Advanced Competition • Challenge • VIP • Camps

This is the next level up from regular season soccer. ACP (also known as tournament teams or Rep teams) is non-regular season competitive teams. This program provides an outlet for players who want the opportunity to participate at a more competitive level of soccer. ACP will also serve to raise the general level of skills and competition of regular teams when players return to their regular season teams by passing their additional training and experience to the other players on their regular season teams. Tournament teams may begin at the U9 level.

Player selection is through open tryouts. All players who are registered for the Fall season in Region 671 and have played in at least 50% of the scheduled games are eligible to tryout for the team (The exception to this rule is that high school players who could not participate in the fall season due to a conflict with their high school sport/band are still eligible).

Tryouts are usually conducted near the end of the Fall season. Players selected do not play regular season games for the Spring season. ACP teams practice throughout the winter and could play in tournaments as early as November. Tournaments are also available throughout the spring and possibly into early June. There are typically only one or two tournaments during any of these months, with the exception of May, which has many tournaments to choose from. The team usually decides as a whole which tournaments to attend and how many.

All Coaches must submit a request to coach to the ACP Coordinator. Coaches are presented at the next board meeting for approval.

Parents should know that some fund-raising is necessary to meet tournament and team expenses. ACP teams maintain the AYSO philosophy of positive soccer and all players will play at least half of each game. Tryouts will be posted on the web site and promoted during the regular season games at the fields.

While many tournaments are available close to the Albuquerque area, some tournaments include traveling. Most teams limit their tournaments to in-state, however, some teams will travel outside the state, usually to Colorado, Arizona or Texas. This is also up to the team, although more than two tournaments that require travel and overnight stays are discouraged.

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This is the highest level of competition for AYSO players. Challenge is for serious, highly dedicated soccer players who are ready to play against the top competition in the state and who want to further increase their level of play. Challenge teams play in the Duke City Metro League throughout the Fall and Spring seasons and in some tournaments. Although Challenge teams play in the Duke City Metro League, they adhere to AYSO rules and philosophies.

You must register for the Fall season to play on the team. There is no additional fee if you make the team. However, additional fundraising will be necessary for Duke City League fees and tournament fees, and possibly team bags, warm-up suits etc. This is up to the team. Families are expected to be heavily involved in fundraising. Fundraising activities are good team building exercises. Also, they instill a sense of accomplishment and responsibility in the players. And not everyone can afford to write a sizeable check. Some teams may arrange for a limited number of partial or full scholarships.

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. Teams will have two, two-hour practices a week. It is vitally important that players work on ball skills almost everyday for 15-20 minutes. Also, aerobic conditioning (e.g. running) should be done 2 or 3 times during the week for 20-25 minutes, and stretching should be done everyday. The conditioning, skills, and mental demands are much higher than regular season AYSO. Players must have a good attention span and be able to focus even when tired.

During the regular season (8 games in the fall, 8 games in the spring) games will be played in Bernalillo at the Lovelace NM Soccer Complex. Some tournaments will be played in Bernalillo, others around Albuquerque, and others will be 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. The team as a whole determines which tournaments to play and how many.

Please note: Parents of children on Challenge Teams are expected to be very involved with fundraising activities. Positive parent involvement is REQUIRED. The team may need to raise between 2000 and 3000 dollars throughout the year, starting this summer. This is a commitment for the Player AND the Parent. Parents must expect to support one another with transportation of players. The teams are also expected to contribute to the league through Board attendance or membership, skills clinics, and other ways as needed.

Email Todd Alam, the ACP/Challenge Coordinator, for additional information.

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The AYSO Very Important Players soccer program is for challenged players ages 5 to adult with physical, mental, or developmental limitations. Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Adult players are eligible. Players are placed on teams based on their size and ability. Buddies are encouraged to assist players on the field. Visit Albuquerque's AYSO Region 104 web site for more information.

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UK International Soccer Camps, Inc. was established in 1990. Since that time we have developed an excellent reputation and have become the largest provider of soccer instruction throughout the Western United States. UK's goal is to provide "The Best Possible Soccer Experience." This is achieved through our values of safety, professionalism, education and fun. UK has designed an educational curriculum that focuses on the different levels of child development. The 2006 UK Soccer Camp for EMSL will be held the week of July, 17-21. Visit www.uksocca.com for more information and to register online.

Additional summer camps are available from the Soccer Academy and Albuquerque AYSO Region 104.

Albuquerque camps are usually held at Montgomery Park. Hours are typically, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visit Albuquerque's AYSO Region 104 web site for more information.

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