Program Specifics

• The Challenge program is intended for those players seeking a more competitive environment than Recreational soccer and increased player development opportunity. Players train with and play against like-minded and similarly talented players.
• Participation is through a tryout selection only. Players are selected to a pool and placed on teams considering their residence location, school attended, and ability. No special requests are considered, no exceptions.
• Teams are offered at U10 and U12; boys and girls divisions.
• Teams are formed dependent on overall pool ability, teams may not be formed in every geographic area if the number of selected players is not great enough.
• League play with 10 games in each of the fall and spring seasons. Matches are intended to be local but may require travel to the Charlottesville/Albemarle region for more appropriate competition.
• Training twice per week. Some travel should be expected.
• Participation in one, outdoor, travel (out-of-town) tournament per soccer year is included. Typically the tournament takes place on the Memorial Day weekend, or another early-June weekend.
• Players commit for a full year. Full participation in team events is expected. Coaches have discretion to manage team attendance for the benefit of all team members.

Challenge Behavior Guidelines

• Fulfill your obligations to your team. Participate as fully as possible in all team functions.
• Be responsible.
• Be prepared for all training, matches, and tournaments.
• Treat your coach and teammates with respect and dignity.
• Treat your opponent, the opposing coaches, match officials and spectators with respect and dignity.
• Do not interfere with coaching decisions. Discuss issues with coaches at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.
• Review and support the club’s Mission, Vision and Values:
  (https://www.socaspot.org/about_soca.php).
• Abide by all team and club policies.

Tryouts

• Participation in Challenge is through a tryout selection, only. There are three tryout opportunities during the course of the soccer year.
• All age appropriate candidates are welcome at all tryouts. No player may play up into or out of the U10 or U12 age group. Only those players whose birthdates determine are U9, U10, U11 or U12 for the current soccer year are eligible for the program.

For more information on tryouts please visit the tryouts page.

Annual Calendar

• Fall practices begin towards the end of August. 2019: week of August 19.
• Fall matches are scheduled to begin the first Saturday after Labor Day. 2019: Sept. 7
• Fall matches conclude in early November. 2019: Nov. 9.
• A rain-out make-up week is scheduled the week following the proposed last game. 2019: Nov. 16.
• Spring practices begin in third week of February, 2020.
• Spring matches are scheduled to begin in early March, 2020.
• Spring matches conclude in late May, 2020.
• A rain-out make-up week is scheduled for the next available week following the proposed last game.

Registration & Fees

There are no refunds of Challenge registration fees after the registration deadline, a player’s registration is a commitment to participating in two seasons of play.

As a convenience to our families, SOCA offers two payments for the Challenge program. Players are selected for the full-year and register individually for the Fall and Spring seasons. Challenge participants are welcome to make both payments at the time of the Fall registration. Once registration has been completed for each season, all players are expected to reasonably participate in all Challenge program activities. There are no refunds after the registration deadline. Payments can be made on-line via personal SOCA accounts, or at the SOCA office if required.

• Fall Fees and Deadline: $215 due no later than June 5, 2019 after tryout selection announcements have been made.
• Spring Fees and Deadline: $160 due no later than January 31, 2020
• Spring-only fee: $215, for players selected at the Mid-Year Infill Tryout participating in the spring season only.

Fees include: registration costs, Adidas uniform, coach background checks (VYSA mandated), coach education, SOCA staff management, tournament entrance fees, league fees, club overhead expenses, equipment, field maintenance, referee fees, VYSA state association fees and other operational costs.

Jamboree Program

SOCA operates a Jamboree program at the U10 boys and girls age groups. The free program includes training with the SOCA staff coaches for eight Wednesday evening sessions in each of the fall and spring seasons. Additionally SOCA will arrange matches for the Jamboree teams against other clubs, typically one set of matches in each of the fall and spring seasons.

Players are invited into the program following the Primary Annual tryout. Additional players may be invited into the program during the course of the fall season. Players are specifically notified by SOCA if they are invited to participate in the program. Jamboree players participate fully with their Challenge team, and supplement their Challenge play with the Jamboree activities.

FAQ's

UNIFORMS

Uniform costs are included in your fees.  Your coach and/or team manager will distribute complete uniform sets, provided by SOCA, prior to the start of the fall season.  Uniforms include Adidas jersey, shorts and socks.  Players added at the late or infill tryouts will pick-up their uniform from the SOCA office.

CHANGING TEAM ASSIGNMENTS

Teams are built to maintain the developmental goals of the program.  Once teams are formed, players cannot be administratively moved to different teams.  If a player’s team assignment will prevent them from being able to participate in the program, they should not register for their team and are encouraged to come to the next tryout for the program so they can be offered another appropriate placement within the program.  No Special Requests for Team Placement are Considered.