relentless field hockey

Blaze — Elite Travel

Elite Travel Field Hockey in Richmond, VA

overview

Blaze is Relentless Field Hockey Club's elite level of year-round programming, built for athletes who are ready to compete at a regional and national level. Available for athletes in our U14, U16, and U19 age groups, Blaze combines rigorous year-round training with a competitive schedule designed to challenge, develop, and elevate serious players.

What Blaze Is

Blaze is Relentless's most competitive environment — high training volume, a robust competition schedule, and a roster built through tryouts every season. Playing time is competitive, roles are earned, and the expectation is that athletes show up prepared and ready to work.

The athletes who thrive in Blaze are the ones who want to be pushed. They're technically sharp, they compete hard, and they make the players around them better. If that sounds like your athlete, this is the right program.

Who Blaze Is For

Blaze is for athletes who are serious about their development and ready to compete at the highest level our club offers. Athletes must earn their spot through tryouts, and roster spots are not guaranteed from season to season. Blaze is available at the U14, U16, and U19 age groups.

If a more developmental environment with more guaranteed playing time would be a better fit, our Torch – Developmental Travel programs may be the right starting point.

Seasons

U14

Fall

With four local 7v7 tournaments throughout the block, athletes get consistent game reps while coaches establish team culture and build the foundational habits that carry into the heavier demands of the indoor season.


Format	Outdoor
Length	8 weeks (September – October)
Practices	1 per week — weeknight
Competitions	4 tournaments — 2x Richmond (STC), 2x Virginia Beach (VBTC)
Roster	20 athletes across 2 teams
Focus	Team identity, outdoor fundamentals

Winter

Winter is the most competition-intensive season for U14 Blaze. Seven tournaments across Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland build real competitive experience — and the season culminates in the National Indoor Tournament (NIT), a three-day national event open to all U14 teams. Two weeknight practices keep athletes sharp and prepared throughout.


Format	Indoor
Length	14 weeks (November – February)
Practices	2 per week — weeknights
Competitions	7 tournaments — Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland
Roster	20 athletes across 2 teams
Focus	Technical sharpness, competitive development

Spring

Spring returns to the outdoor game with the full 11v11 format. U14 Blaze competes in the Junior Outdoor Premier League (JPOL) and the Regional Club Championship (RCC) — a two-day championship-level event in late May. Teams that qualify through RCC advance to the National Club Championship (NCC) in June, the highest level of outdoor club competition in the country.


Format	Outdoor
Length	12 weeks (March – May)
Practices	2 per week — weeknights
Competitions	JPOL, RCC, 1–2 playdays, NCC (pending qualification)
Roster	16–18 named athletes + up to 6 reserves
Focus	Full-field outdoor competition

Summer

Format	Outdoor
Length	Varies (June – August)
Practices	Weekly training, private trainings, clinics
Competitions	NCC upon qualification & Summer Bash at the Beach
Roster	N/A, except for above
Focus	Bridge training, fall preparation

Summer programming for Blaze athletes bridges the spring season into fall tryouts with continued competitive training and select competition events. Specific offerings are updated each year.

U16

Fall

Fall at U16 is a training-first block. Without a tournament schedule, athletes and coaches can focus entirely on the technical and tactical work that sets up a strong indoor season. One focused practice per week, consistently executed, is the goal.


Format	Outdoor
Length	8 weeks (September – October)
Practices	1 per week — Sundays
Competitions	None
Roster	Up to 20 athletes across 2 teams (10 per team)
Focus	Individual development, team building

Winter

The U16 indoor season is the longest in the club at 16 weeks. Seven tournaments build toward a National Indoor Tournament Qualifier (NITQ) — teams that earn a bid advance to the National Indoor Tournament (NIT), the national championship for U16 club teams. Two weeknight practices per week sustain a high training load throughout the winter.

Format	Indoor (5v5)
Length	16 weeks (November – February)
Practices	2 per week — weeknights
Competitions	7 tournaments — Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, NITQ, NIT (pending qualification)
Roster	10 athletes per roster, 3 rosters max
Focus	High-level competition, national qualification

Spring

U16 Blaze carries the same spring schedule — JPOL, RCC, playdays, and a potential NCC bid. RCC in late May is the qualifying gateway; teams that advance compete at NCC in late June. For U16 athletes with college aspirations, spring tournaments provide meaningful exposure to a broad field hockey audience.


Format	Outdoor
Length	12 weeks (March – May)
Practices	2 per week — weeknights
Competitions	JPOL, RCC, 1–2 playdays, NCC (pending qualification)
Roster	16–18 named athletes + up to 6 reserves
Focus	Full-field outdoor competition, national qualification

Summer


Format	Outdoor
Length	Varies (June – August)
Practices	Weekly training, private lessons, clinics
Competitions	NCC pending qualification, N/A otherwise
Roster	N/A except above
Focus	Bridge training, fall preparation

Summer programming for Blaze athletes bridges the spring season into fall tryouts with continued competitive training and select events. Specific offerings are updated each year.

U19

Fall

Like U16, U19 Blaze uses the fall as a development block — no tournaments, one Sunday practice per week, and a deliberate focus on the individual and collective work that will pay off when the competitive calendar kicks in during winter.


Format	Outdoor
Length	8 weeks (September – October)
Practices	1 per week — Sundays
Competitions	None
Roster	Up to 20 athletes across 2 teams (10 per team)
Focus	Individual development, team building

Winter

U19 Blaze mirrors the U16 indoor structure — 16 weeks, two weeknight practices, and seven tournaments building toward the NITQ. NIT qualification at U19 is earned, not given. Athletes who want to compete on a national stage need to earn it through the qualifier.

Format	Indoor (5v5)
Length	16 weeks (November – February)
Practices	2 per week — weeknights
Competitions	7 tournaments — Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, NITQ, NIT (pending qualification)
Roster	10 athletes per roster, 3 rosters max
Focus	High-level competition, national qualification

Spring

Spring is the highest-stakes season for U19 Blaze athletes. RCC in early May serves as the gateway to NCC, and for athletes still in the recruiting process, spring events provide direct exposure to college coaches. The season closes — for qualifying teams — at the National Club Championship in late June.


Format	Outdoor
Length	12 weeks (March – May)
Practices	2 per week — weeknights
Competitions	JPOL, RCC, 1–2 playdays, NCC (pending qualification)
Roster	16–18 named athletes + up to 6 reserves
Focus	Full-field outdoor competition, national qualification

Summer


Format	Outdoor
Length	Varies (June – August)
Practices	Weekly training, private lessons, clinics
Competitions	NCC pending qualification, N/A otherwise
Roster	N/A except above
Focus	Bridge training, fall preparation

Summer programming for Blaze athletes bridges the spring season into fall tryouts with continued competitive training and select events. Specific offerings are updated each year.

U16 Relentless Blaze after winning the U16 Regional Club Championship in 2026.

U19 Relentless Blaze after qualifying at the U19 Regional Club Championship in 2026.

U14 Relentless Blaze after winning the U14 Regional Club Championship in 2026.

U16 Flame at Virginia Beach NITQ in 2026.

U16 Torch at Virginia Beach NITQ in 2026.

Getting Started

New to Relentless?
Curious to learn more about our Blaze program? Tell us a bit about your athlete and we'll help you find the right path.

Ready to join now?
If you already know Blaze is the right program for you, you can browse open opportunities and register directly for tryouts or an open field session through our player platform, PlayMetrics, to lock in your spot.

Keep an eye out for the following open tryouts and registration windows.

Registration Schedule:

Fall Season: August-October | Registration opens late June
Winter Season: December-February | Registration opens late September
Spring Season: March-May | Registration opens late January
Summer Season: June-August | Registration opens late April

FAQ

How is Blaze different from Torch?

What does it take to make a Blaze team?

Does Blaze support college recruitment?

Get In Touch

Blaze — Elite Travel

Elite Travel Field Hockey in Richmond, VA

overview

What Blaze Is

Who Blaze Is For

Seasons

U14

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

U16

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

U19

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

U16 Relentless Blaze after winning the U16 Regional Club Championship in 2026.

U19 Relentless Blaze after qualifying at the U19 Regional Club Championship in 2026.

U14 Relentless Blaze after winning the U14 Regional Club Championship in 2026.

U16 Flame at Virginia Beach NITQ in 2026.

U16 Torch at Virginia Beach NITQ in 2026.

Getting Started

Registration Schedule:

FAQ

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