but the season duration is the same.

Who can tryout for the Challenge league?
• A player who has played at a minimum two previous seasons of organized soccer. You must have soccer experience to try out for Challenge.
• Challenge is currently only available to the U10, U12, U14, U16 & U19 age divisions.
• A player who enjoys competitive soccer, a higher level of skill training, and can be committed to 4 days per week on the average to his/her soccer team.
• A player who is willing to participate at some level in Winter Indoor Soccer.
• A player who is willing to participate in several soccer tournaments throughout the year.
• A player who is registered with RCYSL and attends Challenge tryouts.
• Your child must be a registered player with RCYSL and attend Challenge tryouts to be considered.

When and how often are Challenge tryouts?
• Tryouts will take place twice a year: Fall and Spring. If a player is selected after Fall tryouts and placed on a Challenge team, they do not have to try out again in the Spring. Spring tryouts are for new players or players that did not qualify for Challenge in the previous Fall.
• Fall tryouts are usually in June or July, and Spring tryouts are in February or March. Check the RCYSL website for exact tryout dates and times. They are posted 4-8 weeks prior to tryouts.
• If for some reason you cannot attend the tryout session(s), please e-mail RCYSL ASAP to see if other arrangements can be made. Challenge@RCYSL.com

What happens at Challenge tryouts?
• Qualified coaches observe players performing various soccer activities to help the coaches determine the players’ abilities. Some of the abilities assessed are speed, ball control, passing, and attitude. The number of teams formed will depend on the total number of players that try out, the ability of each player, and the number of players needed to roster teams in each age division.

What if my child does not make a Challenge team?
• All attempts will be made to return your child to his/her original Rec team from the previous season, but there are no guarantees. If original placement cannot be made, your child will go into the pool and be assigned to another Rec team.

What if my child makes Challenge, but later decides it is not for him/her?
• All attempts will be made to return your child to his/her original Rec team from the previous season, but there are no guarantees. If original placement cannot be made, your child will go into the pool and be assigned to another Rec team.

If my child makes Challenge, is he/she guaranteed to stay in Challenge?
• The tryout process is by no means a perfect process. It is a best attempt in a short amount of time to assess young players for being successful in a more competitive soccer environment. Unfortunately, mistakes can be made…in both directions. Once a coach has the opportunity to spend more time with your child and he/she deems that your child may not be emotionally or psychologically ready for Challenge, your coach would discuss this with you and your child would be placed back into the recreational program. This could also be the result of disciplinary problems as well.

Who can coach a Challenge Team?
• An experienced coach who believes in the Challenge league philosophy.
• A coach must hold licensing or be working towards licensing. At a minimum, they must have an “E” license within the first year, but a “D” license is preferred. Licensing does not take priority over experience and coaching ability.
• The most experienced and qualified coach will oversee an entire division if at all possible.

What is the Challenge coach philosophy?
• Initial Contact: I will contact the players and parents at the start of the season to introduce myself and set up a first team meeting.
• Initial Team Meeting: I will hold an initial team meeting to make introductions; go over my coaching philosophy; hand out the team roster, practice schedule, game schedule, etc.; and request parent volunteers to help make this a great season.
• Four Days of Soccer: I will do my best to provide four days of soccer per week as a minimum average to my players.
• Equal Playing Time: I will do my best to give equal playing time to each of my players providing they are enthusiastic and positive in regards to the soccer game (tournament playing time is coaches discretion).
• All Positions Played: I will do my best to give equal playing time to each of my players in each of the positions on the soccer field. Although I will rotate the goalie position, it is possible that not all players will play goalie. This player rotation will begin to diminish for the U14 players.
• Good Coach: I will do my best to coach, train, and motivate your child to become the best soccer player that he/she chooses to achieve.
• Excellent Role Model: I will be an EXCELLENT role model of sportsmanship on and off of the field just as I expect it of parents and players.
• Achievable Goals: I will do my best to focus on individual player development and team development with achievable goals in mind as opposed to focusing on what the final score is for each game.
• Answer Questions: I will make myself available to parents for questions and concerns regarding their child’s soccer experience. Any and all conversations are off of the field and in the absence of other players and parents.

Where can I get additional information?
• E-mail RCYSL at Challenge@RCYSL.com