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 8U-10U years move on to play competitive (Classic) soccer once they graduate the 7v7 Academy program, while some players enter our 11U/12U Academy program.

Academy 8U-10U (7v7)
The 8U-10U 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 11U/12U (9v9)
The 11U/12U 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. 

2025 - 2026 Season Age Groups

As mandated by US Soccer, all HFC programs are based off of birth year, not player age or grade level. 
Season Ending Spring 2026 - Birth Year = HFC Division
2018 (8U) - 2017 (9U) - 2016 (10U) - 2015 (11U) - 2014 (12U)

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

Cost of Academy

Click here for full details about the Cost of Youth Academy

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

8U-10U 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 11U/12U Games
The 11U/12U age group teams play a 9v9 format with 30 minute halves.

All 11U/12U 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

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

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