Overview
Program available in Asheville and Hendersonville
The Academy 11U/12U program is a developmental program for players still growing technically, physically or mentally, who are not yet ready for the most competitive level of play which is Competitive (Classic) soccer but need to play at a higher level than Recreational soccer can provide. This is an in-house program where teams are formed based on parity.
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:
| New Age Group Birth Dates | Age Group | HFC Academy |
| 7/31/2016 - 8/1/2015 | 11U | YES |
| 7/31/2015 - 8/1/2014 | 12U | YES |
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. Asheville based players train at the Buncombe County Sports Park (BCSP), or the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex (JBL). All Hendersonville based 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 mostly take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays with each training session lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. Players will mainly train with their team but occasionally there will be training where players are divided into ability based groups.
Games
Games are primarily played on Saturday mornings/early-afternoons at the Buncombe County Sports Park (BCSP), or the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex (JBL) for both Asheville and Hendersonville players. Academy 11U/12U games are all in-house games where players play against other players within the program.
The 11U/12U age group teams play a 9v9 format with 30 minute halves.
| 11U /12U HFC Academy Schedule - Fall 2026 / Spring 2027 |
| Fall 2025 |
| Date | Description |
| TBA | Fall 2025 training begins |
| TBA | First game of the Fall 2025 season |
| TBA | Last game of the Fall 2025 season |
| Spring 2026 |
| Date | Description |
| TBA | Spring 2026 training begins |
| TBA | First game of the Spring 2026 season |
| TBA | No HFC Academy games |
| TBA | No HFC Academy games |
| TBA | Last game of the Spring 2026 season |
Placement Evaluations
All players interested in participating in the Academy 11U/12U program must be evaluated. 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
Field Locations
All Academy training takes place at or Buncombe County Sports Park (BCSP), or the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex (JBL) for Asheville based players, and at Henderson County Athletics and Activity Center (AAC) for Hendersonville based players.