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May College Recruiting Newsletter 2022

Recruiting Guide – Contacting College Coaches

Prior issues of this newsletter have had a common theme: proactivity. The potential student athletes that are proactive in their search, in their identification of programs of interest, as well as their selection of ID camps are more likely to find the right fit for them. Another way you can be proactive right now is by contacting college coaches at programs that you are interested in attending. Below you will find 3 things you can do right now to get in touch with college coaches, and stay on their recruiting radar in the future.

  • Send an introductory email- This is a great way to get your foot in the door with a program you are interested in and allow the coaching staff an opportunity to get their first look at you. When sending this email, be sure to include the entire coaching staff, as this will increase the likelihood that someone on staff sees it (coaches are flooded with these emails each day). This initial email should not include an overwhelming amount of information, instead include key points that are not limited to but could include:
      • Name, graduation year, high school and club
      • GPA, test scores, academic information
      • Position(s) that you play, highlight video
      • Your contact information, as well as your coaches contact information
      • The last section of this email should include how you plan to move the relationship forward. Will you follow up with another email in the coming weeks? Do you have any questions for the coach? Be sure to give them something to respond to in this initial touchpoint.
  • Follow-up phone call- After you have sent an introductory email, a great step to take in contacting college coaches would be to attempt to get on the phone with someone on the coaching staff. Depending on recruiting rules, any incoming junior is eligible to speak on the phone with college coaches after June 15. Prior to this phone call occurring, consider the below subjects as potential talking points:
      • Research on the program and why it interests you
      • Style of play of the program and why you are a good fit
      • Questions regarding recruits for your class/what the coaching staff is looking for
      • Culture of the program/core values and how they may or may not be a good fit for your personal core values
      • This phone call is a great opportunity to personalize the relationship between you and a coaching staff. Once again, be sure to discuss next steps and how you can maintain an open dialogue moving forward.
  • Update coaches with new events and new highlights- Building the relationship with coaches is important, but keeping them engaged and interested is just as if not more important! As mentioned, coaches are flooded with communication and emails from recruits, so keeping you at the forefront of their mind and excitement is a vital part of landing a spot at your dream school. As you get new highlights, send them their way! Additionally, sending coaches clips of your play and asking for constructive feedback can also be a great way to start to build a coach/player relationship, while giving you an inside look at what each coach prioritizes and how they view the game. Continuing to update coaches with how you are doing, upcoming games and events, as well as keeping up to date with what their program is up to can be an organic way to keep conversations flowing.

These are just a few ways to develop a rapport with college coaches on your identified list of schools of interest! By maintaining a proactive, positive mindset you will be on your way to building relationships with each program, and getting one step closer to your goal of playing college soccer.

Personal Development – Developing Communication Skills

Contacting and building relationships with college coaches is a vital part of the recruiting process, but doing so in an effective or ineffective manner can make or break your opportunity to play at a given school. Impressions over the phone and in initial visits can go a long way in determining whether or not you will have a future at a given program, so being aware of how to be professional and an effective communicator is a crucial part of your personal development not only in your college search, but all other aspects of your life as well. Below are a few things to consider, as well as articles to read/dive in to the details a bit more.

  • Eye contact- in today’s day and age with technology, it is becoming less and less common to engage in important conversation face-to-face. When doing so, make sure you are comfortable giving direct eye contact to the person you are speaking to. Here’s why: https://brandastic.com/blog/why-eye-contact-is-important/
  • Active listening- you may come into specific conversations with an agenda, or things you want to make sure are discussed. This is completely fine, and shows that you are genuinely interested in making sure the conversations flows in a positive manner. While this is great, make sure you are actively listening to what the other person has to say and are able to adjust and navigate the conversation properly. https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/coaching-others-use-active-listening-skills/
  • Be yourself! Most importantly, don’t try to be someone you are not. By relaxing and being yourself, you will be able to have a natural, genuine conversation you are talking to. It is important to maintain a balance of professionalism, while being true to who you are.

Finally, one last article to help: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/communication-skills

Additional Resources from Sports Recruits

Articles

Sports Recruits Webinars

College Commitments

  • Natalie Bain – Xavier University
  • Eleanor Simkonis – Cleveland State University
  • Mya Gerak – University of Kentucky
  • Summer Denigan – Florida State University
  • Marina Ruthsatz – Wright State University
  • Claire Wiseman – Ohio Northern University
  • Faith Broering – University of Cincinnati
  • Jade Rehberger – Illinois State University
  • Danielle Hicks – Ashland University
  • Maddy Murphy – Eastern Kentucky University
  • Annie Isphording – Johns Hopkins University
  • Kali Funk – Ashland University
  • Ella Madden – Ohio Northern University
  • Molly McNeill – Cedarville University
  • Sarah Zimmerman – Washington and Lee University
  • Morgan Gerak – Michigan State University
  • Katie Adams – Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Meg Gessner – Northern Kentucky University
  • Emily Duffey – Hanover College
  • Sydney Noble – University of Findlay
  • Kaitlyn Siefert – University of Findlay
  • Chloe Spitzer – Berea College
  • Shyanne Iles – University of Southern Illinois
  • CJ DeBra – Youngstown State University
  • Sarah Henson – Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
  • Courtney Lindgren – California University of Pennsylvania
  • Jackson Byrd – Mount St. Joseph University
  • Leo Bill – Transylvania University
  • Adam Gritton – Spalding University
  • Amber Branum – Wright State University
  • Tyron Reynolds – Spalding University
  • Abby Cole – Mount Saint Joseph University
  • Ella Madden – Fairmont State University
  • Shannon Crogan – Northern Kentucky University
  • Jon Gordon – Asbury University
  • Will Freson – Marietta College
  • Macie Chappell – Campbellsville University
  • Riley Arnold – Ohio Dominican
  • Elizabeth Dreas – Austin Peay State University
  • Emily Lloyd – Florida Southern College
  • Ellie Greenwell – Ohio University
  • Shannon Crogan – Northern Kentucky University
  • Zara Graff – Wright State University
  • Abby Unkraut – University of Georgia
  • Mia Fiore – Xavier University
  • Victoria Zappasodi – Cleveland State
  • Ella Smith – Miami University
  • Ellie Lanyi – University of Alabama
  • Jason Litzler – Thomas More University
  • Colson Neace – Transylvania University
  • Ethan Green – UC Clermont

2023 Verbal College Commitments:

  • Amanda Schlueter – Ohio State University
  • Sophie Decker – Marian University
  • Ruby Dunlevy – Eastern Kentucky University

Remember to post your commitment to your Sports Recruits account and send commitment photos to info@kingshammer.com so that you can be recognized for your achievements.

Tryout FAQ’s

How do I register for tryouts?
ALL soccer-athletes MUST COMPLETE the tryout registration online before participating in the tryout process. Click here to register now!

*Please make sure that you register online at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that the soccer athlete is in the system and we have your information to notify you after the tryout process.  There is a Registration Steps document on the Tryouts page that will walk you through the process. Each soccer athlete should attend both tryout days if possible. If you are unable to attend both days please reach out to the Program Director listed below.

Birth Years for the 2022/2023 Season
For the 2022/2023 season, Kings Hammer will follow U.S Youth Soccer’s guidelines and will organize its teams by birth year:

*Interested players must register to try out for their birth year.

Can my child play up an age group?
Any player playing up will be at the discretion of their respective director. All players need to register and attend the tryout for their correct age group.

What should I wear/bring to tryouts?
Please come prepared with a fully inflated soccer ball, proper footwear, shin guards, and water. Each prospective soccer-athlete will receive one free Kings Hammer Soccer Club tryout t-shirt with a tryout identification number on the back of the t-shirt.  Each prospective player will be identified by the identification number throughout the process and MUST wear this t-shirt at each tryout session for the 2022/2023 soccer year.

We will not be able to attend tryouts or are new to the area and missed tryouts. Is there a process in place to allow for an alternate tryout?
Yes! If you are not able to attend tryouts or missed the tryout dates, please register and then contact the Director for the Program/Age Group you wish to tryout for so that arrangements can be made. We also hold supplemental tryouts throughout the year. Roster openings may be limited after the initial tryout period.

What are the differences between Academy and Premier?
Our Academy provides a highly competitive environment for higher-level soccer athletes. This program provides those athletes with the best local training offered by our qualified and professional staff. Our Academy teams play at the highest possible level providing showcase opportunities to College, Professional, and National level programs.

The Premier Program is a community-based program. The Premier Program provides the opportunity for players to play other sports or have other interests outside of soccer. This program is designed to be flexible, convenient, and affordable.

Can I try out for multiple programs?
We encourage anyone who wants to tryout for all levels to do so. Current KHSC players can ask their coach/director for guidance if they are unsure about which program to tryout for. You will need to register for each tryout separately.

If I tryout for a program and don’t make it, can I try out for another program?
Yes. If you don’t make an Academy team, we strongly encourage you to tryout for a Premier team, attending tryouts for at least one day.

If you don’t make a Premier team, the Classic Program may be an option. Contact Michelle Okumura (michelle@kingshammer.com) if you’d like to pursue this option.

Will there be more than one team in each age group?
Yes, when possible, there will be more than one team per age group, per program. It all depends on the number of players at tryouts and their skill level.

If my child doesn’t make the top team, can they move up during the year?
Yes, there may be opportunities to move up throughout the year as long as the coach/director feels it is in the best interest of the player’s development. There may also be opportunities to guest play across all levels.

What can I expect after tryouts?
After tryouts you can expect communication from the club in the form of an email.  (Please double-check that your email is correct in the PlayMetrics system, this is the email we use) This will either be an acceptance email, offering your child a position on a team, or an email letting you know that they should tryout for a different program. Players who are offered positions on a team may also receive a phone call from their coach. All communication will come within 24-48 hours of the end of the last tryout. You will then have 24 hours to either accept or decline your email before your spot is offered to another child.

What are the next steps if my child makes a team?

  1. If you are new to the club, you will receive more information regarding your uniform ordering in your confirmation email.
  2. If you are part of the Academy or Premier Programs, you will receive the link to Demosphere to register your child in the state system in your confirmation email as well.

How long is the season?

  • Academy
    • U11-U14: August-November, January-May (possible post-season in June)
    • U15-U19: November-May
  • Premier
    • U7-U14: August-October, March-May
    • U15-U19: November-December, March-May

My child is in middle school but plays on a U15 team. Will there be a fall U15 program for trapped players?
Yes, we will offer a program for trapped 8th graders for the fall season depending on interest. The program will run from August to October and is open to players that are currently in the 8th grade that will be playing on a U15 team starting in November 2022. Questions please contact:

Academy North: Ryan Handbury | ryan@kingshammer.com
Academy South Boys: James Thomas | james@kingshammer.com
Academy South Girls: Chris Black | chris@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Boys: Dan Ensley  | dan@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Girls: Megan Adkins | megan@kingshammer.com

Can a team come to the club and join as a team?
Yes! The team can join the Classic Program. For more information please reach out to Michelle Okumura at michelle@kingshammer.com.

Who is in charge of hiring coaches?
If you are interested in a coaching opportunity, please fill out the following coaching form – https://kingshammer.com/interested-in-coaching/

Program Directors:

Academy North: Ryan Handbury | ryan@kingshammer.com
Academy South Girls: Chris Black | chris@kingshammer.com
Academy South Boys: James Thomas | james@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Boys: Dan Ensley | dan@kingshammer.com
Academy Bluegrass Girls: Megan Adkins | megan@kingshammer.com
Premier Xenia: Brent Lewis | brent@kingshammer.com
Premier North: Wil Cagle | wil@kingshammer.com
Premier Sycamore: Ryan Handbury | ryan@kingshammer.com
Premier Central: Michael Ratliff | michaelr@kingshammer.com
Premier South: David Shemilt | dshemilt@kingshammer.com
Premier Versailles: Brandon Cummons | brandon@kingshammer.com
Premier Lexington: Fonyam Atanga | fonyam@kignshammer.com