January Newsletter 2026

Welcome to the Kings Hammer Swan City January Newsletter! This edition features Juniors In-House Kickoff, DPL East Regional Showcase Recap, ODP Interregional Boys, MLS NEXT Regional Cup Qualifiers, Coaching Education, Spring Rec Registration Open, Featured Education: “Technical Development: How Team Training & Individual Work Fit Together”, 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 acorbett@kingshammer.com. Each newsletter will be posted on our website as well as our social pages.

Juniors In-House Kicks Off

We kicked off the New Year with our New Juniors In-House Program that began on Jan 5th. We’re incredibly excited to help create a strong foundation and platform for our youngest players by exposing them to proper training at an early age. At the end of the day, the goal is simple—players with big smiles and a growing love for the game. Be on the lookout for our next Juniors In-House program dates soon.

DPL East Regional Showcase Recap | Tampa, FL

Our DPL teams stepped away from the final stretch of their high school seasons to compete at the DPL East Regional Showcase in Tampa Jan 8-12, and they delivered strong performances across the board.

Facing quality opposition from across the region, our players showcased their commitment, resilience, and ability to compete at a high level—seamlessly transitioning from high school play back into the DPL environment. The showcase provided a valuable opportunity for growth, exposure, and continued development, and our teams rose to the occasion in every match.

Well done to all of our DPL athletes—an excellent showing in Tampa.

ODP Interregional Boys Success

We are proud to recognize 2011 boys Jackson Maxwell and Noah Villarete for their outstanding experience at the USYS ODP Interregional event held January 15–19 at the ChampionsGate Sports Complex. Both players were selected to represent the South Team, competing alongside top talent from across the southern region against elite teams from around the country. The South Team delivered an impressive performance throughout the event, and Jackson and Noah rose to the challenge at every stage. Earning selection to this level is a testament to their hard work, commitment, and dedication to their development, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement.

𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙂𝙄𝙍𝙇𝙎 𝙎𝙊𝘾𝘾𝙀𝙍 𝘾𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙄𝘾 – 𝙁𝙀𝘽𝙍𝙐𝘼𝙍𝙔

We’re excited to announce a FREE Girls Clinic this February as we continue our mission to grow the girls’ game in our community!

The clinic is designed to give your player the chance to connect with other players, learn new skills, and enjoy the game in a fun and welcoming environment.

Saturday, February 21st

Time: 9:00–10:30 AM
Location: Lake Parker Park
Who Can Attend: Girls U12 (2014) through U18 (2008)
All skill levels are welcome.

Click here to register now!

MLS NEXT Regional Cup Qualifiers | Historic Club Moment

Our 2011 and 2013 Boys Elite teams earned their place at the MLS NEXT Regional Cup Qualifiers, a testament to the competitive standards and quality they continue to set. Competing against the top MLS NEXT programs from across the Southeast, both teams have proven they belong at this level with the opportunity to advance to the MLS NEXT Cup. The qualifiers also marked a historic moment for the club, as our 2011 Swan City Boys faced fellow Kings Hammer Murfreesboro in a competitive MLS NEXT match for the first time in club history. This milestone reflects the strength of the Kings Hammer pathway—one club, multiple locations, competing at the highest level. We are proud of the intensity and competitive spirit shown by our players throughout the event. Well done, boys.

Coaching Education & Professional Development

At Kings Hammer Swan City, we are proud to actively encourage and support our coaches as they continue to invest in their professional growth. Ongoing education is a cornerstone of our player development philosophy, and it directly impacts the quality of the environment we provide for our athletes.

We would like to congratulate the following coaches on achieving important coaching milestones:

Nick Rich – US Soccer National B License
Ashley Hill – US Soccer National Goalkeepers C License
Jose Bello – US Soccer National C License
Joe Corba – US Soccer National C License

These accomplishments reflect a strong commitment to learning, leadership, and excellence. We are proud of our coaching staff and their dedication to continuously raising the standard at Kings Hammer Swan City.

2026 Spring Registration is Here!

Join us this spring for Recreational Soccer! Focused on fun & learning foundational soccer skills, this eight week season offers players U4-U19 training and match opportunities all. Learn more about how you can get involved by visiting the link provided!

Click here for more information and to register!

WE ARE HIRING | 2026–2027 SEASON

Kings Hammer Swan City is growing and seeking passionate, player-centered competitive coaches for our Elite, Academy, and Rec Select programs. Our coaches lead with Respect, Leadership, Passion, Integrity, and Creativity, focusing on developing the whole player—on and off the pitch—within a positive, challenging, and values-driven environment.

If you are a committed leader who believes in long-term player development and making a lasting impact, we’d love to connect.

Click here to join the Kings Hammer Swan City family!

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

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.