Challenge Soccer

Kids participating in a soccer game

Dribble, Pass, Shoot

The Triangle Y Soccer Club is a challenge-level club, developed and operated by the YMCA of the Triangle to offer youth the opportunity to continue their soccer skills at the next level while embodying the coaching style, character building and youth development that YMCA youth sports are known for.

Program Information

Overview

Challenge is a competitive level of soccer where player expectations and development are raised beyond recreational soccer. Challenge is not “win at all cost.” Challenge is a player development level. Unlike recreation, where all registered players are assigned to a team, Challenge teams are created through a tryout process with a strict maximum roster.

Tryouts

Players are selected based on their soccer skills, work ethic, and focus. Challenge players should have a willingness and desire to improve their soccer skills. We recommend registering for our recreational soccer league during the registration period. In the event your child is selected for the Challenge Team at tryouts you will receive a full recreational league refund.

2026 - 27 Tryouts & Teams

All players interested in trying out must fill out the Tryout form below to let us know you're coming.

Teams are based on birthyear, so players must be born in the birthyear noted for each team. Older birthyear players cannot tryout for a younger birthyear team. Younger birthyear players can tryout for one age group older (if we have a team in that age group - ex. 2016s can tryout for the 2015 team).

Boys Teams

Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the tryout start time.

Central Region - Southeast Raleigh YMCA

Tryouts are held at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. Practices will be held in the downtown area. 

9U (2017s) potential new team - Coach TBA
Mon., May 19 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Tues, May 20 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.

10U (2016s) Earthquakes - Coach Brian Lee
Mon., May 19 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Tues, May 20 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.

11U (2015s) Herons  - Coach Dan Romanow
Tues., May 20 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Thurs, May 22 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.

12U (2014s) Hawks  - Coach Kevin Landwehr
Tues., May 20 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Thurs, May 21 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.

13U (2013s) City - Coach Nick Troutman
Tues., May 20 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Thurs., May 22 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.

14U (2012s) Fire - Coach Jonathan Gomez
Tues., May 20 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Thurs., May 22 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.

Northern Region - A.E. Finley YMCA

Updated: Thu., April 2
Tryouts (week of May 18, 2026) and practices are held at the A.E. Finley YMCA. 

U10 Boys (2016s) Finley United - Coach Lindsey Coombs
Open Spots: 3–5

U11 Boys (2015s) New Team - Coach Ryan Chaffe
Open Spots: 7

U12 Boys (2014s) Finley Warriors - Coach Brian
Status: Full (No openings)

U13 Boys (2013s) Finley Scorpions - Coach Lindsey Coombs
Open Spots: 1–2

U15 Boys (2011s) Finley Wolves - Coach Andrew Meehan
Open Spots: 1–2 (TBD)

Southern Region - Kraft Family YMCA

Tryouts and practices are held at the Kraft Family YMCA. All tryouts will take place on our front field and check-in will be at our shelter.  

10U (2016s/2017s) new team - Coach Chad Williams
Mon., May 5 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Wed, May 7 from 6 - 7:15 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Mon., May 12 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.

11U (2015s) Red Dragons  - Coach Nick Kraft
Tues., May 20 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.
Thurs., May 22 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Wed., May 28 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.

12U (2014s) Thunder  - Coach Mark Simmons
Mon., May 5 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Thurs., May 8 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Mon., May 12 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

13U (2013s) Lightning - Coach Reggie O'Rourke
Tues., May 20 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Tues., May 27 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Thurs., May 29 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

14U (2012s) Red Storm - Coach Eric Haugen
Wed., May 28 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Thurs., May 29 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Fri, May 30 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

Girls Teams

Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the tryout start time.

Northern Region - A.E. Finley YMCA

Updated: Thu., April 2
Tryouts (week of May 18, 2026) and practices are held at the A.E. Finley YMCA. 

U10 (2016s) Finley Lightning - Coach Mark
Status: TBD (waiting on confirmation)

U16 (2010s) Girls Finley Fury - Coach Chuck
Status: Full (No openings)

Southern Region - Kraft Family YMCA

Tryouts and practices are held at the Kraft Family YMCA. All tryouts will take place on our front field and check-in will be at our shelter.  

0U (2016s/2017s) new team - Coach Beanie Clapper
Tues., May 6 from 6 - 7:15 p.m.
Thurs., May 8 from 6 - 7:15 p.m.
Back-up night is Tues., May 13 from 6 - 7:15 p.m.

11U (2015s) Firehawks - Coach Michael Pendley
Tues., May 20 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.
Thurs., May 22 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Wed., May 28 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.

13U (2013s) Villa - Coach Adam Steele
Wed., May 21 from 6 - 7:15 p.m.
Thurs., May 22 from 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Back-up night if needed is Tues., May 27 from 6 - 7:15 p.m.

FAQs

Challenge teams practice twice per week, play regular season games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and attend tournaments. A player selected for a Challenge team remains registered to that team for one seasonal year (Aug. 1 through following May 31), which includes the fall and spring seasons.

Players are expected to attend both practices each week and be focused on the training session. Playing time depends primarily on attendance, attitude, and work ethic. However, since the game is the best teacher, players generally play about half the game and earn more playing time based on the above criteria.

Most regular season opponents are within the Triangle region. Typical travel time for away games is 30-60 mins with an occasional 75-minute drive. Tournaments may be local or remote enough to require staying overnight.

TYSC Challenge teams play in the NCFC scheduling league made up teams from NCFC and other clubs primarily in Wake, Johnston, and Orange Counties. Teams play each other based on a schedule created by the NCFC league scheduler. Each season, Challenge teams play approximately eight games and attend local or out-of-town tournaments where they may play against teams from anywhere in the state.

NCYSA sanctions numerous tournaments during the year throughout the state. Our teams are eligible to play in any, or all, of them. Full-year teams have entry fees for two tournaments covered by their registration. Single-season teams (15U & older) have entry fees for one tournament covered by their registration. The team must pay for any additional tournaments. Teams typically attend a tournament each season. It’s customary for most teams to attend the same tournaments, but teams may substitute based on their schedules and desires of the team.

Sports Camp

YMCA Sports Summer Day Camps offer kids a full summer of basketball, soccer, flag football, baseball or a mix of all sports. Our camps focus on a different sport each week. Skill development, drills, and scrimmages are part of each week, as camp assemblies and swim time. 

Sports Directors

Please contact us with questions about YMCA Challenge Soccer.

Northern Wake - A.E. Finley YMCA, Kerr Family YMCA & YMCA at Knightdale Station: Alex Smith 
Southern Wake - Kraft Family, Northwest Cary & Taylor Family YMCAs: Mark Simmons 
Central Wake - Alexander Family & Southeast Raleigh YMCAs: Eric Rhinehalt