Competitive Program FAQs
What if I tryout for the Competitive Program and don't get selected?
Player evaluations will be forwarded to the ABYSA Academy for 11U/12U OR Intermediate division for 13U - 15U. Players will then be contacted by the directors of those programs and may be asked to attend to an Academy Evaluation OR HFC Intermediate tryout following the conclusion of Competitive tryouts. Some players will be offered positions in the those programs based upon their performance in Competitive tryouts; however, participation in Competitive tryouts does not guarantee a player a position in the either the Academy or Intermediate program. Ages 15U thru 19U may be invited to become a training player at the conclusion of tryouts.
When will I be notified?
Following the final tryout date, coaches will decide which players will be offered positions on which teams. In the event that there are still decisions to make. We will do our best to notify players within 7 days after the last tryout in their age group.
How long do I have before I need to accept an offered position? What if I am uncertain?
In many age groups we have more players trying out than we have roster spots to offer. We ask that a player/family accept or decline their team invite within 48 hours by using the online link. If a position is not accepted within 48 hours, it may be offered to another player. If you plan to accept your team invite BUT there is a reason you are unable to accept within the 48 hour window, please email BOTH Directors of Coaching (Girls or Boys) letting them know the reason.
How are teams in the older boys (15U - 19U) age groups selected?
In the U15-U19 age groups for the boys only the ECNL RL team is active in the fall season. Most players in these age groups are trying out in May for a team that will not compete until at least December. We do this tryout in order to better prepare (coaching assignments, practice space, etc.) for the following spring by having a good idea of what teams will form.
We believe that development will occur over the course of the 5 months between the May tryout and the end of the high school season in later October/early November. It is important that players are given the best opportunity to be placed commensurate to their ability on a HFC team. When we reconvene in November we revaluate all of our players who have accepted their team invites in May, along with any players who wish to be evaluated again or for the first time at our November Supplemental Tryout.
If a player accepts their team invite from the May tryout they are GARUNTEED a spot on a HFC team for the following spring season. If a player declines their team invite from the May tryout and attends the November tryout there is no guarantee that player will be placed on the same team OR IN THE AGE GROUP AT ALL. Team invites that are offered after the May tryouts can be altered in the November Supplemental Tryout. We understand that development varies for every single player, therefore, another evaluation in November will dictate final team placements for the Spring season. It is also true that no movement across teams may happen depending on how we feel the age group has developed over the last 5 months since the May tryout.
Boys | What is the difference between Pre-ECNL, ECNL RL, Premier, Classic 1-3 teams?
The team names in the boys program represent the division in which that specific team will compete in. For example, if your team competes within ECNL RL, you will be; HFC ECNL RL B10. If your team was competing in NCYSA West 1 Division, you will be; 2010 HFC Classic 1.
The ECNL RL team is the first team in an age group, U13 and older (U11 & U12, is Pre-ECNL). The Premier or Classic teams are composed of Competitive (Classic) level soccer players who are committed to improving and competing at the Competitive (Classic) level but who are not at the level of the first team currently.
Girls | What is the difference between Red, White, Black, and Silver teams?
The color designation for team names was chosen to give teams singular identities in the girls program. Red, White, Black and Silver are the official colors of the HFC competitive programs.
The Red team is the first team in an age group. The White, Black, and Silver teams are composed of Competitive (Classic) level soccer players who are committed to improving and competing at the Competitive (Classic) level but who are not at the level of the first team currently.
Who will be the team coach? When will I know?
We always hope to be able to name team coaches around tryouts, but that is not always possible for every team. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of coaching to the players in the Western North Carolina area. Sometimes highly qualified coaches who want to be involved with our program have other professional obligations or schedule conflicts which cannot be sorted out until after tryouts are completed. In such cases, there may be a delay in naming the coach, but teams will know about their coach by the time training begins in mid-July.
What if I can't make all days of tryouts?
If players are not able to attend all days of tryouts, coaches will have limited time to evaluate them for a position. If coaches feel that further evaluation is required before making a decision, players may be invited back for another tryout or even asked to train with a team for a couple of sessions prior to deciding if a roster position will be offered.
Can I play up an age group?
All players should plan to tryout in their correct birth year unless approved by the Program Directors. Players will only be assigned to an older age group team for player development reasons, not for convenience, and these are rare exceptions. Please contact your Program Director for further questions.