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Gateway Showcase 2023

Welcome to the Gateway Showcase!

Gateway Showcase Teams,

On behalf of Kings Hammer Soccer Club, we would like to welcome you to Cincinnati for the 2023 Gateway Showcase. We are looking forward to a fun and competitive weekend of soccer!

The Gateway Showcase is designed to provide “early season” opportunities for potential college-bound athletes to display their talents in front of college coaches. Our goal is to create a high-quality competitive event for teams to compete early in the season. The Gateway Showcase traditionally attracts more than 350 teams and over 150 college coaches over the two weekends. Kings Hammer SC welcomes teams from across the country and internationally to compete in the Gateway Showcase.

The Warren Co Sports Park will host 4 turf fields and Voice of America will have 2 turf fields. Additional local Turf Facilities will also be used to ensure all games are played on the best surfaces possible.

In this guide, you will find all the information you need for this year’s event including links to schedules, facility maps, and local area attractions to visit while you are in town. Please take a moment to look through the guide. We also ask that you forward this link to all of your players and families, so they have this information for the weekend. The link is mobile friendly as well so they can pull it up on their phone and refer to it throughout the event.

Thank you for choosing the Gateway Showcase! We are excited about the great competition this year and look forward to hosting your team in Cincinnati!

Nikki Haaser & Tyler DeZarn
Kings Hammer Tournament Director

Tournament Contacts

  • Schedules, Bracketing, Coach Conflicts, & Field Changes: Matt Winkler | wgateway@kingshammer.com
  • Registration/Admin, Logistics, Volunteers, Hospitality & College Coach Registration: Nikki Haaser/Tyler DeZarn/Lisa McIver | wgateway@kingshammer.com
  • Sponsorships & Club Relations: Dave McIver | wgateway@kingshammer.com
  • Housing/Hotels: PYB | lindsay@pybsports.com

Schedules

For the most up-to-date schedules for the event please click the links below. This link is also available on our website. In addition to the schedule you will find all showcase results and standings. Please make sure you double check your game times and locations as there have been a few changes.

Facilities

Team Check-In

Since team check-in took place online in advance, you do not need to check-in when you arrive at the fields. However, please make sure to bring your player cards to each game.

Athletic Trainers

Trainers will be located at Voice of America Park, Warren County Sports Park, and Riverside Park throughout the weekend in case your child needs to be evaluated for an injury. Some of the high schools may also have an athletic trainer onsite as well.

Weather Updates

In the event of inclement weather, we will update our website with details on the field status. If anything changes from a weather or field standpoint for the weekend we will inform all Coaches and Team Managers as listed in the GotSport system. Please make sure to update your team contact information if you have not already done so.

Event Merchandise

Pre-Order your Gateway Showcase merchandise today! Tournament merchandise will be available onsite at Warren County Sports Park from 12-6pm on Friday and 8m-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Don’t have games scheduled at Warren County or simply want to skip the long lines? There are options to ship to home or pick it up at the merchandise tent throughout the weekend. To preorder, please visit the following link.

On-Site Merchandise Tent:

Please note that if you pre-order you can choose to have shipped to your house directly or select to pick it up at Warren County.

Excuse Letter

If anyone on your team needs an excuse letter for this event, please click here to print this letter.

Find us on Social Media

We would love to see your pictures at the event. Tag us on the platforms below or send photos to info@kingshammer.com.

Explore Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

We have included links below to the Cincinnati CVB, Bulter County CVB, Warren County CVB and Northern KY CVB so you can plan your weekend prior to arriving in town. These links include information on things to do (entertainment, attractions, shopping, outdoors) as well as dining recommendations.

Top 5 Things to do in the Greater Cincinnati Area

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info@kingshammer.com

(859) 292-KICK(5425)

50 E Rivercenter Blvd, Suite 150
Covington, KY 41011

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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