January Newsletter 2026

Welcome to the Kings Hammer New Albany January Newsletter! This edition features, Building Momentum This Winter, Coaches Roundtable 2026, College Commitment: Nahom Hunde, Featured Education: “Technical Development: How Team Training & Individual Work Fit Together”, In-House Juniors, GK Union Save of the Month, 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.

Building Momentum This Winter

The indoor season is officially underway, and it’s been awesome to see our players and coaches back to training. The focus, effort, and enthusiasm in each session set the tone for a strong Spring ahead!

Coaches Roundtable Sets the Standard for 2026

Coaches from across the club gathered on January 13 for our first-ever Coaches Roundtable, led by Pre-Elite Director Alex Finy. The evening created a collaborative environment focused on learning, growth, and alignment across all levels of the club.

The session began with a presentation that outlined key philosophies, followed by on-field demonstrations that brought those ideas to life. Each coach played an active role, sharing insight and participating in the hands-on portion of the evening.

This inaugural Coaches Roundtable marked an important step forward as we continue to raise the bar for our players and coaches.

College Commitment: Nahom Hunde

A huge congratulations to Nahom Hunde, KHA B0708-1, Bishop Hartley High School Class of 2026, on his commitment to further his academic and athletic career at Wittenberg University!

We are so proud of your accomplishments and excited to see all that you will achieve. Tiger Up!

Strong Teams Are Built Through Shared Moments

Strong teams aren’t formed on the field alone—they grow through shared experiences off it as well. Recently, KHA B10-1 players and families came together for a fun night of duckpin bowling at Pins Mechanical Co., creating memories and strengthening connections beyond the game.

Team bonding events like these help build trust, camaraderie, and a true sense of team among players and parents alike. Way to go, Coach Poole and KHA B10-1!

Featured Education: “Technical Development: How Team Training and Individual Work Fit Together” By Alex Finy

Technical development is one of the most important foundations in a young player’s growth, but it does not happen in just one environment. Players improve technically through a combination of team training, individual or small-group work, and the habits they build when training on their own. Understanding how these environments complement each other allows players to develop more efficiently and with purpose.

Team training plays a critical role in development, but its primary focus is often the game itself. Coaches must manage larger groups while teaching spacing, movement, communication, and decision-making within a team structure. While technical elements are always present, team training does not always allow for the volume of repetition needed to refine individual technique in detail. This is simply the nature of coaching a team sport.

That is where individual and small-group training become especially valuable. These environments allow players to get more touches, work on specific technical actions, and build comfort controlling the ball with their whole body, not just their feet. Learning to receive with the thigh, chest, or head, and to move naturally after the first touch, helps players feel more confident and balanced when the ball arrives in different ways during a game. However, repetition alone is not enough. The habits created during this type of training matter just as much as the skill being practiced.

One of the most common habits we see when players train alone is staring down at the ball. While this feels natural, it removes awareness, which is essential in the game. Even during solo work, players should practice scanning, checking their shoulder, and imagining pressure. Visualization is a powerful tool here. For example, an outside back can picture the ball swinging across the back line and take a mental snapshot of the field before “receiving” the ball. This helps connect technique to real game situations.

More time on the ball is a good thing, especially when players take ownership of their development. In a country where young players experience a high volume of structured training, unstructured play and intentional individual work become even more important. When players learn how to train on their own, experiment, and solve problems without constant instruction, they build confidence, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the game.

Ultimately, the goal is not simply more training sessions, but more meaningful engagement with the ball. Players who combine team training, individual work, unstructured play, and strong habits are better prepared to apply their technical ability when it matters most.

Parent takeaway: Encourage your player to spend time on the ball away from practice, focusing on good habits, creativity, and confidence, rather than relying solely on structured training environments.

Go Kings Hammer!

– Alex Finy, KH New Albany Pre-Elite Director

In-House Juniors: Spring & Summer Programs Now Open

Our six-week In-House Juniors Winter Indoor Program is officially sold out!

While the winter program is almost underway, it’s never too early to start thinking about warmer weather. Registration is now open for our Spring and Summer 2026 Outdoor In-House Juniors Programs. Designed for U5–U9 players, these six-week programs focus on skill development, confidence building, and fostering a lifelong love for the game in a fun, age-appropriate environment.

Do you have or know a young player who’s ready to get started? Click here to learn more and to register.

GK Union Save of the Month

Nerves of steel! Our December GK Union Save of the Month individuals kept their cool & put their skills on display, keeping the opponent out of the goal! Congratulations to Ryder, from Swan City and Sydney, from Cincinnati on being named our December SOTM 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 upcoming 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.

KHNA Around the World

From New Albany to Costa Rica—our reach keeps growing. Kobe Hai (KHJR B17-4) proudly represented Kings Hammer New Albany while traveling in Canaán.

If you’re wearing Kings Hammer gear on your travels, we want to see it! Send in your photos and be part of our global KHNA story.