February Newsletter 2026

Welcome to the Kings Hammer Swan City February Newsletter! This edition features ’26/’27 Tryout Registration Now Open, National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Juniors In-House, Free Girls Clinic, USYS National ODP Team, Spring Break Camp, Weston Cup Finalists, HS Girls State Championship, Featured Education: “Player Development: The Game Becomes the Classroom”, 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.

’26/’27 Tryout Registration Now Open!

With the upcoming age group changes taking effect, we are aligning our player pathway to ensure a seamless transition and continued development for all athletes. (Click here to view the 2026/2027 Age Groupings.)

Juniors (U5–U8) – Kings Hammer Juniors introduces young players to soccer in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate environment. The program focuses on building confidence, developing foundational skills, and fostering a love for the game. Juniors runs in 5–6 week sessions with 1 training session and 1 game day per week. No tryouts for Juniors, registration coming soon!

Academy (U8–U19) – Kings Hammer Academy emphasizes long-term player development, technical growth, and enjoyment of the game. The program is designed to prepare players for future competitive pathways while nurturing creativity and confidence on the ball.

Elite (U9–U19) – Kings Hammer Elite represents our highest level of competitive soccer. These programs are designed for highly committed players who thrive in challenging environments and aspire to compete at the top regional, national, and collegiate levels. Elite programming includes, advanced training standards, intentional competition selection, individualized development plans, and a clearly defined long-term player pathway.

Click the links below for more information and to secure your spot:

Click here to register now!

Be sure to register early and share this with your friends who are looking for a place to grow, compete, and be part of something special. *If you have a scheduling conflict please get with your director and let them know in advance.

Stay tuned—program pricing, uniform reveal, and coaching staff announcements are coming soon!

National Girls and Women in Sports Day

From the sidelines to the spotlight, we proudly celebrated all the incredible girls and women who make our club so special. In honor of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we recognized those who play, coach, lead, organize, and inspire within Kings Hammer Swan City . Their passion, dedication, and leadership continue to shape the future of our club, and we are so grateful for the impact they make every single day.

Juniors In-House

Our first Juniors In-House program officially wrapped up this month, and what a fantastic experience it was! From learning the fundamentals to building confidence on the ball, our young players made tremendous progress while having a ton of fun along the way. The smiles, energy, and excitement on the field made this inaugural season truly special.

We are incredibly grateful to our families for trusting us to be part of their child’s early soccer journey. It has been a joy watching these players take their first steps in the game, and we look forward to continuing to support their growth and development. Be on the lookout for more Juniors In-House programming coming soon!

Free Girls Clinic

We had a wonderful morning at our Girls Clinic! Thank you to all the players who came out to join us. It was a pleasure meeting so many new faces and providing a fun, positive, and technical training environment for the girls to learn and grow.

We remain committed to growing the girls’ game and creating meaningful opportunities right here in our community. The future is bright, and we’re excited to continue building it together.

USYS National ODP Team

We are proud to announce that 2011 player Noah Villarete has been selected to represent the USYS National Select Team at the prestigious IberCup in Cascais, Portugal.

The USYS National Team program recognizes top talent from across the country — and earning a spot to compete at IberCup in Cascais is an honor reserved for players who consistently stand out. We could not be more proud of Noah and the hard work and effort it took to be recognized on this stage. You continue to represent our club, your teammates, and your family with excellence.

Spring Break Camp

Spring Break = Soccer Every Morning

Four days. Three hours each day. Tons of touches, games, and FUN.

March 16–19
9am–12pm
Lake Parker Park
U6–U16

Click here for more information & to register!

Weston Cup Finalists

Our 2011 Elite Boys put together an outstanding run at the Weston Cup, finishing as Finalists after a weekend of high-level competition. The group opened with a 1–0 win over Weston MLS AD, followed by a hard-fought 2–2 draw against Team Challenger North ECNL RL. They continued their strong form with an impressive 3–0 victory over Key Biscayne SC, earning their place in the championship match. In a tightly contested final, they battled Doral ECNL to a 2–1 finish.

Throughout the tournament, this team demonstrated resilience, quality, and composure against top-level opponents. Competing at this level and earning a spot in the final is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of their performance and growth.

High School Girls State Championship

We would like to congratulate our Elite Girls players — Ryleigh McInnes (U19), Mackenzie Purdie (U15), and Olivia Echnekewu (U15)— on an incredible achievement in advancing to the 1A Girls State Championship Finals with Victory Christian Academy. Competing on the state’s biggest stage is a testament to their dedication, talent, and hard work throughout the season.

While the final result wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, finishing as State Runners-Up is an accomplishment to be extremely proud of. We couldn’t be more proud of the way these girls represented their school, their teammates, and our club with heart, resilience, and class.

Featured Education: “Player Development: The Game Becomes the Classroom” By Michael Ratliff

“Development is a marathon, not a sprint.”

“Development is not linear.”

“It’s development over winning/results.”

“The game is the best teacher.”

These are phrases we often hear in youth soccer, but they carry meaning only when put into action. At their core, they emphasize that player development is a long-term, process-driven journey. It is not a straight line and not defined by short-term results.

Player development begins with respect for the process and an understanding that each player’s path is unique. No two journeys look the same. Players are challenged to focus on personal growth, set attainable goals, and establish small benchmarks along the way. Every ladder needs rungs before it can be climbed. Plateaus, peaks, and valleys are part of the journey, and navigating them builds integrity… owning the work even when progress feels grinding.

Success must also be reexamined. The scoreboard reflects a moment in time, not the full picture. Long-term competitive excellence comes from consistent effort, learning, and improvement. Playing with passion keeps development grounded and meaningful. The game itself becomes the classroom, encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and confidence under pressure. Players must play to develop. When challenges arise, open communication and collaboration demonstrate leadership and shared commitment to long-term growth. There is no shortcut or “magic sauce.” Consistent effort over time produces meaningful results.

Parents play a vital role in supporting this environment. Teams that win or lose every match present opportunities to ask thoughtful questions and seek actionable feedback from coaches and the club. Teams that compete, experience setbacks, and find moments of success are often in the most productive learning space. Growth often comes through struggle, with small successes along the way that build belief.

Finally, giving players space matters. Allowing them to take ownership fosters independence, accountability, and confidence. With space comes better conversations, deeper understanding, and a stronger foundation for a lifelong love of the game that is built on respect, leadership, integrity, passion, and creativity.

– Michael Ratliff, KH Cincinnati Pre-Elite Director

Polk All Stars Tournament

We kicked off February at the annual Polk All Stars Tournament here in Polk County! Players from our Swan City SC Recreation program were selected based on their performance during the Fall Rec season, earning the opportunity to represent our club among the best of the best. It was a fantastic weekend of competition, growth, and club pride. All of our teams represented Swan City SC with heart, and we are especially proud of our U15 boys and girls who finished the tournament as Champions!

GK Union Save of the Month

Talk about putting the team on your back! We had two outstanding saves that separated themselves from the rest. Reagan Denton of our G09 Middle Tennessee Elite program delivered a triple-save to keep her team in the match while Kylen Lancaster of the G10 Middle TN program saved a PK which resulted from a foul she committed. Congrats Reagan and Kyle! On being named our January Save of the Month 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.