Welcome to the Kings Hammer Murfreesboro January Newsletter! This edition features US Club Soccer NPL Playoff Results, Winter Skills School Wraps up in February, Spring Grassroots Deadline Approaching, United Soccer Coaches Convention, Joanna LaForte Officially Signs with Truett McConnell University, 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.

US Club Soccer NPL Playoff Results

What an incredible season for our Kings Hammer Girls Academy teams! Five of our teams—G08, G09, G10, G11, and G12—qualified for the US Club Soccer NPL Playoffs this past month. In the Playoffs our G08 and G10 teams secured spots in the US Club Soccer NPL National Championships this July in Denver!! We’re thrilled for their success and want to give a big shoutout to our G12, G11, and G09 teams for an outstanding fall season. You’ve made us proud—great job, everyone! Best of luck to our G08 & G10 Teams this July!

Winter Skills School Wraps up in February

Register today for the final Winter Skills School that will take place at the Richard Siegel Indoor Facility from 8-11am on February 22nd.

Boys and girls 5U(2020)-14U(2011) will experience an engaging curriculum focused on ball control, dribbling moves, passing, and receiving techniques—designed to build player confidence and enhance their skills.

Click here to learn more and secure your spot today!

Spring Grassroots Deadline Approaching

Register now for the 2024 Spring Recreational Season! Little Strikers, TOPSoccer, and the Youth Rec League registration is open but the deadline to register is February 4th for the Youth Rec League! Click the links below for more information and to register:

• Little Lions 3U-4U: March 1st-May 3rd
• TOPSoccer Ages 5-17: February 28th-May 2nd
• Youth Rec League 5U-19U: March 1st-May 8th

United Soccer Coaches Convention

Several of our directors had the honor of attending the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago this month. The event provided an amazing opportunity to network, explore strategies to enhance our club, and discover innovative ways to support the growth of our players and coaches. We also enjoyed connecting with our Kings Hammer sister clubs to exchange ideas. We’re inspired and eager for everything the 2025 season has in store!

Joanna LaForte Officially Signs with Truett McConnell University

Congrats to KHM G07 P1 player Joanna LaForte on official signing with Truett McConnell University Women’s Soccer. We’re thrilled to follow your soccer journey, Joanna!

December Techne Challenge Winner

Setting the bar! Congratulations to KHM P1 B14 member Maverick Haas on being named our December Techne Challenge winner, completing the most hours and drills completed. Way to go, Maverick! 

Kings Hammer Murfreesboro Merch Available

Get your Kings Hammer Murfreesboro merch today! The Kings Hammer Shop has exciting new merch, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more—now available in extended sizing. Don’t miss out—shop now at shop.KingsHammer.com!

January Education: Fostering a Love for the Game

As parents and coaches, we all want to provide the best opportunities, support, and chance for success for our children and players.  Sometimes though, we may not even be aware of the small ways we may be contributing to them losing their love of the game.  Here are six key areas for parents to explore from an article published by the people at I Love to Watch You Play.

1. We Turn Every Game into a Judgment
   • When every game becomes a performance instead of an experience, kids lose the joy of just playing.
2. We Micromanage Their Journey
   • Too many kids feel like passengers in their own sports journey—with parents and coaches at the wheel, mapping out their future before they even know what they want.
3. We Overcorrect Instead of Letting Them Struggle
   • Sports are supposed to teach resilience. But too often, we don’t let them actually struggle.
4. We Make Every Decision About the Future
   • Every time we shift their focus to what’s next, we pull them away from what’s now.
5. We Make the Game Feel Like a Job
   • If the game feels like an obligation, joy disappears.
6. We Forget That Our Role Is to Be Their Safe Space
   • No one in their sports world should love them less when they lose or more when they win.

Click here to read the full I Love to Watch You Play article.

GK Union Save of the Month

Congratulations to Kings Hammer Murfreesboro’s Ryland Dolan & Kings Hammer Swan City’s Aubrey Francks for being our December winners!

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 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.