March Newsletter 2025

Welcome to the Kings Hammer New Albany March Newsletter! This edition features, Tryout Save the Dates, New Player Pathway Announced, Spring Juniors Registration Open, March Techne Leaderboard, 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.

Mark Your Calendars: Kings Hammer New Albany Tryouts Coming Soon

Tryout season is almost here! Kings Hammer New Albany will be hosting tryouts the week of May 18th at Bevelhymer Park. Stay tuned for upcoming details on specific dates and times for each age group.

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 see an overview of the player pathway, along with a link to a PDF detailing each program.

To walk you through these exciting updates, we’re hosting a virtual town hall this Wednesday, March 26th from 6-7:15pm. Join us to learn more about the new pathway and get your questions answered! Virtual town hall link: https://zoom.us/j/93659830766

Additional information on tryouts, registration, program pricing, and coaching staff will be announced soon!

Kings Hammer New Albany Teams Shine at GLA-NPL Spring College Showcase

A big congratulations to our high school-aged teams for their outstanding performance at The Great Lakes Alliance NPL Spring College Showcase! Braving the elements at the Hall of Fame Village Sports Complex in Canton, our boys showed resilience, proving that the snowfall couldn’t slow them down, making for an unforgettable weekend of soccer. Click here to check out this incredible snow-covered moment from the showcase!

Spring Into Action: Coaching Staff Prepare for an Exciting Season Ahead

As the weather starts to warm up, excitement is building for the upcoming spring season! Our coaching staff recently gathered on Sunday, March 2, for a productive planning session for the season ahead.

KHA1 G11 Hits the Lanes

Our KHA1 G11 team had an incredible time bonding at Star Lanes, strengthening friendships while having fun off the field!

Kick Off Spring with Our Juniors Program – Starting April 8

Our Spring Juniors Program begins Tuesday, April 8! Juniors is designed to help young players sharpen their technical skills, build confidence, and develop a passion for the game. Led by coaches Noah Davidson and Adam Gatton, participants will train in a fun and supportive environment.

Click here to sign up today!

Congratulations to our March Techne Leader

Our players are taking their skills to the next level with Techne, a user-friendly app that delivers weekly technical training sessions. Designed to enhance ball mastery and refine core techniques, Techne is the ultimate tool for player development.

Shoutout to KHA2 B14, our top-performing team on the March Techne Leaderboard!

Have questions about Techne? Contact our Director of Coaching, Ivan Landaverde, at ilandaverde@KingsHammer.com.

Coach Spotlight: Abby Vargo

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 Abby Vargo, KHA1 G15 Staff Coach:

How long have you been coaching?

I’ve been coaching for six years, with the past three dedicated to Kings Hammer.

What inspired you to become a soccer coach?

I became a coach because of my love for soccer and my passion for working with kids.

What is your favorite coaching memory so far?

One of my favorite coaching moments was watching my U9 girls’ team walk onto the field with the U.S. Women’s National Team during the SheBelieves Cup. It was an incredible experience for them and for me as a coach.

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

What I enjoy most about being part of Kings Hammer New Albany is the strong sense of family. It’s something that comes from both the coaches and the parents, creating a really supportive and welcoming environment.

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

I don’t have a specific player or coach I look up to. I’m more passionate about the game itself and enjoy watching good soccer, no matter which team is playing.

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

A fun fact about me is that I’ve traveled to over 14 countries. One of the most interesting places I’ve been is Madeira, Portugal—the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!

I don’t have any pets!

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

If I could have any superpower, it would be the ability to fly. I’d love to fly to every country in the world and experience all the different cultures firsthand.

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

Having visited Camp Nou in Barcelona, I think it would be amazing to play soccer there in front of a crowd. The atmosphere in Spain would be incredible!

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

My advice to young players is this: if you love the game, you will succeed. It’s not about how skilled you are; as long as you’re enjoying yourself on the field, you’ve already succeeded.

March Education: Improving Through Failing

This month, we came across a terrific article from a Lexington United Soccer Club, a youth soccer club in Massachusetts, that really hit the mark. We wanted to share that article with you below.

Fail Better. What an amazing philosophy for a coach to embrace when dealing with players. I initially wrote “young players”, but why limit that philosophy to a particular age group? Isn’t it our responsibility as coaches to place players in an environment that is challenging and stretches them as both people and players? This doesn’t stop when a player hits a certain age or level, but must always remain present for growth and development to occur.

“Ever Tried, Ever Failed.” Sadly many players haven’t truly tried because they are afraid to fail or they have tried and were punished for failing and decided it wasn’t worth the struggle. Too many players fall into the latter category because a coach has placed results over development and stifled their creativity by demanding they “play it safe”. Players that play it safe at too early an age are the ones that never develop the skill set to “take a player on” in the final third or look for the half chance in the penalty box. Instead they pass the ball to their teammate because they don’t want to take ownership in case they fail. I’ve watched countless games where coaches and parents alike shout at kids to shoot the ball, but these are the same people that throw up their hands in disgust when a player misses the target or the ball gets saved and exclaim “Billy was open, why didn’t you pass the ball”. We can’t have it both ways

Click here to continue reading the full article!