Challenge Teams Program
Competitive Play with AYSO Philosophy
AYSO Region 104 offers an alternative to Duke City for accomplished players who want to increase their skills through play with and against more intense competition. The Challenge Teams Program includes teams from U11 through U19 who play in the Duke City Metro Schedule against "club teams."
AYSO players are selected for the teams through tryouts. They practice twice a week like other AYSO teams, but they play against teams in the Duke City Metro League (teams from the Duke City Soccer League, Northwest Rio Grande, and other Club Teams). Challenge teams also play in tournaments in town, throughout New Mexico, and out of state.
The Challenge Teams are also dual Registered with NMYSA (New Mexico Youth Soccer Association) and actually are a "club" (AYSO Challenge Football Club). So, Challenge Teams Coaches and Players have all of the advantages of being in a "club" and being an AYSO Team!
The Challenge Teams Program operates under all the AYSO philosophies.
Everyone Plays
Players who are selected for the team get to play at least half of each game; we don't have "starters" and "benchers."
Balanced Teams
We strive to ensure the teams we field are competitive with the club teams. We won't field a team that does not have a chance of being successful.
Open Registration:
Players are selected for the teams based on objective analysis of their ability by AYSO Advanced Coaches.
Positive Coaching:
Challenge Teams are coached by AYSO Advanced Coaches who adhere to our coaching philosophy.
Good Sportsmanship:
Challenge Teams represent AYSO and practice and play exhibiting the same great sportsmanship you find in the rest of the region.
Player Development:
Challenge Teams support our philosophy of Player Devleopment by giving our most accomplished players a challenging environment in which to continue growing.
If you want to increase your level of play and you are a dedicated player, tryout for a Challenge Team. Challenge teams are the most competitive level of play in the AYSO program. For more information, look at the Details and FAQ tabs, above, or contact the Challenge coach listed for your player's age group on the Teams tab.
Details
Challenge Teams U11-U14
Challenge teams in this age group will play in BOTH the Fall and Spring Seasons. The season will typically run the same time as the normal AYSO schedule. Each team will play at least 8 games each season.
Games may be held at the State Farm Soccer Complex (in Bernalillo…please note that parking is $5.00 per day), Arroyo Del Oso (ADO - west of Wyoming, South of Spain), or at the Balloon Fiesta Park (west of I-25 between Alameda and San Mateo).
U15 and Above
Challenge teams in this age group will play in ONLY the spring season.
The Duke City Metro League does NOT have any games scheduled in the FALL for this age group – it is ASSUMED that most of the players will be playing for their High School teams – and per the High School rules, High School players can NOT play on any other team and play on their High School Team. Players in this age group that decide NOT to play for their High School (or don’t go to a high school with a soccer team), may elect to play on an AYSO Regular Season U19 team for the FALL (a very nice benefit for AYSO Challenge team players). After the Fall Season (High School or the AYSO U19 Regular Season) is over, the Challenge Teams reform their teams (Challenge Teams may elect to participate in tournaments in November).
The Spring Season will typically run at the same time as the normal AYSO Schedule. Each team will play at least 8 games.
Games may be held at the State Farm Complex (in Bernalillo… please note that parking is $5.00 per day) or at the Balloon Fiesta Park (West of I-25 between Alameda and San Mateo).
Tournaments
Challenge teams may (and are encouraged to) play in tournaments. Locally there are tournaments in August, November, February, and May. However, there are many out-of-town tournaments that run from August through July.
AYSO Challenge Team FAQ
What
Is there an additional AYSO registration fee for the Challenge Teams?
No. To try-out for an AYSO Challenge Team, the player must be registered player with AYSO for the upcoming season.
Will the AYSO philosophy of “Everyone Plays” still be followed, even though we are playing in the Duke City Metro League?
Yes! We are still an AYSO team and will adhere to all AYSO rules and philosophies.
Are the AYSO coaches specially trained?
All Challenge Team Coaches go through a fifteen-hour course that stresses coaching techniques of observation and evaluation, tactical decision-making, and dealing with the more experienced player.
Is this a competitive, intense program?
Very much so – the conditioning, skills and mental demands are much higher than regular season AYSO. Your child must have a good attention span and be able to focus even when tired.
When
How many practices per week will we have?
You will have two practices a week.
How long is each practice?
Practices are up to 2 hours long.
How long is the soccer season for Challenge Teams?
You can expect to play soccer from August thru November and January thru June.
Is there a need for my child to practice at other times besides regular practices?
Absolutely! It is vitally important that they work on ball skills almost every day for 15-20 minutes. Also aerobic conditioning (e.g. running) should be done 2 or 3 times during the week for 20-25 minutes. Stretching should be done every day.
Where
Where will the games be played?
During regular season (8 games in the fall, 8 games in the spring) games will be played at the State Fram Insurance Complex (in Bernalillo… please note that parking is $5.00 per day), Arroyo Del Oso ( ADO – west of Wyoming, South of Spain), or at the Balloon Fiesta Park (West of I-25 between Alameda and San Mateo).
Where will tournament games be played?
This varies by tournament. Some will be played in Bernalillo, others around Albuquerque, and others will out of town in other NM cities or other states. Generally, tournaments run a full weekend so you can expect to have games on Saturday and Sunday.
Fundraising
I heard that there is fundraising involved with Challenge, is this true?
Yes, team will need to raise between $2,000 and $3,000 throughout the year, starting in the summer, so there will be fundraising activities. Fundraising is a commitment for both player and parent. Parents of children on Challenge Teams are expected to be very involved with fundraising activities.
Do we really need to raise that much money?
This depends on how many tournaments you want to participate in and if the team wants extras, like team bags, warm-up suits etc.
Why do we have to raise extra money?
There are fees to play in the Duke City Metro League and fees for tournaments.
What kinds of fundraising activities do the Challenge teams participate in?
Car Washes, Candy selling, AYSO trophy sales, AYSO picture money counting, garage sales, etc.- it is up to the team.
Why can't I, as a parent, just write a check to cover team expenses?
Fundraising activities are good team building exercises. Also, it instills a sense of accomplishment and responsibility in the players. Lastly, not everyone can afford to write a sizeable check.
Call For Challenge Coaches
Applications for Fall/Spring 2011 Due March 5th
Each spring, the Challenge Program puts out a "Call for Coaches". This is the opportunity for new and returning Challenge Team Coaches to declare their intention to coach a Challenge Team. The Challenge Teams Program considers those applications and selects the most qualified candidate(s) in each age group.
If you are interested in being coaching in this exciting program, please send a letter of self-nomination to the Chief Coach and the Challenge Teams Commissioner by March 5, 2010.
Your letter must contain the following information:
- About you:
- Name
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Phone numbers
- Why do you want to be a Challenge Coach?
- What's your coaching background? At minimum, this should include the following:
- Are you currently a Challenge Coach? Regular Season? ACT?
- How many years have you coached in AYSO and in what capacity?
- What ages and genders have you coached?
- What age group and gender are you hoping to coach?
- Are you affiliated with other athletic organizations? Have you been in the past? (i.e. baseball, basketball, football, NMAA, other soccer organizations)
- What are your goals for your Challenge Team?
- Immediate? (First month)
- Short term? (First year)
- Long term? (2nd year and beyond
- What will you give back to the core program?
- Are you currently an Advanced Certified Coach? If not, will you commit to attending an Advanced Coaching Class this summer?
We also require 2 letters of recommendation from parents whose children you have coached. (Recommendation letters can not be from a current AYSO Region 104 Board Member)
All of these items must be received not later than March 5th, 2010.
If you have questions, let the Chief Coach or Challenge Commissioner know.
Teams for 2009-2010 Season
| Girls | ||
|---|---|---|
| U11 | Mark Archuleta | Mark.Archuleta@ge.com |
| U12* | Don "Quatro" Baker | dqbaker4@hotmail.com |
| Tom Cuyler | tpcuyler@comcast.net | |
| U13* | Jodee Sindelar | jasirn@yahoo.com |
| Michelle Erdman | mterdman@msn.com | |
| U14 | Paul Schlavin | phschlavin@aol.com |
| U15 | John McBrayer | poltroon@q.com |
| U16 | Open | |
| U17-19 | David Ehrhart | dehrhart@aol.com |
| Boys | ||
|---|---|---|
| U11 | Jerry Duran | jduran71@yahoo.com |
| U12* | Dan Meigs | webmaster@ayso104.org |
| Tom Owen | towen35@comcast.net | |
| U13 | Clint Gray | clintlgray@msn.com |
| U14 | Tony Gallegos | Anthony.Gallegos1@state.nm.us |
| U15 | Terri Lohnes | jtsm1990@msn.com |
| U16 | Jerry Duran | jduran71@yahoo.com |
| U17 | Paul Schlavin | phschlavin@aol.com |
* Denotes age groups with 2 teams.
"Open" Denotes an age group with NO coach NOR team. If you are interested in coaching, please contact our chief coach Aaron Luce.
Tryouts 2009-2010 Season
Trying Out
Each Player trying out must come prepared with:
- A soccer ball.
- Water.
- Shin guards.
- Soccer cleats.
- A white tee shirt.
- A good attitude.
Tryout Schedules
U15 Girls Mystics: Sunday October 25 at 3:00 Tryouts for the spring season's U15 girls team, Mystics, will be held at Highland High School. Registration will be from 2:30 to 3:00, and tryouts will be from 3:00 to 4:30.