The HVL  Academy program is designed to help players improve their technical soccer skills which they will need to play at a higher level, as well as their love for the game. Our dedicated coaching staff follows a curriculum that provides players with high-quality instruction and age-appropriate activities which creates a fun learning environment. The majority of the players that enter the Academy during their U8-U10 years move on to play competitive (Classic) soccer once they graduate the 7v7 Academy program, while some players enter our U11/U12 Academy program.

Academy U8-U10 (7v7)
The U8-U10 Academy utilizes a team & pool training hybrid environment for the development of the players within the program. Players will be assigned teams, where they will compete against other teams within the Academy program at their age-group. Players will train once a week with their team, and also once a week in a pool-training environment, where players will play with other players of similar abilities at their location.

Academy U11/U12 (9v9)
The U11/U12 Academy utilizes a team-training environment. Players will be assigned teams, where they will compete against other teams within the Academy program at their age-group. 

2026 - 2027 Season Age Groups

Upcoming Fall 2026 -Spring 2027 Age Group Classification Changes - US Soccer Mandated
Beginning in the Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 season, US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and North Carolina Youth Soccer have mandated a return to 'School-year' based age groups. Instead of using birth year alone, which is the current method, the standard age groups will return to an August 1st - July 31st birthday cutoff for each age group. The table below shows a breakdown of how the new age groups will be represented in HFC programming: 

Click here for a breakdown of which program might be a good fit for you!

Schedules

Training

This is an 8-month program that spans two seasons (Fall and Spring). All players train 2 times per week. Hendersonville players train at Henderson County Athletics and Activity Center (AAC). The Fall season takes place from August-November and the Spring seasons runs from February-May.

Training will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays with each training session lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Games

Academy 8U-10U Games
U8-U10 Academy teams play a 7v7 format with 25-minute halves.

U8-U10 games are either played on Saturday mornings at the Buncombe County Sports Park (BCSP) in Asheville, or at the AAC in Hendersonville. Academy games are mostly in-house games where players play against other HFC players. From time to time we will host outside clubs that take part in our in-house weekend games.

Academy U11/U12 Games
The U11/U12 age group teams play a 9v9 format with 30 minute halves.

All U11/U12 games are played on Saturday mornings/afternoons at the Buncombe County Sports Park (BCSP) in Asheville.

Placement Evaluations

All players interested in participating in the Academy must register online using their account with ABYSA/HFC. The main placement evaluation is usually held during May each year. If your player has a conflict or has missed the evaluation and wishes to participate please contact Hasani McKenzie ([email protected]) or Benjamin Lloyd ([email protected])

Click here for Academy Placement Evaluation Info

Players are allowed and encouraged the join the Academy program at any time throughout the year. There is always a supplemental evaluation period that takes place in November for any players that may have missed the Fall season. 

Field Locations

Henderson County Athletics and Activity Center (AAC) - 708 South Grove Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792

Buncombe County Sports Park (BCSP) - 50 Apac Drive, Candler, NC 28806

John B. Lewis Soccer Complex (JBL) - 498 Azalea Road East, Asheville, NC 28805