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Elite 64 Welcomes Kings Hammer Boys

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FRISCO, Texas (March 8, 2022) — The US Youth Soccer National League is excited to announce the next nine boys clubs that will compete as inaugural members of Elite 64.

Chicago FC United (IL)
Dallas Surf Soccer Club (TX)
Indiana Fire Juniors (IN)
Kings Hammer Academy (KY)
Los Angeles Soccer Club (CA)
Players Development Academy (NJ)
Real Colorado (CO)
Rush Select South (MS)
STA (NJ)

Each of these Elite 64 clubs share a collective vision and are dedicated to providing an unmatched game day experience, in addition to maintaining the highest standards, both on and off the field, to maximize the opportunities available to their players.

“We are thrilled to welcome these standout boys clubs as inaugural members of Elite 64,” said Simon Collins, USYS National League Commissioner. “We are excited to continue to work with clubs that are dedicated to doing what is best for the players, both on and off the field, and are confident Elite 64 will help these clubs offer an unrivaled experience for their top-level players. These clubs have a history of player development, and we’re confident their leaders will utilize the full developmental pathway of the National League to ensure every level of player at their club is able to compete in the right environment.”

The newly-announced elite performance tier of the National League, Elite 64 will begin play this fall and feature club-based competition for the nation’s top boys and girls players in the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18/19U age groups. The 64 clubs in each gender will be geographically positioned into eight groups of eight clubs. Teams play a 14-game league season and have access to two national showcases (alongside National League P.R.O.) and the Elite 64 national finals.

Each of the inaugural Elite 64 clubs will benefit from world-class performance analysis from ProScore and new USYS partner STATSports, which will provide Elite 64 clubs with unparalleled access to the world’s most advanced performance wearable technology. All data and analysis collected will be shared with college coaches and professional scouts — making every Elite 64 game or training session a recruitable moment.

Acceptance into Elite 64 guarantees each club a minimum three-year involvement in the competition, with 18-month evaluations of every club taking place to ensure standards are met and Elite 64 maintains the highest possible level of competitive balance across the platform.

View the Club Directory to see all the inaugural Elite 64 clubs that have been announced to this point and continue to check back as more are announced.

HEAR FROM THE CLUB LEADERS…

CHICAGO FC UNITED (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Chicago FC United is honored to be an inaugural member of Elite 64. We are looking forward to the top-level competition week in, week out. The national exposure at the Elite 64 showcases will be a great addition to our club’s programming, and we look forward to helping to grow the league and provide a top soccer environment for our players. Elite 64 simply gives our players an opportunity to compete against the top USYS teams in the country. Playing at that elite level consistently will improve our players and the increased opportunities can only enhance and further player development. We have had a small experience using the STATSports and ProScore technology through National League P.R.O. and have been very impressed with the impact it can have on player development, coaches’ game analysis and the availability to college coaches for the recruitment process. Our ability to use this technology on a larger scale, more frequently, will only further our ability to provide meaningful information to our players on a more consistent basis, thus also allowing college coaches to get an improved, well-rounded view on every player in our club.”
Andy Parry, Director of Operations

DALLAS SURF SOCCER CLUB (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Dallas Surf Soccer Club is honored to be a member of the inaugural class of Elite 64. We strive to be a forward-thinking club and are excited to partner with a platform that offers new ideas and strategies.  The analysis we can do using STATSports and ProScore gives our players and coaches an edge that is unmatched in youth soccer. That, combined with a clear player development pathway, sets Dallas Surf up for success now and into the future. USYS is the largest youth soccer organization in the country and having the opportunity to compete in its top league platform is a privilege.”
Tony Cavalle, Director of Soccer

INDIANA FIRE JUNIORS (Elite 64 – Boys)
“The Elite 64 League will allow our teams to consistently compete against the best clubs in the country and streamline showcase opportunities for our players to be seen from professional and collegiate scouts. The autonomy given to the clubs will allow us to manage our players internally while having access to STATSports and ProScore for optimal development.”
Phil Presser, Technical Director

KINGS HAMMER ACADEMY (Elite 64  – Boys)
“Kings Hammer Soccer Club is excited to be joining the National League Elite 64 platform. Kings Hammer Elite 64 will be serving our players in the Central Kentucky and Greater Lexington area, providing high-level players the opportunity to compete on this national platform. Having the access to STATSports and ProScore will provide fantastic technology options for our players and coaches within this platform.”
Paul Nicholson, Technical Director

LOS ANGELES SOCCER CLUB (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Los Angeles SC is proud to join USYS National League Elite 64 — a prestigious and unique platform that will provide incredible opportunities and competition. We are very excited to be part of the inaugural season with so many top-class clubs from around the country. Elite 64 will be a fantastic addition to our player development pathway as it will provide an elite-level local, regional, and national playing environment. A player-centric league, focused on player development, enabling clubs to concentrate on creating a competitive learning environment that will bring out the best in young athletes. The pro-level performance analysis provided through STATSports and ProScore will be a game-changer. It will allow each individual athlete to track their own performance and enable both qualitative and quantitative feedback from coaches. This will be an incredibly valuable tool in the development process and for recruiting purposes.”
Brian Waltrip, Executive Director

PLAYERS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Players Development Academy is extremely honored and excited to be selected to join the USYS National League Elite 64. The opportunity to compete with the best clubs in our northeast region and across the country aligns with our club’s vision, purpose and mission. Providing an elite game day experience throughout the calendar year will continue the growth and development of our players. This national platform will also provide STATSports and ProScore to create a college recruiting opportunity every game for our prospective student athletes. The modern game demands technology and having access to data is imperative for not only player development but also our coaching staff. The performance analysis from STATSports and ProScore will provide our players and coaches with valuable information to enhance training sessions, individual development plans, curriculum and our club’s game model. We look forward to working together with USYS to create a national competitive platform to grow the game of soccer in the United States.”
Brian Grazier, Technical Director PDA Hibernian

REAL COLORADO (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Real Colorado is excited about the opportunity to deepen and improve the player pathway offered to our players interested and capable of competing in a national platform. The roster flexibility offered by USYS National League Elite 64 is an exciting direction permitting the club the ability to manage the development of our players and supporting each player’s individual journey along the way.”
Lorne Donaldson, Executive Director of Coaching

RUSH SELECT SOUTH (Elite 64 – Boys)
“Rush Soccer is extremely excited to participate in the newly formed Elite 64. The platform’s flexibility in connecting leagues allows for a model to truly serve our players first. The formation of Rush Select South will allow us to further develop the proven model within our Select Program and expand opportunities for our players. Partnering with STATSports and ProScore will provide players and coaches added development opportunities through much-needed performance analysis and give scouts additional access to all our players. All this combined will help Rush Select South bring top players and coaches together while helping Rush Soccer continue to develop high level players across our network.”
Michael Ritch, Executive Director

STA (Elite 64 – Boys)
“To be part of the Elite 64 league is a great opportunity for our STA boys’ program. It allows us to continue to extend the opportunities for our membership, providing our players the highest level of national competition against like-minded clubs. Being part of Elite 64 and playing alongside other elite clubs from across the country will also provide valuable extra exposure as part of their recruitment processes. Every day our players are challenged to get better and the opportunity to demonstrate their talents on this stage is something they will relish. We look forward to the experiences this venture with US Youth Soccer and Elite 64 will bring.”
Shane Bullock, Executive Director

Tryout FAQ’s

How do I register for tryouts?
ALL soccer-athletes MUST COMPLETE the tryout registration online before participating in the tryout process. Click here to register now!

*Please make sure that you register online at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that the soccer athlete is in the system and we have your information to notify you after the tryout process.  There is a Registration Steps document on the Tryouts page that will walk you through the process. Each soccer athlete should attend both tryout days if possible. If you are unable to attend both days please reach out to the Program Director listed below.

Birth Years for the 2022/2023 Season
For the 2022/2023 season, Kings Hammer will follow U.S Youth Soccer’s guidelines and will organize its teams by birth year:

*Interested players must register to try out for their birth year.

Can my child play up an age group?
Any player playing up will be at the discretion of their respective director. All players need to register and attend the tryout for their correct age group.

What should I wear/bring to tryouts?
Please come prepared with a fully inflated soccer ball, proper footwear, shin guards, and water. Each prospective soccer-athlete will receive one free Kings Hammer Soccer Club tryout t-shirt with a tryout identification number on the back of the t-shirt.  Each prospective player will be identified by the identification number throughout the process and MUST wear this t-shirt at each tryout session for the 2022/2023 soccer year.

We will not be able to attend tryouts or are new to the area and missed tryouts. Is there a process in place to allow for an alternate tryout?
Yes! If you are not able to attend tryouts or missed the tryout dates, please register and then contact the Director for the Program/Age Group you wish to tryout for so that arrangements can be made. We also hold supplemental tryouts throughout the year. Roster openings may be limited after the initial tryout period.

What are the differences between Academy and Premier?
Our Academy provides a highly competitive environment for higher-level soccer athletes. This program provides those athletes with the best local training offered by our qualified and professional staff. Our Academy teams play at the highest possible level providing showcase opportunities to College, Professional, and National level programs.

The Premier Program is a community-based program. The Premier Program provides the opportunity for players to play other sports or have other interests outside of soccer. This program is designed to be flexible, convenient, and affordable.

Can I try out for multiple programs?
We encourage anyone who wants to tryout for all levels to do so. Current KHSC players can ask their coach/director for guidance if they are unsure about which program to tryout for. You will need to register for each tryout separately.

If I tryout for a program and don’t make it, can I try out for another program?
Yes. If you don’t make an Academy team, we strongly encourage you to tryout for a Premier team, attending tryouts for at least one day.

If you don’t make a Premier team, the Classic Program may be an option. Contact Michelle Okumura (michelle@kingshammer.com) if you’d like to pursue this option.

Will there be more than one team in each age group?
Yes, when possible, there will be more than one team per age group, per program. It all depends on the number of players at tryouts and their skill level.

If my child doesn’t make the top team, can they move up during the year?
Yes, there may be opportunities to move up throughout the year as long as the coach/director feels it is in the best interest of the player’s development. There may also be opportunities to guest play across all levels.

What can I expect after tryouts?
After tryouts you can expect communication from the club in the form of an email.  (Please double-check that your email is correct in the PlayMetrics system, this is the email we use) This will either be an acceptance email, offering your child a position on a team, or an email letting you know that they should tryout for a different program. Players who are offered positions on a team may also receive a phone call from their coach. All communication will come within 24-48 hours of the end of the last tryout. You will then have 24 hours to either accept or decline your email before your spot is offered to another child.

What are the next steps if my child makes a team?

  1. If you are new to the club, you will receive more information regarding your uniform ordering in your confirmation email.
  2. If you are part of the Academy or Premier Programs, you will receive the link to Demosphere to register your child in the state system in your confirmation email as well.

How long is the season?

  • Academy
    • U11-U14: August-November, January-May (possible post-season in June)
    • U15-U19: November-May
  • Premier
    • U7-U14: August-October, March-May
    • U15-U19: November-December, March-May

My child is in middle school but plays on a U15 team. Will there be a fall U15 program for trapped players?
Yes, we will offer a program for trapped 8th graders for the fall season depending on interest. The program will run from August to October and is open to players that are currently in the 8th grade that will be playing on a U15 team starting in November 2022. Questions please contact:

Academy North: Ryan Handbury | ryan@kingshammer.com
Academy South Boys: James Thomas | james@kingshammer.com
Academy South Girls: Chris Black | chris@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Boys: Dan Ensley  | dan@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Girls: Megan Adkins | megan@kingshammer.com

Can a team come to the club and join as a team?
Yes! The team can join the Classic Program. For more information please reach out to Michelle Okumura at michelle@kingshammer.com.

Who is in charge of hiring coaches?
If you are interested in a coaching opportunity, please fill out the following coaching form – https://kingshammer.com/interested-in-coaching/

Program Directors:

Academy North: Ryan Handbury | ryan@kingshammer.com
Academy South Girls: Chris Black | chris@kingshammer.com
Academy South Boys: James Thomas | james@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Boys: Dan Ensley | dan@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Girls: Megan Adkins | megan@kingshammer.com
Premier Xenia: Brent Lewis | brent@kingshammer.com
Premier North: Wil Cagle | wil@kingshammer.com
Premier Sycamore: Ryan Handbury | ryan@kingshammer.com
Premier Central: Michael Ratliff | michaelr@kingshammer.com
Premier South: David Shemilt | dshemilt@kingshammer.com
Premier Versailles: Brandon Cummons | brandon@kingshammer.com
Premier Lexington: Fonyam Atanga | fonyam@kignshammer.com