Este trabajo se propone presentar la primera fase en el proceso de validación de la Escala de Percepción de Desafíos en Actividades Extraescolares (EPDA) para su uso con adolescentes. Participaron 126 adolescentes (Medad = 14.82, DE = 1.53; 42.9% mujeres, 56.3% varones, 0.8% no binario) del Área Metropolitana Bonaerense (AMBA) que realizaban actividades extraescolares físico-deportivas, cívico-comunitarias y artísticas. En esta primera fase, se realizó un Análisis de Factor Exploratorio (AFE) con método de extracción mínimos residuos sobre una matriz de correlaciones policóricas. El AFE resultó en único factor que mide el grado en que los/as adolescentes perciben que asumen retos en su actividad, al esfuerzo y confianza en la capacidad para alcanzarlos y el resultante crecimiento en habilidades y la superación personal. La prueba de K-M-O (0.92) y Barrett (?²[45] = 981.13, p < .001) mostró la suficiencia de la matriz. El modelo mostró un ajuste adecuado (RMSR = 0.05) y explicó el 63% de la varianza total. Las cargas factoriales fueron superiores a .40. La escala presenta una muy buena consistencia interna (? = 0.94). Estos resultados muestran evidencias preliminares de que la escala es válida y confiable para su uso con adolescentes del AMBA. Palabras clave Escala - Desafío - Actividad extracurricular - Adolescencia ABSTRACT FIRST PHASE OF THE VALIDATION PROCESS OF THE OF PERCEPTION OF CHALLENGES IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SCALE FOR ADOLESCENTS This work presents the first phase of the validation process of the Extracurricular Activities Challenge Perception Scale (EPDA) for use with adolescents. The sample included 126 adolescents (Mage = 14.82, SD = 1.53; 42.9% female, 56.3% male, 0.8% non-binary) from the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) who participated in extracurricular physical-sports, civic-community, and artistic activities. In this first phase, an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted using the minimum residual extraction method on a polychoric correlation matrix. The EFA revealed a single factor that measures the extent to which adolescents perceive themselves as taking on challenges in their activities, their effort and confidence in their ability to achieve them, and the resulting growth in skills and personal growth. The KMO test (0.92) and Bartlett’s test (?² [45] = 981.13, p < .001) indicated the adequacy of the correlation matrix. The model showed adequate fit (RMSR = 0.05) and explained 63% of the total variance. Factor loadings were greater than .40. The scale demonstrated very good internal consistency (? = 0.94). These results provide preliminary evidence that the scale is valid and reliable for use with adolescents from the AMBA. Keywords Scale - Challenges - Adolescence - Extracurricular activities