Welcome to the Kings Hammer November Newsletter! This edition features Winter Camps, 12 Days of Holiday Deals, KH Partners with X-Factor Performance, Winter 2 Little Lions, 7 KHA Girls Invited to USYNT ID Centers, Seniors Sign NLIs, 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.
Winter Camps
Looking to improve your game over the winter holiday? Develop your skills with Kings Hammer Directors & Staff!
Kings Hammer is excited to announce our 2022 Winter Skills School & Goalkeeper Camp and the new Winter High School GK Clinic to be held on December 27th-29th at Town & Country!
Field players will participate in our Skills School for the first hour, with a curriculum focused on ball manipulation, dribbling moves, passing and receiving techniques to help you improve your confidence as a player. Goalkeepers will focus on skills such as shot-stopping, angle play, footwork, handling, distribution, and 1v1s/breakaways. During the second hour, the two camps will come together for finishing activities and small-sided games.
During the HS GK Clinic goalkeepers will be put in functional situations with an emphasis on technical proficiency and sharpness while following a progressive session model. Session topics include Footwork & Handling w/Shot-Stopping Techniques (Diving Techniques), 1v1/Breakaways (Emphasis on Techniques – Cobra, Smother, Spread Save, K-Saves), and High Ball/Crossing Situation Techniques.
Registration is open to players from any club for Skills School ages U7-U15, Goalkeepers ages U9-U14, and HS Goalkeepers ages U15-U19 + high level U14 players. For more information and to register click the links below:
12 Days of Holiday Deals are in full swing!
Hop over to our merchandise website to shop all the best Kings Hammer gifts for this holiday season. We’ve got hoodies, crewnecks, hats, blankets, and more! Stay cozy and skip the mall— have your order shipped directly to your door. Shop Gifts
Kings Hammer Announces Partnership with X-Factor Performance & Dr. Tiff Jones
COVINGTON, KY (November 17th, 2022) – Kings Hammer is excited to announce a new partnership with X-Factor Performance and Dr. Tiff Jones. X-Factor Performance is a sport and performance psychology consulting company specializing in mental skills training for athletes, teams, coaches, youth clubs, parents, and companies.
Dr. Tiff Jones is a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) and owner of X-Factor Performance Consulting. With over 20 years’ experience working with professional, college, and youth athletes, teams, coaches, and clubs, Dr. Tiff uses theory and science to create mental skills training to help develop the tools necessary for mental toughness.
Current clients include and are not limited to University of Florida, Alabama Gymnastics, Auburn Gymnastics, University of Minnesota Duluth Women’s Ice Hockey, Missouri University Women’s Tennis, and many other D2 and D3 University and College Athletic Departments. Dr. Tiff has also consulted with the USA Women’s U-20 Soccer Team, USA Women’s Ice Hockey, the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS), the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), True North Sports, and the Meghan Klingenberg Soccer Camp. She also consults with many Olympic and professional athletes in a variety of sports.
Kings Hammer will begin piloting the program for Winter 2022 & Spring 2023 with the ECNL Boys and Girls teams.
“We are very excited at Kings Hammer to partner with Dr. Tiff Jones and X-Factor Performance. Dr. Tiff Jones and X-Factor Performance have a proven record of success of helping athletes, both as teams and as individuals, reach their highest levels on and off the pitch. Through this partnership, we add another layer to our holistic approach to player development, by addressing the psychosocial side of the game, plus technical and tactical skills, and physical strength and conditioning,” Paul Nicholson, Kings Hammer Midwest Executive Director.
We sat down with Dr. Tiff to learn more about her and the vision of X-Factor Performance for Kings Hammer. Check out the video below:
Winter 2 Little Lions
Kings Hammer is excited to announce that our Winter 2 Little Lions Program is open for registration! The program will be offered for players U5(2018) thru U8(2015) from January 17th-February 22nd at Town & Country located in Wilder, KY. Our Little Lions Program is a player-centered program that focuses on technical fundamentals, age-appropriate social- emotional and cognitive skills, and fun! Each week players will participate in 1 training session, led by Kings Hammer staff.
Amanda Schlueter Invited to US Soccer Youth National Team ID Center
Congratulations to KHA G04/05 ECNL member Amanda Schlueter on receiving an invitation to attend an upcoming U.S. Youth National Team Identification Center. This one day event on December 7th in Indianapolis provides opportunities for players to train and play games under the direction of U.S. Soccer Talent identification managers with potential to receive future full National Team call-ups in the future. We wish Amanda the best of luck!
Six Kings Hammer Academy Girls Invited to US Soccer Youth National Team ID Center
Congratulations to six member of our Kings Hammer Girls Academy on their invitation to attend the upcoming United States Youth National Team Identification Center Camp in Cincinnati. On November 9th, our girls represented Kings Hammer in front of regional scouts from the US Youth National Team in hopes of future call-ups to their respective age group’s national team. Great job girls!
Kings Hammer Academy G08 ECNL
- Charlee Siria
- Lauren Hoog
- Allie McCauley
Kings Hammer Academy G09 ECNL
- McKenzie Isenogle
- Louise Guidugli
- Mollee Erras
Kings Hammer Seniors Sign National Letters of Intent
Congratulations to all our Kings Hammer seniors who signed National Letters of Intent to play collegiate soccer last week during the winter signing period. We’re proud of all your hard work and excited for each of your next steps.
- Victoria Zappasodi – Cleveland State University
- Katie Hoog – IUPUI
- Zara Graff – Wright State University
- Mia Fiore – Xavier University
- Rose Vigran – George Washington
- Jordan Church – Arkansas State University
- CJ Debra – Youngstown State University
- Ellie Greenwell – Ohio University
- Olivia Parmer – Marian University
- Sophie Decker – Marian University
- Ella Smith – Miami University
- Shannon Ott – IUPUI
Keeper Wars Ink & Kings Hammer Goalkeeper Union Extend Partnership to 2025!
Keeper Wars Ink is excited to build upon this partnership with Kings Hammer Goalkeeper Union. Last year we were able to experience this club’s professionalism and we can’t wait to see this partnership grow. As we continue to grow we are excited to see the benefits this partnership reaps for the keeper community. We can’t wait to see the 2 great states of Ohio and Kentucky battle it out in our national qualifying event.
“We are excited to partner with King Hammer and bring on yet another professionally ran organization to our Keeper Community. Since day one of our discussions, I felt confident with working with Kings Hammer as they are doing great things for the goalkeeper position and understood the major impact we can have together. I look forward to the long-term partnership we will have together while changing the position we know and love for the better!” Casey Clark, Keeper Wars Ink, CEO
“We are excited to grow this partnership with Keeper Wars Ink and to bring another Keeper Wars event to Cincinnati this summer. Kings Hammer recently launched our GK Union under the direction of Louis Liberatore last fall. As we constantly seek opportunities to enhance our event offerings and think outside the box, Keeper Wars provides us an opportunity to partner with a first-class event and showcase Goalkeepers from Cincinnati/Northern KY and across the region.” Dave McIver, Kings Hammer Soccer Club, Vice President of Events
Click here to read the full story.
Gateway Showcase
The Kings Hammer Events Series wrapped up our 2022 events with our Women’s and Men’s Gateway Showcase events November 11-13 and November 18-20 at local turf facilities across Cincinnati and Northern, KY. Over the course of two weekends we hosted 300 teams, 100 College Coaches, and over 235 games for U15-19 Boys and Girls teams. Teams traveled in from all across the Midwest region and Canada for our last Showcase event of 2022. Despite the cold and snowy weather we were able to host two great weekends and help teams prepare for league matches and other winter Showcase Events.
Thank you to all participating teams, coaches, referees, volunteers, event staff and college coaches for making the weekend such a success! And we would like to send a special “Thank You” to all of the amazing facilities across the city who worked with us over the two weekends.
We now start to turn our attention to our Spring 2023 events in Cincinnati/Northern KY and Lexington! We are excited for what 2023 has in store for our Event Series and look forward to seeing all of our families out at the fields!
Volta Cup Futsal Cincinnati– January 27-29, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
Boys Turf Classic– March 10-12, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
Nike Elite Spring Thaw– March 17-19, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
Girls Turf Classic– March 24-26, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
Triple Crown Cup– April 14-16, 2023 (Lexington, KY)
Women’s Nike Blue Chip Showcase– April 21-23, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
Men’s Nike Blue Chip Showcase– April 28-30, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
Crown Challenge– May 12-14, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH)
We would also like to send a special thank you to our event partners:
Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Trophy Awards- Official Awards Supplier of Kings Hammer Events
PYB Sports- Official Event Housing Partner
Nike Soccer- Official Brand Partner
Wings & Rings
November Education: Honoring the Game by Respecting Our Teammates
If you have been following this series the last several months, and we hope you have, you know that we have dedicated this season to HONOR the GAME by respecting the ROOTS – Rules, Opponents, Officials, and this month, Teammates. It seems like this would be an simple and easily achieved concept, respecting those who you play alongside but unfortunately, this Is not always the case. Here are some thoughts on how parents and coaches can encourage and support this in our youth players.
Adapted from – “5 Ways To Teach Kids How To Be A Good Teammate” by Jessica Tucker
# 5-Everyone Contributes
Regardless of whether a member of the team is actively playing or sitting on the sidelines, good teammates realize that they always have a role to play and take that role seriously.
According to HR Daily Advisor, a good teammate always has something to contribute regardless of their “position” on the team. This could be cheering on members of the same team from the sidelines if not actively playing or if on the injured list. It could be assisting with a score versus trying for all the glory when on the field. The sign of good teammates is everyone pulling equal weight overall and everyone feeling respected as a result.
#4-The Score Is Not What It Is All About
Of course, every team would love to walk away with a win. But when players play well together and still end up losing, they need to recognize that the final score is not what is important. Rather, the synchronicity that the team had playing with one another is what will help them grow not only as individuals but as the team overall.
According to Basketball For Coaches, when playing team sports there are “plenty of mistakes that accumulate to decide the final score of the game.” Because of this, there is never just one particular play that made for a loss. When this is realized, the team can walk away from the loss not only having grown stronger with their gameplay but stronger as teammates as well. And this is what will build and continue to grow a “great team environment,” per the publication.
#3-Do Not Criticize Teammates Who Made Mistakes
Mistakes are going to be made by everyone who plays sports. No one, regardless of how good they are, is perfect. It is because of this that critical comments should not be made, especially when trying to cultivate a team of good teammates. There is no room for team criticism in team sports. If it is happening, it is a symptom of an unhealthy “culture” around the team, meaning that negative versus positive coaching and sportsmanship is occurring.
It is hard enough to have the opposite team call out a bad play. However, when it feels like the team is not behind the member who may not have made the best choice at the moment, all that does is serve to bring the team morale down. When this happens, there is no chance of good teammates being made and likely there is no team versus the individual mindset occurring either.
Click here to read the full story.
GK Union Save of the Month
So many great saves, we had to double it! Congratulations to Allison W from KHA South G12 Blue, Allie B from KH G10 ECRL, Nikola M from KHA South B11 Blue & Gavin H from KHA South B11 Red for being named the October GK Union Saves of the Month!
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 or share on Twitter using the hashtag #KingsHammer. Be sure to share throughout the spring 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.
Content Feedback Survey
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