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June Newsletter 2023

Welcome to the Kings Hammer June Newsletter! This edition features Merchandise Package Deals, 23/24 Uniform Ordering, Supplemental Tryouts, Fall Trapped Team, GK Union Save of the Year Winners, Summer Camps, FCC Kings Hammer Family Night, Kings Hammer Partners with OrthoCincy 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.

Kings Hammer Merchandise Package Deals

Select 1 of 4 unique merchandise packages, all at a great discounted price! Each of the 4 kits have a unique product selection that is great for the whole family! All orders include a free car magnet and a Kings Hammer sticker. Click the link below for more information and to purchase while supplies last!

Click here to shop our new Kings Hammer merchandise kits!

2023/2024 Uniform Ordering Now Available

The 2023/2024 Season will be the first year in a two-year uniform cycle with Nike & Soccer Village. It is recommended that all kits are purchased immediately in order to receive them in time for your first game. Please click the links below and then the ‘gear’ tab to view the uniform kit as well as Soccer Village ordering instructions.

Elite Boys (ECNL U13-U19)
Elite Girls (ECNL U13-U19)
Elite Boys & Girls (Pre-ECNL U10-U12)

Academy Cincinnati North (U10-U19)
Academy Cincinnati South (U10-U19)
Academy Bluegrass (U10-U19)

Premier Lebanon (U10-U14)
Premier Sycamore (U10-U14)
Premier Wilder (U10-U14)
Premier Union (U10-U14)
Premier Lexington (U10-U14)
Premier Versailles (U10-U14)

Juniors Lebanon (U7-U9)
Juniors Sycamore (U7-U9)
Juniors Wilder (U7-U9)
Juniors Union (U7-U9)
Juniors Lexington (U7-U9)
Juniors Versailles (U7-U9)

Supplemental Tryouts

Are you or someone you know still looking for a team?

Kings Hammer will be holding Supplemental Tryouts July 6th for our Academy(U10-U19), Premier(U10-U19), & Juniors(U7-U9) Programs in Greater Cincinnati!

SCHEDULE:

  • U7(2017) thru U9(2015): Thursday, July 6th from 5-6:20pm
  • U10(2014) thru U19(2005): Thursday, July 6th from 6:30-8pm

LOCATIONS:

  • Academy Cincinnati North, Premier & Juniors Lebanon, and Premier & Juniors Sycamore @ Voice of America Park
  • Academy Cincinnati South, Premier & Juniors Wilder, and Premier & Juniors Union @ Town & Country

Click here to register now for the 2023/2024 Tryouts!

*All players interested in Premier & Juniors Xenia please click here to fill out a player interest form!

Fall Trapped 8th Grade Registration Open

Are you a trapped 8th grade player looking for a team this fall? Kings Hammer fall trapped team registration is now open for both boys & girls.

For more information on this program and to register click here.

GK Union Save of the Year Winners Announced

Kings Hammer is excited to announce the 2022-23 season winners of the first Aubrey Kingsbury Save of the Year Award! Congratulations to Barrett Moore from KH B04/05 ECNL and Abbi Siemer from KHM G08 Premier 1. You both did an outstanding job representing the GK Union! We had so many great saves from this past year and would like to congratulate everyone that was selected as the monthly winners as well!

Summer Camps Going on Now!

Looking for an opportunity to stay sharp this Summer?

Register today for the Kings Hammer Summer Camp Series! Camps will be offered at our North, Sycamore, Central, South, Lexington, and Versailles locations  running through July 27th.

For more information on Summer Camps and to register click here.

FC Cincinnati Kings Hammer Family Night – July 15th

The Kings Hammer Family Night tickets are sold out. If you submitted a name for a on-field activity be on the lookout for further information in your email. We will contact those that have been selected. Please note that you must have purchased tickets in order to be selected.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, July 15th!

FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC
Saturday, July 15th – 7:30pm

Kings Hammer Announces Partnership with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

COVINGTON, KY (June 1, 2023) – Kings Hammer Soccer Club is proud to announce a partnership with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine to provide preventative care and coverage for all Kings Hammer athletes in some of its Midwest Region. This partnership will provide support to Kings Hammer programs that operate specifically in the Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas.

As the official sports medicine provider for Kings Hammer in its Midwest Region, OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine will offer direct access to the world-class orthopaedic specialists, expedited urgent care services and a full spectrum of ancillary care for injured athletes.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Kings Hammer,” said Nicholas Gates, MD, president of OrthoCincy. “Their vision of developing youth athletes aligns with our focus of providing athletes of all ages an elite level of sports medicine care.”

Kings Hammer focuses on developing players to their fullest potential through the highest levels of youth soccer training. The number of teams competing on all levels at Kings Hammer continues to increase, and having appropriate medical care on the sidelines will be a huge benefit for all players and staff.

“We are thrilled to be making this announcement today, stated Kevin McCloskey, President of Kings Hammer. OrthoCincy understands the vision that Kings Hammer has for its players, parents and staff and we are happy to share the same goal of trying to keep our players healthy and safe. I would like to thank JoAnn Reis and her entire team for wanting to partner with Kings Hammer and for believing in youth soccer in this region.”

JoAnn Reis, CEO of OrthoCincy added, “This reinforces our commitment to youth athletics and support of the communities we serve.”

The support of OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine will allow Kings Hammer to continue striving towards the improvement of player and overall team development while reducing sports related injuries.

Click here to read the full story.

June Education: Don’t Drop the Ball on Summer Development Opportunities

Summertime means the days are longer, the weather is warmer, and the skies are typically brighter.  But for many youth athletes it can also mean a loss of structure to our days; no school, no practices, no formal games, and a loss of some of the development gains made throughout the past season.  However, with some simple planning and the right focus, athletes and their families can make great use of the summer weeks to maintain, or even improve themselves and be prepared for the next season.

Here are three key areas young athletes can work on this summer:

  • FOCUS ON SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
  • IMPROVE OVERALL ATHLETICISM
  • INCREASE SOCCER AWARENESS

Focus on Specific Individual Development

The summer off season can be the perfect opportunity to spend time focusing on your own individual development by working on specific aspects of your play.  I would encourage each player to reflect on two technical aspects of their play that are strengths and two areas that they wish they were stronger at.  Kings Hammer players may be able to utilize prior Player Report Cards to assist in identifying these areas.  Once identified, lay out a plan to work on these areas 30-45 minutes 3-4 days per week.  Having a structured approach to this can be very helpful.  There are several options that can assist with this.

  • TECHNE-this mobile app, available FREE to all Kings Hammer players, has great training resources for nearly every technical aspect of soccer.
  • YouTube-search the desired area you want to work on and many options will be available for you to follow-along with or to build your own training plan from.
  • Private Coach-there are a number of resources available in this area. You can work on your own or with a small group (get some teammates or friends involved.) Several Kings Hammer coaches are available over the summer to conduct sessions as well.
  • Camps-we are fortunate in this area that there are numerous soccer camp options available. Be sure to check out the coach-to-camper ratio, the history of the camp and staff, as well as the general theme or objective of the camp prior to signing up in order to ensure it will meet your specific needs.  Remember that Kings Hammer hosts camps throughout our program areas that may be perfect for your continued growth.

Click here to read the full article.

Spring Event Series Wrap-Up

We are excited to host 11 fantastic events in the Cincinnati and Lexington markets and 4 events in the Murfreesboro market! Within our event series, our main goal is to provide a quality event experience for every level of team from all types of clubs and programs. Each event will provide unique event experiences and appropriate levels of competition for all teams at some of the best facilities in Ohio, Kentucky, & Tennessee. Thank you for making our event series some of the best tournaments in the region. We can’t wait to see everyone this year at our Kings Hammer Events! Special thank you to our event sponsors: NikeTrophy Awards, and PYB Sports!

 

USL2 & USLW 2023 Seasons Wrapping Up

There are only 3 USL League Two and 1 USLW League home games left at Xavier University’s Corcoran Field!  This will be a very family friendly environment for everyone in the club to enjoy and we encourage players, parents, coaches, and staff to attend these games to cheer on our USL2 & USLW teams.

For more information click here!

Soccer Uniform & Equipment Donation Program

Are you interested in donating used soccer uniforms or equipment? Kings Hammer has partnered with Covington Catholic senior and club member, Jacob Brown, to collect used soccer uniforms and equipment to send to children in need at the Canary Islands. We are accepting any of the following types of gear: jerseys, shirts, shorts, jackets, backpacks, shin guards, socks, cleats, and soccer balls. We thank you in advance for your generosity! 

Donations can be made at the following locations: 

  • Kings Hammer Office (50 E Rivercenter Blvd Covington, KY Suite 150) Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm 
  • Town & Country (Box will be by restrooms near soccer field) Monday-Friday: 6am-9pm & Saturday/Sunday: 8am-6pm 
  • Covington Catholic High School (Front Office) Monday-Friday: 9am-12pm 

We also offer a pickup option. Contact quinn@kingshammer.com for more info. 

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