March Newsletter 2026

Welcome to the Kings Hammer March Newsletter! This edition features our 26/27 Tryout Registration, Jefferson Cup Champs, Kate’s Heart Journey, Featured Education: “A Letter from the Technical Desk”, and more! If you have a player, coach, or team to be highlighted in future newsletters, please send photos and stories to info@kingshammer.com. Each newsletter will be posted on our website as well as our social pages.

26/27 Tryout Registration is Open Now!

Kings Hammer Cincinnati is excited to announce that tryout registration for the 2026/2027 season is now open!

Click here to register now!

With the upcoming age group changes taking effect, we are aligning our player pathway to ensure a seamless transition and continued development for all athletes. (Click here to view the 2026/2027 Age Groupings.)

Juniors (U5–U8) – Kings Hammer Juniors introduces young players to soccer in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate environment. The program focuses on building confidence, developing foundational skills, and fostering a love for the game. Juniors runs in 6 week sessions with 1 training session and 1 game day per week. No tryouts for Juniors, registration coming soon!

Academy (U8–U19) – Kings Hammer Academy emphasizes long-term player development, technical growth, and enjoyment of the game. The program is designed to prepare players for future competitive pathways while nurturing creativity and confidence on the ball.

Elite (U11–U19) – Kings Hammer Elite represents our highest level of competitive soccer. These programs are designed for highly committed players who thrive in challenging environments and aspire to compete at the top regional, national, and collegiate levels. Elite programming includes, advanced training standards, intentional competition selection, individualized development plans, and a clearly defined long-term player pathway.

Click the links below for more information and to secure your spot:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Be sure to register early and share this with your friends who are looking for a place to grow, compete, and be part of something special. *If you have a scheduling conflict please get with your director and let them know in advance.

Stay tuned—program pricing and coaching staff announcements are coming soon!

Join Us This Summer at our Kings Hammer Summer Camp Series!

Ready to hit the pitch this summer? Hang with your friends and perfect your technical skills during the summer vacation with our 2026 Summer Camp Series! Kicking off this June, we’re bringing Kings Hammer summer camp fun to a convenient location near you, including: 

Want to join in on the fun with your friends and teammates this summer? Click here to register now!

Explore the New Kings Hammer Website!

We’re excited to introduce the all-new Kings Hammer website—your updated home for everything happening across the club!

With a fresh look and improved navigation, it’s now easier than ever to find program information, club news, and more. Whether you’re a current family or just getting to know Kings Hammer, the new site is designed to keep you informed and connected.

Take a look and explore everything the new website has to offer. Click here to visit!

Kickin’ It with Kings Hammer is Back!

Kickin’ It with Kings Hammer is back for 2026! Bring a friend, and enjoy some soccer, food, and fun with Kings Hammer staff at this free event happening Friday nights at a location near you!

Fridays | 6:00–7:30 PM | Grades K – 5

Sycamore, OH & Union, KY | 4/3 & 4/24

Lebanon, OH & Cincinnati, OH | 4/10 & 5/1

Mason, OH & Wilder, KY | 4/17

Kids will be grouped by age range and focused on fun and learning. Ready to kick your weekend off with excitement this spring? Click here to register today!

Jefferson Cup Champs!

Congratulations to our KH Cincinnati Elite G12 squad and coach Octavia Saunders on bringing home a Jefferson Cup Soccer Showcase championship! One of the top tournaments in the country for elite level teams, our girls went 4-0-0 on the weekend, scoring 15 goals and only conceding one goal the whole weekend. Way to represent the yourselves and our club, girls!

Kings Hammer March Tournament Series

This month, Kings hammer Cincinnati held Boys Turf Classic, Elite Spring Thaw, & Girls Turf Classic. Check out the videos below for a look at some awesome highlights!

Congratulations to our teams who played hard and earned themselves a Champion or Finalist medal at these events! We’re so excited for and proud of each of you!

Kate’s Heart Journey

While Kate was at a winter practice, she started to feel off. Her coach, Ryan Schaeffer, noticed as well. Kate opened up to Coach Schaeffer, who she felt had created a safe space to allow her to feel able to speak up that something didn’t seem right.

Since then, Kate and her family have been able to discover the root of what had Kate feeling different that day. Watch the video below from the American Heart Association to hear Kate’s story.

Kate has been a part of the Kings Hammer Elite-R G11 team. During the following season, family, friends, and teammates rallied around Kate as she prepared for surgery, and during her recovery. Though Kate wasn’t able to play, her team made sure she felt included and supported throughout her journey. 

On February 26th, 2026, Kate and her family, along with a few friendly Kings Hammer faces, attended the Cincinnati Heart Ball to celebrate Kate’s journey and The American Heart Association. The club is so thankful for Kate’s continued recovery and health.

Kings Hammer is committed to athlete safety through our partnership with the One Shot Foundation. Through this partnership, Kings Hammer has implemented a comprehensive safety program that includes Take10 Hands-Only CPR Training for staff, AED Access and Availability, and Venue-Specific Emergency Action Plans. Additionally, we are grateful for our coaches, like Coach Schaeffer, who create safe environments and build trust with their players every day so they may feel encouraged to speak up if something feels off.

Kathy represents Kings Hammer at the Ohio Soccer Association AGM

This year, our Admin Manager Kathy Mercurio took a trip to Columbus to attend the Ohio Soccer Association AGM. Kathy was on the “Competitive Round Table” panel. This panel discussed topics like the upcoming change from birth year to school year, challenges clubs may face with the change, and handling transfers from team to team and club to club. Kathy also attended the Ohio Soccer Association Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a Risk Management workshop, and voted on behalf of Kings Hammer!

Garrett Loehr heads to US Soccer National Team GK Experience

Congratulations to our Head of Goalkeeping Garrett Loehr on his selection for the US Soccer Men’s National Team Goalkeeping Experience hosted by US Soccer! Garrett will travel to Atlanta, GA to learn from and work with US Men’s National Team staff and attend a Men’s National Team match. Congrats on this amazing opportunity, Garrett!

Featured Education: A Letter from the Technical Desk

As we move into the heart of the spring season, it’s a great time to take a step back and recognize the progress being made across our teams. The energy, commitment, and consistency shown on the field each week has been a reflection of a strong collective mindset. Training environments have been competitive and purposeful, and match days have shown growth not just in performance, but in understanding.

Spring is always an important stretch. It’s where habits are tested, where details matter more, and where players begin to separate themselves through their approach. Not just in how they play, but in how they carry themselves. This is where leadership begins to take shape.

Leadership isn’t reserved for captains or the most experienced players. It’s something every player can grow into and demonstrate daily. At its core, leadership shows up in two clear ways: through your voice and through your body language.

  • Leading with your voice is about communication that adds value. It’s helping organize teammates, offering encouragement, and holding each other accountable in the right moments. It’s not about being the loudest person on the field, but about saying the right things at the right time. Clear, confident communication builds trust within a team. It helps solve problems in real time and keeps everyone connected to the task.
  • Leading with your body language is just as powerful, and often even more visible. Your posture, your reactions, and your response to both success and adversity send a constant message. Positive body language shows resilience, belief, and focus. It lifts those around you. On the other hand, negative reactions can quickly impact the group. Great leaders stay composed, respond with intent, and show through their actions that they are ready for the next moment.

As the season continues, challenge yourself to be more intentional in both areas. Speak with purpose. Carry yourself with confidence. Bring energy that others can feed off. Leadership is not something you wait for, it’s something you choose to demonstrate every day in training and in matches.

A strong spring season is built on more than just results. It’s built on growth, consistency, and the development of individuals who are ready to lead. Keep pushing, keep improving, and continue to raise the standard for yourself and those around you.

Go out there and bring the Relentless Action. Go Kings Hammer! 

Bronson Gambale – National Technical Director

GK UNION SAVE OF THE MONTH

We had a full-stretch February with two jaw dropping moments in last month’s GK Union Save of the Month! A double save from Gavin and a diving stop from Melody showcased top notch technique to keep the opponent off the scoreboard! Congratulations, Gavin and Melody!

Did you make an incredible save or a game-saving block? We want to see them! Post your best saves in the Kings Hammer GK Union Facebook group. Be sure to share throughout the upcoming season and YOU could be selected for our Kings Hammer Save of the Month! GK Save of the Month winners will be announced the Friday of the first full week of the following month.

Monthly winners will be posted on the Kings Hammer social pages and on the GK Union page.

Stay Connected with Kings Hammer

Don’t miss all the latest updates, news, and fun happening on our Kings Hammer social pages!

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/khcincynky/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khcincynky/  

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/khcincynky

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