If you are using a mobile device to view this website, please turn your device to 'landscape view' (sideways) to see the entire page
Click each icon below for more information
Recreation Program Overview
ABYSA Recreation Soccer Programs are now available in Buncombe, Henderson, and Madison Counties!
Welcome to the club! With more than 4,000 children participating each year, ABYSA Recreation Soccer (4U-19U) is our largest program. Because the emphasis is on fun and participation, it is the ideal environment for most kids.
The ABYSA Recreation Program is the entry point for children who are new to the game. Experienced players at certain age groups who desire a higher level of play should consider our HFC Academy (8U-10U), HFC Academy (11U-12U), HFC Intermediate (13U-15U), and HFC Competitive (10U-19U) programs. The graphic below illustrates the player pathways available for our ABYSA and HFC families:
Recreation Developmental Focuses:
In the ABYSA Recreation Program, the focus is on having fun, learning new skills, and developing positive character traits to help players learn to be a good teammates on the field, and in life. In return, we hope to further each player's enjoyment of the game and positively contribute to their growth as members of our community.
Recreation Coaching:
Recreation soccer is 100% coached by volunteer coaches/parents who are well-equipped and supported by the organization. Our volunteer coaches will receive weekly communications from the program director with the important info and weekly practice sessions provided throughout the season. Our coaches will use our curriculum of fun and developmentally appropriate practice activities designed by our USSF "A" Licensed Director of Coaching and Player Development, Shane Weems.
Click here if you are interested in coaching or to see our ABYSA Coaches Corner page
Team Formation:
Recreation teams are formed by a combination of geography and teammate requests so that practice can be as close to home as possible. When registering, please use the Special Request section to let us know if you are trying to connect with a specific player so that we can best serve you from start.
Special Requests: If you have a 'Special Request' to be placed with a specific player for carpooling, etc., both families must complete the special request section to help us place you accurately since many families register at different times during the registration cycle. If you want your player to play up one age group or have a girls' division player that want's to play in a boys' division, please enter that information in the Special Request section of the registration and we transfer your player to the appropriate division.
Seasons Offered and Season Length:
See the Registration Dates and Information section for specific dates
| Age Group | Weeknight Practices | Saturday Games | Season Length |
4U-6U
Fall and Spring Seasons offered
(See age group chart) | No
Each game day will consist of
30 minutes of skill-building games
and 30 minutes of game play | Yes
Playdates will be approximately
1 hour each Saturday | 7 Weeks*
|
7U-19U
Fall and Spring Seasons offered
(See age group chart) | Yes
Practice day/time scheduled
by volunteer coach after the
coaches meeting | Yes
Games will approximately
1 hour and 15 minutes each
Saturday | 10 Weeks*
teams start practicing
2 weeks before the 1st game date |
*Weather cancellations will be added to the end of the season
How to Register:
Click here for help and instructions on registering
(Click here for PDF Version)
Click here for instructions on using the PlayMetrics system (desktop or mobile version) to navigate your account and team calendar
Be sure to download the PlayMetrics Mobile app for easy access
to your account, schedule, and communications!
Apple users click here
Android users click here
Para información en español
Monica Bastin
[email protected]
2022-23 Age Group Information
Click on the division name to view an age group overview
*ABYSA's 4U, 5U, and 6U programs use a modified learning model, so the format of the practice session and game may change depending on the learning topic that week.
Spring 2023 Recreation Registration Dates and Information
| Registration Dates for all ABYSA Programs (4U - 19U) |
| Spring 2023 Registration Opens | November 1, 2023 |
| On-time Registration Deadline* | Feb 1, 2023 |
*Registration will remain open until all teams in an age group are completely full
If you would like to know if a division is full, please go to your player's registration and check to see if your player's age group has a waitlist. If the age group has a waitlist, it is currently full. It is free to sign up for the waitlist and we do aim to get as many players as possible off of the waitlist so that they can participate with a team.
| Important dates - Spring 2023 Season |
| 7U - 19U Program Dates |
7U - 19U Coaches meeting
(When practice day/time is selected by coaches) | Feb 15, 2023 |
7U - 19U Rec practices start the week of
| Feb 27-March 3, 2023
|
7U - 19U First games*
| March 11, 2023
|
| End of the season | May 13 for most teams |
| 4U - 6U Program Dates |
4U - 6U Coaches meeting
| March 2, 2023
|
4U - 6U Soccer playdates begin*
| March 18, 2023
|
| End of the season | May 13 for most teams |
*For additional schedule and location information, please Click Here for the "ABYSA Schedules and Locations" section.
Beginning in the Fall 2022 season, ABYSA moved to an online uniform ordering system with Lloyd's Soccer. Lloyd's Soccer has been our HFC Competitive program uniform provider for over a decade and has provided exceptional quality and service to our HFC families in that time! Our ABYSA Recreation Staff has been continually evaluating our uniform ordering processes for the past several years. We believe that the time is right to transition to online ordering so that our ABYSA recreation families can experience a uniform system built around your needs.
Current ABYSA Recreation Uniform Packages
(shorts and socks are optional) |
| 4U-6U Uniform Package | 7U-19U Uniform Package |
 |  |
Click here for more information on how to order an ABYSA uniform for the Spring 2023 season
Cost of Recreation
Click here to learn more about the cost of ABYSA Recreation
Recreation Game And Practice Information
Game Schedule Information
Each family can access their player's ABYSA Recreation game schedule by logging into their family's PlayMetrics account. Once the season schedule is published* (see more information below) you will see the games in your PlayMetrics account calendar OR you can click on the team name in your account to see the team page.
Please check back each Friday before games during the season to make sure your child's schedule hasn't changed. There are times when games need to be moved throughout the season, so checking back each Friday will make sure you end up at your proper game location and time. When games are canceled due to weather we will update the schedule by the following Wednesday.
*Full season schedules will be posted about 10 days before the 1st game date listed in the 'Important Dates' section.
Click here for instructions on using the PlayMetrics system (desktop or mobile version) to navigate your account and team calendar
Most Common ABYSA Game Facilities
Most common ABYSA practice locations:
ABYSA's Volunteer Coaches will select their team's practice location, day, and time after the ABYSA Coaches Meeting on the date listed in the 'Important Dates' above. Each team's practice location will vary based on school district, age group, and coach preference.
Click Here for the most common practice locations selected by our Volunteer Recreation Coaches.
If your child is a 7U-10U player in Buncombe, Henderson, or Madison County who is playing rec soccer, but wants more time and help learning and mastering skills, our HFC Pre-Academy program was created to offer an additional day of skill-building practice for players already participating in our ABYSA Recreation program or playing in other local programs.
The HFC Pre-Academy program provides a platform to introduce players to a training experience consistent with ABYSA's/HFC's next competitive level of the player development pathway (HFC Academy (8U-10U), HFC Academy (11-12U), HFC Intermediate (13-15U), and HFC Competitive (10U-19U)) while still competing for their recreation team.
Pre-Academy players will go to their recreation team practice one day of the week and then come to Pre-Academy for a second practice each week. Families can choose the Pre-Academy day that works with their ABYSA Recreation team's schedule. The HFC Pre-Academy staff is made up of highly qualified staff coaches who want to give back to the game and help guide some of our youngest players as they learn the skills and concepts to find more enjoyment in the game.
Click here to learn more about our HFC Pre-Academy Program!
Coaches Corner
ABYSA works hard to create a fun environment for both players and coaches. We provide resources for each age group, making it easy for our coaches to enjoy coaching--even with little coaching/playing experience. ABYSA takes care of all the details, supplying coaches with practice plans, schedules, rosters, cones, scrimmage vests, and practice space as well as offering preseason coaches meetings and clinics. We work hard to make it easy for coaches so that coaches can concentrate on having fun while teaching the players soccer skills as well as important life lessons along the way. In fact, coaching in ABYSA is almost as fun as playing so if you are interested in coaching then please contact [email protected]
Click here for the full ABYSA Coaches Corner resource page
NCYSA Risk Management Information for Coaches and Volunteers
Click here for instructions on registering with NCYSA Risk Management
Click here for ABYSA FAQs
Click here for Henderson County Specific FAQs
Become a Referee (must be at least 14 years old)
Becoming a referee is a great way to give back to your soccer community! Many of our ABYSA and HFC staff members and players regularly help referee local games at various ages and levels. Refereeing can also be a great way to earn extra money for players, parents, and family members that may already be at the fields all weekend!
Click here for more information on becoming a referee
Camps and Clinics for ABYSA Recreation Players
Will Voss
ABYSA Recreation Administrator
[email protected]
Shane Weems
ABYSA / HFC Recreation Director of Coaching & Player Development
HFC Pre-Academy, Director
FUNdamentals Soccer Camps, Director
Soccer In the Schools, Director
[email protected]
Silver Weems
ABYSA / HFC Assistant Director of Recreation Soccer
[email protected]
Para información en español
Monica Bastin
[email protected]
ABYSA and ABC Pediatrics of Asheville are proud of our ongoing partnership with the SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD PROGRAM.
ABC Pediatrics of Asheville and ABYSA, recognize that the life lessons learned from being part of a sports team are just as important as the physical activity and exercise that sport provides. We are grateful to ABC Pediatrics for helping us make learning about sportsmanship a core value of our recreation program and providing a format for coaches and parents to help our children learn these important lessons. We hope you will join us in using this program as a teaching tool.