Welcome to the Kings Hammer New Albany May Newsletter! This edition features, Tryout Week, Finals Appearances, Three Teams Advance to NPL-GLA Playoffs, KHNA Welcomes New Coaching Leadership, Summer Juniors, Proud to Partner with Feazel, Lower & Five Star, Featured Education: “A Letter from the Technical Desk: Summer Challenge”, 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.

Thank You for an Incredible Tryout Week

A huge thank you to every player, family, and volunteer who helped make Academy and Elite Tryouts such a success. The energy, enthusiasm, and effort on display throughout the week created an incredible atmosphere.

It was exciting to welcome both returning and new players to the field as they competed, connected, and represented the future of Kings Hammer Columbus and Kings Hammer New Albany. The future is bright, and we can’t wait for the season ahead.

Finals Appearances Highlight Strong Month for KHNA

Kings Hammer New Albany continued its strong spring campaign in May, with 19 teams earning spots in championship matches across the OCL Spring Tournament, Crown Challenge, and Troy Strawberry Classic. From the youngest academy sides to older competitive teams, the club showcased its depth, resilience, and ability to compete at a high level throughout the month.

Across every tournament, KHNA teams represented the club with energy, determination, and a commitment to development-driven success, continuing to build momentum heading into the summer season.

Club History Made: Three Teams Advance to NPL-GLA Playoffs

For the first time in club history, three Kings Hammer New Albany teams have officially qualified for the NPL-GLA Playoffs: B07/08-1, B12-1, and the 2016 Pre-Elite Boys. This milestone achievement highlights the continued growth and competitive success of the club across multiple age groups.

Now, the stakes are even higher. Each team now needs two wins this weekend in Canton, for the opportunity to secure a spot at the 2026 National Cup Regionals in Chicago on June 19–22 and the NPL Finals in Colorado. Best of luck to all three teams as they represent Kings Hammer New Albany on the playoff stage.

Kings Hammer Welcomes New Coaching Leadership

Kings Hammer is excited to welcome two outstanding additions to the coaching staff: Georgi Petrov and Kyle Hamrick.

Georgi Petrov, pictured left, joins the club as Girls Elite Director, bringing high-level experience, strong leadership, and a clear vision for the continued growth of the girls’ program. His passion for player development and commitment to excellence will make an immediate impact across the club.

Kings Hammer New Albany also welcomes Kyle Hamrick, pictured right, as Assistant Director of Coaching. With more than 20 years of experience in youth soccer and education, Kyle brings a player-first approach centered on confidence, resilience, and long-term development. His coaching background includes success at both the club and high school levels, helping guide programs to district and regional championships while mentoring athletes on and off the field.

We’re excited to have both Georgi and Kyle as part of the Kings Hammer family and look forward to the leadership, experience, and energy they will bring to our players and community.

New Albany Takes 4–3 Win in Club Crossover Clash

Our New Albany B14 Pre-Elite team hosted Kings Hammer Cincinnati in league play in a tightly contested matchup that showcased the strength of both clubs under the Kings Hammer umbrella.

Across the game, sportsmanship and respect were on full display, reflecting the shared standards and community that unite our programs. Moments like these highlight what makes the Kings Hammer pathway special — competitive environments built on development, challenge, and collaboration.

New Albany came away with a hard-fought 4–3 victory in an exciting back-and-forth match.

Start Your Soccer Journey with Juniors

The Kings Hammer Juniors Program is the perfect introduction to soccer for young players in a fun, positive, and development-focused environment.

Starting Thursday, June 18, players will train weekly with licensed coaches while building confidence, learning the game, and having fun with friends.

Program details:

• U5–U8 age groups
• 6-week program (Thursday, 6/18 – Saturday, 8/1)
• 1 training + 1 game per week
• Licensed coaching staff

Players will focus on ball mastery, movement and awareness, and building confidence through play. Open to beginners and returning players — join us this summer! Click here to register.

Proud to Partner with Feazel, Lower & Five Star

Kings Hammer New Albany is proud to announce the continuation and expansion of key sponsorship partnerships for the 2026–2028 uniform cycle.

We’re excited to welcome back Feazel as our Front-of-Kit sponsor and Lower Mortgage as our Official Sleeve Sponsor. In addition, we’re thrilled to welcome Five Star Home Services as our new Back-of-Kit sponsor.

Partnerships like these play a vital role in supporting our players, programs, and community. We are grateful to Feazel, Lower Mortgage, and Five Star Home Services for their continued commitment to Kings Hammer and for helping us grow the game both on and off the field.

Kit reveal coming soon — stay tuned!

KHFC Columbus Pre-Professional Tickets on Sale

Ready for high-level soccer close to home? Come cheer on Kings Hammer FC Columbus, our USL League Two pre-professional team, and catch the future stars of the game in action!

Home matches are played at Capital University’s Bernlohr Stadium — and there’s no better way to spend a summer evening than supporting local talent.

Tickets are available now — don’t miss out! Click here to purchase.

From The National Technical Desk: Summer Challenge

As the summer break arrives, I want to take a moment to step back from the training field and speak to something that matters just as much as anything we do with a ball at our feet — the work you do on the inside.

This is a special summer. The FIFA World Cup is being hosted right here in the United States. That means the greatest players on the planet, the ones you have watched on screens and dreamed about becoming, will be competing in stadiums across this country. I want you to use that. Let it fuel something in you.

So here is the challenge I am putting to you this summer:

Reflect. Dream. Write it down.

Take time during this break to sit with yourself and honestly ask: Where am I right now? What kind of player have I been? What kind of player do I want to become? These are not easy questions, but they are the most important ones a developing player can ask. The best athletes in the world are not just physically gifted. They are self-aware. They know themselves. They study themselves.

Grab a journal (we provide one in club resources in playmetrics). It does not have to be formal or perfect. Write about a moment from this past season that challenged you. Write about what made you proud. Write about what you want to be different next year. And then dream big. As you watch the World Cup this summer, find a player who inspires you. Study the way they move, the decisions they make, the effort they pour into every moment. Pick someone you want to grow toward. That is your target. That is your north star.

What it means to be Kings Hammer

Our game model is built around Relentless Action: constant drive, constant determination, pushing forward in every phase of the game. But Relentless Action is not just something that happens on the field. It is a mindset. It is how we approach growth. It means when you are handed a break, you do not simply switch off. You reflect, you set your sights higher, and you come back sharper.

We grow people. We grow players. We grow families, staff, and leaders. That is not a slogan. It is the foundation of everything we build here. The player profile we develop inside Kings Hammer is passionate about learning, proactive in taking responsibility, hardworking through the full length of every minute, and a decision-maker who understands the game. Those qualities do not take a vacation. They deepen during the moments when you slow down and think.

As you watch the World Cup, you are watching the highest expression of the principles we train every day: possession built with tenacity and effort, pressing with urgency to win the ball back, transitions seized with opportunity. You will see it at the highest level. Now connect it back to yourself. Where do you see yourself in that game? What role do you play? What version of you shows up when the moment is biggest?

Go into this summer with intention

Rest. Recover. Celebrate this incredible moment for soccer in our country. But use the quiet moments to do the honest, important work of self-reflection. Journal it. Dream it. And walk back into preseason knowing exactly who you are and exactly who you are working to become.

That is the Kings Hammer standard. That is the Relentless Action we carry into every phase, including the ones that happen off the field.

Enjoy the summer. Soak in the World Cup. And come back hungry.

Go out there and bring the Relentless Action.

– Bronson Gambale, KH National Technical Director

GK Union Save of the Month

Closing down space & shutting down counter attacks! Our April GK Union Save of the Month winners put their quick thinking on display to keep the opponent off the score sheet! Congratulations to Sophia and Brian from KH Cincinnati on being selected as this month’s winners! Keep up the great work!

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.

Share the Moments & Follow Us on Social

From game-day highlights to team celebrations and behind-the-scenes moments, the Kings Hammer New Albany Photo Gallery is the best place to relive all the action.

All photos are free to download, making it easy to save and share your favorite memories. Be sure to tag us @KHNewAlbany when posting, and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates, features, and club news.

Keep checking back — your player could be featured next!

Thank You to Our Club Sponsors!