Skills Challenge Overview
The Red Bulls Academy operates a fun based Skills Challenge roadshow that provides youth soccer players with an opportunity to test their skills in a fun competitive environment. The skills challenges are offered at all Red Bulls soccer camps and at select regional locations throughout the year.
To find a free Skills Challenge Roadshow in your area click here
Skills Challenge Philosophy
The Red Bulls Skills Challenge is designed to ignite a passion for self improvement in young players. Inspiration is one of three key methods that Red Bulls coaches use to deliver the
Building Blocks of Player Development. The Skills Challenge series provides a set of objective results that players can use to track their own personal technical development over time. It is important to note that the challenges are not intended as means of selecting teams or assessing a player’s overall ability. There are many additional factors that comprise a soccer player’s total make up. The five Skills Challenges are purely a tool to help motivate players to improve their technical ability.
Skills Challenge Components
The Red Bulls Skills Challenge is comprised of five simply
structured challenges that measure technical ability in the following areas:
(1) Dribbling
(2) Turning
(3) Receiving
(4) Passing
(5) Shooting
The following section below provides a written description and video of each challenge. The Red Bulls strongly encourage all clubs, coaches, parents and players, to download the challenges and start practicing.
1. Dribbling Challenge, watch video below and view instruction here:
Download
2. Turning Challenge, watch video below and view instruction here:
Download
3. Receiving Challenge, watch video below and view instruction here:
Download
4. Passing Challenge, watch video below and view instruction here:
Download
5. Shooting Challenge, watch video below and view instruction here:
Download
Skills Challenge Administration
Official Skills Challenges are conducted at all Red Bulls summer camp programs. Additionally, any organization can apply to host a Red Bulls Skills Challenge. We also actively encourage organizations and teams to download the challenge instructions and administer unofficial challenges. This can provide a great way of preparing your players for an official Skills Challenge.
Skills Challenge Ages
The Skills Challenge is open to boys and girls ages 7 and above. The challenges can be used for recreational to travel team players and are easy enough so that players can set up and practice by themselves.
Skills Challenge Yearly Awards – The Road to Red Bull Arena
The primary philosophy of the Skills Challenge series is to engage players to develop a motivation and desire to practice in their own time, away from structured sessions. Additionally, to help create a fun and competitive learning environment, all scores from official challenge locations are recorded. The top players in each age group are invited to a regional final. Regional winners are then recognized on the field at Red Bull Arena, during a Red Bulls match. Each Skills Challenge season operates from April 1st to October 1st, with regional finals taking place in early October.
Skills Challenge Training
The Red Bulls methodology encourages a pick up soccer mentality where players develop a motivation and desire to practice on their own. Before and after the challenge, players can visit the Red Bulls Skills Challenge page and watch skills videos. These videos provide targeted training sessions that will help improve a players mastery of the ball.
Skills Challenge Score Tables
Below are tables showing Skills Challenge scoring levels for players to gauge how well their scores compare to others in their age group. These scores are based on thousands of players who took part in the Skills Challenges at the 2011 New York Red Bulls Summer Camps. Remember there is more to a player than just how they score in the Skills Challenge, but these scores are a great way to recogonize where to focus your skills training.
Age 7
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
17+ |
13+ |
11+ |
20+ |
19+ |
| Very Good |
13 to 16 |
10 to 12 |
8 to 10 |
12 to 19 |
14 to 18 |
| Good |
9 to 12 |
8 to 9 |
5 to 7 |
5 to 11 |
10 to 13 |
| Average |
8 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
Age 8
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
19+ |
14+ |
11+ |
18+ |
27+ |
| Very Good |
14 to 18 |
12 to 13 |
9 to 10 |
13 to 17 |
19 to 26 |
| Good |
10 to 13 |
9 to 11 |
6 to 8 |
6 to 12 |
11 to 18 |
| Average |
9 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
Age 9
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
20+ |
13+ |
19+ |
16+ |
33+ |
| Very Good |
16 to 19 |
11 to 12 |
13 to 18 |
11 to 15 |
22 to 31 |
| Good |
11 to 15 |
9 to 10 |
7 to 12 |
6 to 10 |
13 to 21 |
| Average |
10 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
12 |
Age 10
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
17+ |
14+ |
14+ |
17+ |
26+ |
| Very Good |
15 to 16 |
12 to 13 |
11 to 13 |
12 to 16 |
20 to 25 |
| Good |
12 to 14 |
10 to 11 |
7 to 10 |
7 to 11 |
14 to 19 |
| Average |
11 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
13 |
Age 11
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
20+ |
19+ |
14+ |
18+ |
26+ |
| Very Good |
17 to 19 |
15 to 18 |
11 to 13 |
13 to 17 |
20 to 25 |
| Good |
13 to 16 |
10 to 14 |
8 to 10 |
7 to 12 |
13 to 19 |
| Average |
12 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
Age 12
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
20+ |
18+ |
18+ |
18+ |
24+ |
| Very Good |
17 to 19 |
15 to 17 |
14 to 17 |
13 to 17 |
19 to23 |
| Good |
13 to 16 |
11 to 14 |
9 to 13 |
8 to 12 |
14 to 18 |
| Average |
12 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
Age 13
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
22+ |
16+ |
14+ |
14+ |
24+ |
| Very Good |
18 to 21 |
14 to 15 |
12 to 13 |
11 to 13 |
19 to 23 |
| Good |
14 to 17 |
12 to 13 |
9 to 11 |
8 to 10 |
14 to 18 |
| Average |
13 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
Age 14
| |
Dribbling |
Turns |
Receiving |
Passing |
Shooting |
| Excellent |
21+ |
17+ |
13+ |
16+ |
23+ |
| Very Good |
18 to 20 |
15 to 16 |
11 to 12 |
13 to 15 |
19 to 22 |
| Good |
15 to 17 |
12 to 14 |
10 to 11 |
9 to 12 |
15 to 18 |
| Average |
14 |
11 |
9 |
8 |
14 |
For more information or to host a Skills Challenge
Call: 1-888-370-7287
E-mail us