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Academy Bluegrass

About

The Kings Hammer Academy Bluegrass Program is one of the highest levels of development environments in the region that will compete in the USYS Elite 64. The Academy Program provides elite-level coaching, facilities, and competition to its players and teams. Kings Hammer Academy has produced players that have gone on and played at the state, regional, national, collegiate, and professional levels. This program will be supported through a pathway created by the Versailles and Lexington communities.

Tryouts

Fees

Gear

Staff

Contacts/Locations

Camps

Tryouts

Thank you for your interest in Kings Hammer Soccer Club.

KHSC is proud of the professional management team assembled to lead players and parents into the future. If you want to be the best, try out for the best! Please reach out to the program director listed below if you have any questions.

For tryout questions please reach out to the program director:

Girls: Megan Adkins | Boys: Dan Ensley

megan@kingshammer.com | dan@kingshammer.com

For the 2022/2023 season, Kings Hammer will follow US Youth Soccer guidelines and will organize its teams by birth year. Interested players must register based on their birth year.

The Kings Hammer philosophy for forming teams is as follows:

Our mission is to develop soccer players to their fullest potential. We believe we accomplish that mission, in part, by forming the most competitive teams we can at each age and skill level.

In some cases, we may ask a player to play “up” for the 2022/2023 season (meaning to play with and against kids born in the prior birth year). We will make those decisions based on what is best for the development of the player and will do so only after consultation with the player’s family and approval from the age group director and coaching staff.

Academy Bluegrass Boys ID Sessions 2022/2023
Birth Year	Age Group	Date	Time & Location
2010	U13	May 13th	6-7:30pm @ Tates Creek HS
2009	U14	May 13th	6-7:30pm @ Tates Creek HS
2008	U15	May 13th	6-7:30pm @ Tates Creek HS
2007	U16	May 13th	6-7:30pm @ Tates Creek HS
2006	U17	May 13th	7:30-9pm @ Tates Creek HS
2005-2004	U18/U19	May 13th	7:30-9pm @ Tates Creek HS
Tates Creek HS – 1111 Centre Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40517

Academy Bluegrass Boys 2022/2023 Tryout Schedule
Birth Year	Age Group	Date	Time & Location	Date	Time & Location
2012	U11	May 16th	7:30-9pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	May 17th	7:15-8:30pm @ Henry Clay HS Grass
2011	U12	May 16th	7:30-9pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	May 17th	7:15-8:30pm @ Henry Clay HS Grass
2010	U13	May 31st	6-7:30pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	June 1st	5:30-6:45pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS
2009	U14	May 31st	6-7:30pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	June 1st	5:30-6:45pm @ Paul L.Dunbar HS
2008	U15	May 31st	7:30-9pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	June 1st	6:45-8pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS
2007	U16	May 31st	7:30-9pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	June 1st	6:45-8pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS
2006	U17	June 2nd	5:30-6:45 @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	June 3rd	6-7:30pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS
2005-2004	U18/U19	June 2nd	6:45-8pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS	June 3rd	7:30-9pm @ Paul L. Dunbar HS
Paul L. Dunbar HS – 1600 Man O War Blvd. Lexington, KY 40513 Henry Clay HS Grass (Front of school) – 2100 Fontaine Rd, Lexington, KY 40502

Academy Bluegrass Girls ID Sessions 2022/2023
Birth Year	Age Group	Date	Time & Location
2010	U13	May 22nd	6-7:30pm @Frederick Douglass HS
2009	U14	May 22nd	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2008	U15	May 22nd	6-7:30pm @Frederick Douglass HS
2007	U16	May 22nd	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2006	U17	May 22nd	7:30-9pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2005-2004	U18/U19	May 22nd	7:30-9pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
Frederick Douglass HS – 2000 Winchester Rd. Lexington, KY 40509

Academy Bluegrass Girls 2022/2023 Tryout Schedule
Birth Year	Age Group	Date	Time & Location	Date	Time & Location
2012	U11	May 18th	7:30-9pm @ Paul Laurence Dunbar HS	May 19th	7:30-9pm @ Paul Laurence Dunbar HS
2011	U12	May 18th	7:30-9pm @ Paul Laurence Dunbar HS	May 19th	7:30-9pm @ Paul Laurence Dunbar HS
2010	U13	May 31st	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS	June 1st	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2009	U14	May 31st	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS	June 1st	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2008	U15	May 31st	7:30-9pm @ Frederick Douglass HS	June 1st	7:30-9pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2007	U16	June 2nd	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS	June 3rd	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2006	U17	June 2nd	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS	June 3rd	6-7:30pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
2005-2004	U18/U19	June 2nd	7:30-9pm @ Frederick Douglass HS	June 3rd	7:30-9pm @ Frederick Douglass HS
Paul L. Dunbar HS – 1600 Man O War Blvd. Lexington, KY 40513
Frederick Douglass HS – 2000 Winchester Rd. Lexington, KY 40509

Birth Year	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Team	U7	U8	U9	U10	U11	U12	U13	U14	U15	U16	U17	U18	U19

Fees

Kings Hammer Fees

Fees are based on a FULL soccer year and are all-inclusive with no additional fees added, uniforms and travel are not included.

Each fee will be broken down into an affordable deposit and 8 installment payments.* Except Fall HS which is a one time payment.

All fees are non-refundable once paid.
Deposit is required to hold a player’s spot.

Failure to remain current on your financial obligations to Kings Hammer will result in the player being removed from training and games until all financial commitments are up to date.

If joining Kings Hammer after the start of the season fees are subject to change.

Update Credit Card Info

In order to update the credit card on file for auto-payment, please follow the steps below:

Note: Only the billing account owner of the subscription can update the payment method on the subscription. If you are not the billing account owner of the subscription and need to update the payment method please have the billing account owner follow the instructions in the article “Sharing Registration Payments with Another Family Contact“.

As a Player Contact, navigate to Club Programs in the left-hand menu and click the ‘Registrations’ tab, followed by the appropriate registration to open the subscription details.
Click the edit icon (pencil icon) next to the current card on file to open the “Update Auto Payment” window.
Enter the new card information, or choose a card from your list of “Saved Cards” and save the changes.

The updated payment method will be charged when you make a manual payment, or a make scheduled automatic payment for this specific registration.

Note: Each registration must be updated separately with the new payment method.

All-Inclusive Pricing with No Hidden Costs

Age Group/Birth Year	Fee	Deposit	8 Installments	Fees Include
U11 (2012) – U12 (2011)	$1800	$300	$187.50	Professional Coach Train 3x a week Player Registration/Insurance 1 or 2 League fees in each season (GCSL/CPL) Referee Fees Training/game field expense Coach expense 4 or 5 tournaments depending on age In-season Center of Excellence 1x week (U8 – U10) Use of Veo camera system (U15-U19 only. Shared by other Academy teams) Winter Training In-Season elite performance training (EPT) PlayMetrics – Club communication platform Techne App – individual player at home training app Sports Recruits (U15-U19) College Recruitment Guidence & Seminar (U15-U19) Healthy Roster Player/Parent Education 2023 USL – 2 Tickets
U13 (2010) – U19 (2004) \| Elite 64	$2200	$300	$237.50
U13 (2010) – U19 (2004)	$1900	$300	$200

Group	Fee	Fees Include
Fall Trapped Team	$600	Professional Coach Train 2x a week 1 League Fee 1 Fall Tournament Use of Veo camera system Referee Fees Training/game field expense Coach expense

Kings Hammer Parent Perspective Before Joining

Gear

Staff

Contacts/Locations

Camps

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?

If you are new to the club, you will receive more information regarding your uniform ordering in your confirmation email.
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: Lindsay Basalyga | lindsay@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: Lindsay Basalyga | lindsay@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

ECNL Boys FAQs

Join us!
We will be hosting an ECNL Boys informational zoom meeting on Sunday, May 15th @ 8:30pm.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4799266491

How many ECNL teams are there, and how does it alter the current academy landscape?

ECNL as a league is going to provide a high-level club vs club platform for our top two teams from 13 (2010) – 19 (2004/2005). The top teams (ECNL) will play in the Ohio Valley division of the ECNL, our second teams (ECRL) will play in the Ohio Valley Regional League. A press release formally announcing the ECRL will be forthcoming this week, and more information about specific details surrounding opponents, scheduling & events will be discussed on Sunday. Along with ECNL & ECRL, there will be Pre-ECNL for the South Academy 11s & 12s. This will be more regionally based than the full ECNL and will provide league play along with crossover events for our youngest academy players. ECNL & ECRL will provide the most competitive platform for our 13 and above players, along with ECNL programming Academy South & North will continue to provide USYS (State League, Great Lakes Conference, Buckeye etc) leagues and programs.

Where should my son tryout?

If your son currently plays within Academy 2010 and above, we would suggest signing up for and attending ECNL tryouts. If your son doesn’t make an ECNL or ECRL team he can still then attend Academy North or South tryouts.

What is the scope of travel for ECNL & ECRL?

More information surrounding divisional opponents and scheduling will be discussed on Sunday. As a rough guide ECNL travel will stretch across the Midwest, with ECNL National Events potentially stretching to the East Coast and Southern regions (Similar to current GLC travel). ECRL will be a little more centralized with a few crossover weekends further (Similar to current KPL travel).

What are the National Events and why are they important?

For all ECNL groups it provides an opportunity to match up against ECNL teams from other divisions at a centralized location. For our recruitable age groups it provides the opportunity to maximize college exposure to be seen by over 200+ scouts (AVG @ each event inclusive of NCAA, US Soccer, and MLS/USL Scouts). 13s & 14s will attend 1 or 2 events. 15s will do 2 events, generally 1 in late fall, and one in spring. 16s & 17s will do 3 events, 1 in the late fall with 2 taking place in the winter/spring. While the 19s will do 2 events 1 in the late fall, and another in the winter.

Will ECNL teams still do other Showcases, State CUP/Presidents CUP?

ECNL and ECRL teams will still do other college showcases & tournaments through the season outside of the ECNL events. While they will not do State Cup anymore, both groups will compete for the chance to go to National Playoffs and Finals in June/July. Academy South & North will continue to play within USYS leagues, and compete for State Cup & Presidents Cup.

For more general information on ECNL Boys please have a look at the below ECNL presentation.

Academy Bluegrass Boys
Age Group	Birth Year	Team Name	Coach
U11	2012	KHA Bluegrass B12	Chris Brady
U12	2011	KHA Bluegrass B11	Chris Brady
U13	2010	KHA Bluegrass B10	Tate Spivey
U14	2009	KHA Bluegrass B09	Paul Babba/James Wray
U15	2008	KHA Bluegrass B08	James Wray
U16	2007	KHA Bluegrass B07	Raul Sanchez
U17	2006	KHA Bluegrass B06	Tate Spivey
U18/19	2004/2005	KHA Bluegrass B04/05	Fonyam Atanga

Which program is for you?

Grassroots (U4 - U8)

Premier (U7-U19)

Academy (U11-U19)

Pre-Professional

Other Programs

Academy Bluegrass

About

Thank you for your interest in Kings Hammer Soccer Club.

For tryout questions please reach out to the program director:

The Kings Hammer philosophy for forming teams is as follows:

Kings Hammer Fees

Update Credit Card Info

All-Inclusive Pricing with No Hidden Costs

Kings Hammer Parent Perspective Before Joining

Soccer Village is the official uniform provider for the 2022/2023 Season.

Academy Bluegrass Boys

Age Group

Birth Year

Team Name

Coach

Academy Bluegrass Girls

Age Group

Birth Year

Team Name

Coach

Contacts

Locations

Skills School

World Cup Pre-Season

Little Lions Camp

Striker/GK

Programs

Media

More

Tryout FAQ’s

ECNL Boys FAQs

2022-23 ECNL Boys >