
May College Recruiting Newsletter 2025
Welcome to the Kings Hammer May College Recruiting Newsletter! The club is excited to work with you to accomplish all of your player’s goals for this upcoming soccer year, on and off of the soccer field. Each month, we will be providing this resource to help you navigate the craziness that is the college recruiting process. We hope you find value in this newsletter and we are excited to assist in this exciting process for your family!
This month’s College Recruiting Newsletter will explore choosing the appropriate ID Camp and how players can improve their communication with college coaches!
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING AN ID CAMP
When choosing which ID camps to attend, youth athletes should consider their individual goals, the reputation and quality of the camp, the coaches who will be attending, and the camp’s focus (skill development, exposure, etc.). Also, think about whether the camp aligns with their recruiting aspirations and if attending both days of a multi-day camp is feasible, as it can enhance interactions with coaches.
Factors to Consider
1. Athlete’s Goals and Priorities:
- Skill Development vs. Exposure – Determine if the primary goal is to improve skills, gain college exposure, or both.
- Recruiting Goals – If college recruiting is a priority, research camps attended by coaches from target schools.
- Camp Focus – Some camps are more focused on skill development, while others emphasize showcasing skills in front of college coaches.
2. Camp Reputation and Quality:
- Research and Reviews – Look for reviews from past participants and families to gauge the camp’s reputation and quality.
- Coaching Staff – Ensure the coaches advertised are actually attending and that they align with your goals.
- Camp Structure and Activities – Consider the type of drills, scrimmages, and tactical sessions offered.
3. Coach and Program Fit:
- Coaching Staff – Make sure you have some interaction with the staff and a personal invitation from the program.
- Program Culture – Consider the program’s culture and how it aligns with your personality and playing style.
- Coach Interactions – Some camps offer more individual attention and feedback from college coaches, which can be valuable.
4. Scheduling and Logistics:
- Calendar and Prioritization – Make a schedule and prioritize camps based on your goals and the coaches attending.
- One-Day vs. Multi-Day Camps – If possible, attending both days of a multi-day camp can provide more interaction with coaches.
- Cost and Travel – Consider the cost and travel logistics of attending multiple camps.
5. Additional Considerations:
- Staff-to-Camper Ratio – Look for camps with a low staff-to-camper ratio to ensure individual attention.
- Camp Environment – Consider the overall camp environment and whether it aligns with your learning style and preferences.
- Showcase vs. ID Camps – Showcase games are shorter and may not offer the same level of coaching feedback as ID camps.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE ID CAMP EXPERIENCE
Once the athlete, and family, choose a camp to attend they need to focus on how to get the most from their experience. Interactions with coaches are crucial for athletes looking to advance to higher levels of competition, such as college sports. Coaches use these camps to evaluate talent and identify potential recruits. At these camps, players should focus on showcasing their skills, being vocal and positive, and requesting feedback from coaches.
How To Approach interactions with Coaches at ID Camps
1. Preparation and Awareness:
- Do Your Research – Before attending a camp, familiarize yourself with the coaches who will be present and their coaching philosophies.
- Highlighting Skills – Prepare some highlights or a video showcasing your best plays to share with coaches, potentially a week before the camp according to Trace.
2. During the Camp:
- Be Vocal and Positive – Engage in the drills and games enthusiastically, showing your determination and positive attitude.
- Seek One-on-One Time – Make an effort to speak with coaches individually, ask for feedback, and express your interest in their program.
- Train Hard and Play Hard – Showcase your abilities and strive for excellence in each practice and game.
- Show Respect – Be respectful of coaches, staff, and fellow players, creating a positive environment.
3. After the Camp:
- Follow Up – Send thank-you notes or emails to coaches expressing your appreciation for their time and asking for further information if needed

Personal Development: Building Essential Communication Skills
Contacting and building relationships with college coaches is a vital part of the recruiting process, but doing so in an effective or ineffective manner can make or break your opportunity to play at a given school. Impressions over the phone and in initial visits can go a long way in determining whether or not you will have a future at a given program, so being aware of how to be professional and an effective communicator is a crucial part of your personal development not only in your college search, but all other aspects of your life as well. Below are a few things to consider, as well as articles to read/dive in to the details a bit more.
- Eye contact – in today’s day and age with technology, it is becoming less and less common to engage in important conversation face-to-face. When doing so, make sure you are comfortable giving direct eye contact to the person you are speaking to. Here’s why: https://brandastic.com/blog/why-eye-contact-is-important/
- Active listening – you may come into specific conversations with an agenda, or things you want to make sure are discussed. This is completely fine, and shows that you are genuinely interested in making sure the conversations flows in a positive manner. While this is great, make sure you are actively listening to what the other person has to say and are able to adjust and navigate the conversation properly. https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/coaching-others-use-active-listening-skills/
- Be yourself! – Most importantly, don’t try to be someone you are not. By relaxing and being yourself, you will be able to have a natural, genuine conversation you are talking to. It is important to maintain a balance of professionalism, while being true to who you are.

Additional Resources
- Soccer Wire – Recruiting Advice: How to Decide Which College ID Camps to Attend
- College Soccer ID Camps – Why They Are Essential for Recruiting Success
- College Soccer ID Camps – What Every Player & Parent Should Know
RECENT COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Congratulations to the most recent Kings Hammer soccer players to make college commitment decisions! Remember to post your commitment to your Sports Recruits account, send a commitment photo to info@kingshammer.com, and include or tag your club’s local Kings Hammer page on any social media posts so that we can be recognize you for your achievements!
- Bennett Tekavec (KH Cincinnati) – Otterbein University
- Macie Wright (KH Xenia) – Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Aidan Fowler (KH Swan City) – Warner University
- Mackenzie Marotz (KH Swan City) – Charleston Southern University
- Anna Sweeney (KH Xenia) – Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Bela Arboleda (KH Swan City) – Southeastern University
- Ethan Clark (KH Lexington) – Midway University
- Brady Pennewell (KH Swan City) – Warner University
- Bradley Pennewell (KH Swan City) – Warner University
- Kendyhl Dewar (KH Lexington) – Spalding University
- Semaj Ponton (KH Swan City) – Warner University
- Annalyse Mcguirt-Phillips (KH Swan City) – New College Of Florida
- Ethan Schweitzer (KH Cincinnati) – Heidelberg University
- Gregory Jackson (KH Swan City) – Warner University
- Dillon Govekar (KH New Albany) – John Carroll University
- Bella Arboleda (KH Swan City) Southeastern University
- Aidan Fowler (KH Swan City) Warner University
- Conner Thorn (KH Lexington) – Midway University
- Elyse Waggoner (KH Xenia) – Wilmington College
- Reagan Buchert (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of Tennessee at Martin
- Gideon Campbell (KH Swan City) Warner University
- Anna Downs (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – John Carroll University
- Rachel Gellner (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Marian University (IN)
- Andy Ferring (KH Lexington) – Asbury University
- Macey Blanton (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Northern Kentucky University
- Parker Byland (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Northern Kentucky University
- Madeline Mescher (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Case Western Reserve University
- Trinity Pierce (KH Swan City) – New College of Florida
- Grady Kirian (KH New Albany) – Capital University
- Sadie Yapp (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Austin Peay University
- Ashley O’Brien (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Murray State University
- Lillian Spurgin (KH Swan City) – Bluefield State University
- Nolan Leverage (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – John Carroll University
- Roman Whorton (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Bluffton University
- Liam Haswell (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Heidelberg University
- Gabrielle Pitsic (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Transylvania University
- Maliyah Fayson (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Indiana University Columbus
- Ashley O’Brien (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Murray State University
- Ava Schier (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Ohio Wesleyan University
- Sarah Beachy (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Ohio Northern University
- Emalyn Arnold (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Indiana University Kokomo
- Mylee Smith (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of the Cumberlands
- Bailey Murphy (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Walsh University
- Nyah Migal (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Radford University
- Isaac Sager (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of Mount Union
- Delilah Martinez Otero (KH Swan City) – Daytona State College
- Maria Nielsen (KH Swan City) – Pasco-Hernando State College
- Sophie Paul (KH Lexington) – Georgetown College
- Emily Rollins (KH Bay United) – Eckerd College
- Corinne Hanna (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of the Cumberlands
- Justin Acree (KH Lexington) – Owens Community College
- Dakota Clark (KH Xenia) – Marietta College
- Sierra Clark (KH Xenia) – Marietta College
- Aby Shannon (KH Swan City) – Emmanuel University
- Joanna LaForte (KH Murfreesboro) – Truett-McConnell University
- Kaitlyn Daley (KH Murfreesboro) – Western Kentucky University
- Izelee Kerns (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Western Michigan University
- Emma Hartmann (KH Cincinnati/NKY) -Hanover College
- Lexi Reynolds (KH Lexington) – Oberlin College