April Newsletter 2025

Welcome to the Kings Hammer New Albany April Newsletter! This edition features, Tryout Registration Open, New Player Pathway, Spring Success, College Commitment: Dillon Govekar, Summer In-House Juniors, Center of Excellence Friday Foot Skills, and more! If you have a player, coach, or team to be highlighted in future newsletters, please send photos and stories to dfry@kingshammer.com. Each newsletter will be posted on our website as well as our social pages.

Reminder: Kings Hammer New Albany Tryout Registration is Open

There is still time to register for Kings Hammer New Albany tryouts for the 2025-2026 season! Tryouts are scheduled for May 19–22 at Bevelhymer Park – Green Zone, and we are excited to welcome new and returning players as we build our teams for the upcoming year.

Stay tuned for detailed tryout times and information for each age group — we will be sharing updates soon. If you have not signed up yet, make sure to get registered today!

Click here for more information and to register today!

Kings Hammer New Albany Unveils New Player Pathway

Kings Hammer New Albany is thrilled to introduce an enhanced player pathway for the 2025/2026 season, designed to provide every athlete with a clear, transparent, and elevated experience. Our commitment to player development includes an all-inclusive pricing structure and licensed professional coaches for every team. Click here to view the PDF detailing each program.

Kings Hammer Partners with InspireSport

We’re excited to announce our partnership with InspireSport. InspireSport and Kings Hammer are working together to help players grow both on and off the field while creating memories that will last a lifetime. This partnership will provide our players and teams opportunities to travel internationally and connect with the world’s top soccer clubs.

Click here to read the full press release.

Spring Success

A huge congratulations to all our teams for their outstanding performances in recent games and tournaments! Your skill, teamwork, and relentless determination continue to inspire us, and we are so proud of everything you have accomplished. We can’t wait to see even more success as the season continues!

Ohio Dominican University Turf Challenge

Champions: KHA1 B14, KHA1 B13

Mid-American Soccer Classic Tournament

Champions: KHA1 G12

Midwest Spring Turf Challenge

Champions: KHA1 B15

Nike Challenge Cup

Champions: KHA1 B14, KHA1 B15
Finalist: KHA1 G15

College Commitment: Dillon Govekar

Congratulations to Dillon Govekar, KHA2 B07/06, St. Francis DeSales High School Class of 2025, on his commitment to further his academic and athletic career at John Carroll University! We are so proud of your accomplishments and excited to see all that you will achieve!

Join Us This Summer for Our In-House Juniors Program

We are thrilled with the excitement and progress we have seen during our Spring Juniors season, where over 50 players have been building skills and having a blast!

Now, it is time to keep the energy rolling into summer! Our Summer Juniors Program begins Thursday, June 19, and it is the perfect opportunity for players to continue developing their game. Under the guidance of Grassroots Director Noah Davidson, participants will focus on technical development, confidence-building, and having fun in a positive, encouraging environment.

Ready to join the fun? Click here to register now for the Summer 2025 Juniors Program!

Center of Excellence Friday Foot Skills

Our Center of Excellence Friday Foot Skills sessions are in full swing this spring, led by our Director Staff. We kicked off Friday Foot Skills with an amazing turnout — over 100 players joined us for our inaugural session, showing great energy, focus, and commitment to improving their technical skills.

Coaches Spotlight: Chris Eaken

At Kings Hammer New Albany, we’re excited to highlight the exceptional coaches who play a pivotal role in shaping our players’ journeys. Each month, we’ll feature one of our dedicated coaches, offering you a closer look at the individuals who inspire and mentor our players, both on and off the field.

Meet Chris Eaken, KHP2 G1G Staff Coach & Goalkeeper Director:

How long have you been coaching?

I have been coaching since 2017.

What inspired you to become a soccer coach?

I’ve always loved playing soccer, and when the opportunity to coach came along, I jumped at the chance — and I’ve loved it ever since.

What is your favorite coaching memory so far?

It’s hard to pick just one! I really enjoy the small moments when a young player finally grasps a new concept. Those breakthrough moments are just as special as the big wins.

As a goalkeeper coach, I always appreciate a great save, but if I had to choose one standout memory, it would be watching a senior goalkeeper make a penalty kick save during the state finals in his senior year. That moment wasn’t about a single training session — it was the result of four years of hard work coming together perfectly. It’s a memory I’ll never forget.

What do you enjoy most about being part of Kings Hammer New Albany?

The parents on my team have been amazing. They create a positive environment that allows the girls to truly enjoy the game. Their support makes all the difference.
A close second would be the coaching staff — everyone is supportive and encouraging throughout the season. The combination of great parents and an incredible coaching team makes Kings Hammer New Albany a special place to be.

Do you have a favorite soccer player or coach you look up to? Why?

I’ve been lucky to learn from many quality coaches, but one who had a big impact on me was Coach Eric Nichols, currently the head coach at Bowling Green. He coached me at Ohio Dominican University and was the first coach who truly emphasized the psychological side of the game. His attention to the small details — understanding each player’s mindset — taught me how important it is to connect with players beyond just technical skills. His approach has shaped the way I coach today.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself! (Any hobbies, favorite food, or hidden talents?)

I love picking up new hobbies — although I tend to abandon most of them eventually! Soccer, however, has always been the one constant in my life.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!

I definitely have more pets than most! Right now, I have a dog, four rabbits, two axolotls (plus a bunch of axolotl eggs), a Hognose snake, and 25 chickens.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would love the ability to fly.

If you could play soccer anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Honestly, I’m not much of a traveler. For me, the perfect place would be any open yard with enough space — and some friends to play with. Just as long as we don’t break any windows!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young players looking to improve their game?

If I could share three things: 1) Always listen — there’s always something new to learn. 2) Play in as many games as you can. 3) Most importantly, enjoy the game.

Spring Education: Navigating the Stress of Tryout Season

First, a reminder that Kings Hammer players at all levels, and in all programs, are engaged in season-long evaluation. This statement may have been seen previously by many families. It certainly will continue to be stressed, not only during the Tryout and Team Selection period, by throughout a Kings Hammer player’s time with the club.

“Every practice and game are moments for the coach, and other coaches within the program to identify each player’s areas of strength, areas for development, personality traits, and additional characteristics. While the tryout sessions are valuable for comparing new players to our current rosters, and for getting final comparisons between similar KH players, Team Selection decisions will be based on season Player Tracking, Player Report Cards, and Team Depth Charts established throughout the 2024-2025 season. Eighty minutes of a tryout will not outweigh a full year of exposure.“

But, as we head into this years’ tryouts, here are some strong recommendations to keep in mind from Melissa Jacobs with the Good Game.

Taking a look at “Lessons From a Long Week of Tryouts” by Melissa Jacobs

The First Rule of Tryouts … Don’t Talk About Tryouts
Don’t Blame the Coaches if You’re Disappointed
Understand Coaches Are Piecing Together a Puzzle

Click here to continue reading the full article!

Check Out the Kings Hammer New Albany Photo Gallery

Have you taken a look at our Kings Hammer New Albany Photo Gallery yet? We are always adding new action shots and team moments — if you do not see your player this time, be sure to check back soon!

All photos are free to download, making it easy to share memories with family and post your favorite moments on social media. Don’t forget to tag us @KHNewAlbany and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!