Hammer FC is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to develop soccer players to their fullest potential by providing the best soccer education and training.” The recent and past success of Hammer FC are a testament to the Club’s ability to produce players who are capable of competing at the highest level – in high school, college or the Olympic Development Program. Our structured training system is for boys and girls; U8 through U18. We employ paid professional coaches and trainers for every team to ensure the best development of every child. Unlike other clubs, Hammer FC does not believe in a tiered training program. All Hammer players are trained by an experienced Technical Staff trainer. Our off season training, included in the fees, is second to none as we provide more indoor and turf time than any other program in the greater Cincinnati area.
CLICK HERE to Register for Try-outs
WHAT DO MY CLUB FEES COVER?
Fees cover your paid coach and trainer, league fees for one league, referee fees for one league, game fields, practice fields, coaching equipment, August team camp (fall teams), winter training (all teams) and other expenses incurred to put these teams on the field. August team camp is a mandatory pre-season warm up for the U8-U14 teams. This camp is held at the Four Seasons training facility the beginning of August. The Parent Administrator for your team will provide the exact dates and times. Winter training is included and expected for all of the U8-U18 teams. High school teams will begin mandatory training in November. Other teams will begin in January. Exact dates, times, and locations will be provided in the fall. The U15–U17 team fees also include plyometrics and strength training. High School players on the Elite teams may participate in the speed and strength program by paying the cost difference to the Club.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AND FEE SCHEDULES
The U8-U14 age groups play club soccer in both the Fall and Spring seasons. This is a total of two different seasons and there is a separate fee for each season that is broken down into two smaller payments. The U15-U18 High School age groups rejoin their Club soccer team in the late Fall/early Winter after their High School season is completed. They have one fee for one season that is broken down into four payments for Premier teams and three for Elite teams.
The fees are broken down into separate payments to ease the financial burden.
Team tournament fees, uniforms, and travel expenses are not included in the fees outlined below. These costs vary by team depending on which tournament your team participates in. Many of our older Premier teams will travel to several prestigious tournaments throughout the Midwest as well as the country.
All Club fees are to be submitted directly to the team’s Parent Administrator (PA). DO NOT mail checks to the Club Administrator or Club Treasurer. The Parent Administrator (PA) is a volunteer who is in charge of fee collection, registration paperwork and administrative responsibilities for each team. The PA for each team is responsible for collections of all fees, including separate team travel/tournament fees.
The club fee checks should be payable to the Classics Hammer FC and should include the child’s name, team and purpose of the payment in the memo field. Individual checks need to be made out if there is more than one child in a family playing on teams in the Club.
*A deposit to hold a player’s position will be collected by the PA prior to each season (refer to dates/amounts in above table). The first payment due for each season is considered the deposit. Failure to pay this deposit means that the player has not accepted a position with Hammer FC. All fees are non-refundable once paid. The only exception is a medical condition that affects more than half of the season. You will need to submit a doctor’s letter to the Board for this consideration. Please submit this request to the office at least two weeks prior to your team’s last game of the season. Requests can be denied if they are submitted after the completion of the season.
Any player whose fees are not paid in full by the due dates will not be rostered on the team or if already rostered will not be able to participate in any club sanctioned activities (training, league games and tournaments) with their team until financial obligations are met.
ACCEPTANCE OF A POSITION ON A HAMMER FC TEAM
All players who tryout for a CHFC team will be notified via e-mail or telephone. A non-refundable deposit will be collected to hold the position on the team at the Age Group specific Meeting. Payment of the deposit is to be made at the team meeting discussed below.
MANDATORY VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TEAMS
All families are required to volunteer for at least one of the three tournament events Hammer FC sponsors (adidas Blue Chip College Showcase, Blue Chip Hammer Cup and Blue Chip Classics Cup). The adidas Blue Chip Showcase is the premier college recruiting showcase in the Midwest. It was developed to provide our High School players a premier venue to showcase their talents in front of hundreds of college coaches. The Hammer Cup and the Classics Cup were developed for our younger players (U14 and under) to play top competition without having to travel and pay tournament and hotel costs. All U13 and younger team parents must volunteer for either of the youth tournaments. All U14 and older team parents must volunteer for the Blue Chip College Showcase.
PLAYERS WHO ARE FROM INDIANA OR KENTUCKY
Upon acceptance of a position on a team, all players residing in Indiana or Kentucky must request permission to be released from their home state associations and pay the necessary fee. Your PA will advise how to do this if it applies.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND FEE ASSISTANCE
Hammer FC strives to keep fees as low as possible, but still provide quality soccer training. Any families with three children participating can receive ½ fees for the third (youngest) child. This fee reduction must be requested via e-mail to the Club Treasurer (listing all involved children) at hamilton@classicshammerfc.com within two weeks of accepting a position. A scholarship to assist with a portion of the Club fees may be available based on financial need. In return, the family is required to perform volunteer service hours for the Club (e.g., act as a referee assignor, line the practice fields, assist with the adidas Blue Chip Showcase, etc., work at YDA, assist at tryouts). The scholarship application is available on our website under Administration. The scholarship form is self-explanatory. Scholarships are limited so they are handled on a first come first basis. Do not delay is sending in your request for. Applicants must pay the initial club fee/deposit in order to be considered for a scholarship. A third child paying ½ fees is not eligible for a scholarship.
TOURNAMENTS
Fees for tournaments vary from team to team depending on how many tournaments a team participates in and how far a team travels. These fees are handled directly within each team. Tournament costs are shared by all families on the team. If you have concerns about travel expenses, please discuss this with the coach when the position is offered.
TEAM UNIFORMS AND SPIRITWEAR
Team uniforms are purchased through our supplier, Soccer Village. All uniform orders need to be placed on line no later than June 25, 2009. Please visit the Hammer FC website (classicshammerfc.com) for the order form. Uniform samples are available at the store for fitting. All players must have a royal and white jersey, royal and white shorts, royal and white socks and a grey Hammer FC Training t-shirt. New families will be assigned a uniform number by the PA. Warm-ups, bags, backpacks, and other optional gear as well as Club Spiritwear are available at Soccer Village. All Hammer families are immediately signed up for the Soccer Village Gold Membership entitling Hammer families to special discounts. Hammer FC will provide Soccer Village registration information to immediately sign up Hammer families for Gold Card Membership. Soccer Village will not sell, rent or utilize Hammer family’s personal information beyond use for Gold Club membership. Soccer Village requires that all uniform orders must be paid in full up front. Uniform purchases are non-refundable by the Club.
The Hammer FC Board of Directors has approved the policies and fees set forth in this handout. If you have any additional questions, please direct them to your Parent Administrator, or the Club Technical Staff member.
