Welcome to the Kings Hammer Swan City October Newsletter! This edition features, Monster Mash Success, Thanksgiving Skills School, Haidyn Barton Selected to ODP Regional Pool, Meet the Coaches, 12 Days of Deals, Remembering and Honoring Tommy Smith, 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.

This month has been challenging as we’ve faced two hurricanes, each bringing reschedules, tournament cancellations, field closures, and other disruptions. Through it all, we want to thank our Kings Hammer Swan City families for their patience and understanding during these times. We are grateful our families are safe. Most importantly, we extend a special thank you to the City of Lakeland Parks and Recreation for their hard work in getting Lake Parker Park game-ready so quickly after Hurricane Milton. Their hard work ensured our players could get out on the pitch and do what they love despite the obstacles!

4th Annual Monster Mash Success

A big congratulations to our three fearsome teams—KHP1 SC B15, KHP1 SC G13, and KHP3 SC B17—who braved the eerie pitch and represented Kings Hammer Swan City at the 4th Annual Monster Mash, presented by The Florida Soccer School! Our KHP1 SC G13 team summoned their inner champions and clawed their way to victory in the U12 Ghouls Division, emerging as spook-tacular champions with a thrilling 2-1 finish against Northport Fusion FC! Meanwhile, our KHP3 SC B17 battled their way to the finals and finished as fierce finalists with a chilling 2-4 matchup against Big Sun YSL. Congratulations to all our players for bringing the Halloween spirit to life on the field! Happy Halloween, Kings Hammer Swan City Family!

Thanksgiving Skills School

Get in some extra touches during the Thanksgiving Fall Break! Join us at Lake Parker Park for 3 great days of soccer training. From ball mastery, passing, receiving, and more, you don’t want to miss out! All participants will receive a t-shirt.

For more information and to register click here!

Haidyn Barton Selected for ODP Regional Pool

Congratulations to Haidyn Barton from our KHP2 SC G13 team on recently making the ODP Regional Pool. Keep up the great work!

October Meet the Coaches

On October 6th we honored and thanked our Coaches in honor of National Coaches Day. Our amazing coaches make Kings Hammer Swan City the incredible soccer community it is. This month we would like for everyone to get to know Coach Alex Cuesta and Coach Homero A. Valenzuela.

Meet Coach Alex Cuesta (KHP2 SC B11)

Coach Alex Cuesta joined us this year and Coaches the KHP2 SC B11 team. He started coaching his nephews team in Colonia, NJ in 2016 and has not looked back since. He has coached all levels from Recreation to Competitive. Coach believes that soccer remains a fun and competitive sport. He truly believes that when the Brazilians called football “El Joga Bonita”/”The Beautiful Game” that it is just that. He is looking forward to continuing to develop his players talents, teamwork, build resilience with every game and most importantly continue to enjoy every game.

Meet Coach Homero A. Valenzuela (KHJR1 SC B16)

With over 12 years of experience, Coach Homero is a dedicated coach holding a USSF National B license and various UEFA certifications. He is passionate about developing both teams and individual players, and emphasizes a holistic approach to coaching that fosters skill, teamwork, and personal growth. Homero is an advocate for ongoing education and self-development, and strives to inspire athletes and other coaches to reach their full potential on and off the field. He is currently in his 5th season with KH Swan City and is currently coaching the KHJR1 SC B16 team. Coach Homero looks forward to helping his team develop a love for the game and improve upon their technical mastery of the ball.

12 Days of Deals Are Coming!

Get ready for incredible gift ideas and exciting new products starting this Black Friday! Stay tuned each day for something special, available exclusively at the Kings Hammer Shop. Don’t miss out—kick off the holiday season with deals for everyone!

Shop here: Kings Hammer Shop

Remembering & Honoring Tommy Smith

On October 19th we honored our dear friend Tommy Smith with a moment of silence before each competitive game as we were deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing. He was a beloved member of our soccer family. Tommy was more than just a referee – he was a mentor, a friend, and an incredible person who touched the lives of so many in our community. Whether you were new to the game or a seasoned player, Tommy had a unique ability to connect with everyone, making each person feel seen and valued.

His positive impact on not just the Kings Hammer Swan City community, but our entire soccer community is immeasurable, and he will be missed dearly by all who had the honor of knowing him.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Tommy’s family during this incredibly difficult time. May his legacy live on in the lives he touched, and may he rest in peace.

GK Union Save of the Month & Save of the Year

Did you make an incredible save or a game-saving block? We want to see them!

Be sure to share throughout the 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. Each month goalkeepers from across the club have the opportunity to submit their best saves from their Kings Hammer matches on our GK Union facebook page. At the end of each month, our National Director of Goalkeeping, Lou Liberatore, will select 2 participants, one boy and one girl, as the Kings Hammer GK Union Save of the Month winners.

Goalkeepers who want to participate need to:

• Upload their save videos with details like their name, team name, and location of the save.
• Join the Kings Hammer GK Union Facebook page.

October Education: Prioritizing Individual Player Development Over Winning

In the world of youth soccer, the allure of winning can often overshadow the essential goal of fostering individual player development. Finding the sweet spot between nurturing individual talent and achieving team victories is a crucial, yet challenging, task. The true essence of youth sports lies in nurturing skills, confidence, and passion for the game. Here are some of the key points to “Grow Players.”

Skill Mastery Over Short-Term Success – Developing technical skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting creates a strong foundation for young players. While winning games is gratifying, mastering these skills ensures long-term success and enjoyment.

Building Confidence and Creativity – When players focus on individual growth, they become more confident in their abilities. This confidence translates into creativity on the field, where they’re not afraid to try new moves or strategies.

Lifelong Passion for the Game – A development-focused approach fosters a love for soccer that extends beyond the youth leagues. Players who feel competent and confident are more likely to continue playing and enjoying the game into adulthood.

Click here to read the full article!

Reminder: Photos for the 2024/2025 Season

With the 2024/2025 season underway, we would like to remind all families that KH Swan City will never charge for photos taken at the field. If anyone is requesting payment, they are not associated with us.