relentless field hockey

Torch – Developmental Travel

Developmental Travel Field Hockey in Richmond, VA

overview

Torch is Relentless Field Hockey Club's developmental travel program, built for athletes who are ready to train hard, compete seriously, and grow within a structured club environment. Available for athletes in our U14, U16, and U19 age groups, Torch offers a year-round pathway that emphasizes player development alongside meaningful competitive experience.

What Torch Is

Torch is a developmental travel program for U14–U19 athletes that puts development at the center of everything. Athletes train consistently across all four seasons, compete in a regionally-focused tournament schedule, and work with coaches who are skilled at building technically sound, tactically aware players.

Who Torch Is For

Torch is built for U14, U16, and U19 athletes who are actively developing their game and ready for the structure and commitment of year-round club play. This includes athletes who:

Are new to travel field hockey who are building their foundation
Have been competing for years and want to continue growing within a competitive program
Are working toward higher levels of competition and need the technical and tactical reps to get there

Rosters are formed through tryouts each season. Some athletes who are not offered a spot on a Blaze roster will be offered a spot on a Torch roster.

Seasons

U14

Fall

Four 7v7 tournaments spread across the block give athletes consistent game experience, while weeknight practices keep the focus on the foundational habits that will carry into the indoor season.

Format	Outdoor
Length	8 weeks (September – October)
Practices	1 per week — weeknight
Competitions	4 7v7 tournaments
Roster	10 athletes per team, 2 teams max
Focus	Team chemistry, outdoor fundamentals

Winter

Winter is where U14 Torch turns up the volume. Two practices per week and 4–5 in-state tournaments build competitive experience steadily across the season. The block closes with the National Indoor Festival (NIF) — a three-day national event that gives Torch athletes a meaningful stage without a qualifying requirement.


Format	Indoor
Length	12 weeks (November – February)
Practices	2 per week — weeknight + weekend
Competitions	4–5 tournaments — Virginia Beach, VWU, CNU, Lynchburg, NIF
Roster	10 athletes per team, 2 teams max
Focus	Technical development, competitive experience

Spring

Spring brings the season back outdoors and gives U14 Torch athletes four regional 7v7 tournaments to apply everything built over fall and winter. Two practices per week and a single focused roster create a tight, cohesive environment to close out the year.


Format	Outdoor
Length	10 weeks (March – May)
Practices	2 per week — weeknight + weekend
Competitions	4 tournaments — Spider 7v7, Longwood 7v7, Debbie Cale 7v7, TBD
Roster	14 athletes, 1 team
Focus	Outdoor game application, competitive growth

Summer

U16

Fall

Fall at U16 is a training-only block. One Sunday practice per week gives athletes and coaches a consistent, low-noise environment to focus on individual skill and team identity — while balancing their high school seasons. The competition load picks up significantly in winter.

Format	Outdoor
Length	8 weeks (September – October)
Practices	1 per week — weeknight
Competitions	4 7v7 tournaments
Roster	10 athletes per team, 2 teams max
Focus	Team chemistry, outdoor fundamentals

Winter

U16 Torch runs the same structure at U14 & U19 Torch — 12 weeks, two weeknight practices, and a competition schedule building toward the National Indoor Festival. In-state tournaments throughout the block keep athletes competing consistently while developing the technical and tactical habits that the indoor format demands.


Format	Indoor
Length	12 weeks (November – February)
Practices	2 per week — weeknight + weekend
Competitions	4–5 tournaments — Virginia Beach, VWU, CNU, Lynchburg, NIF
Roster	10 athletes per team, 2 teams max
Focus	Technical development, competitive experience

Spring

U16 Torch closes out the year with four regional 7v7 tournaments across a 10-week outdoor season. The single-roster format keeps the group tight, and the spring tournament circuit is a competitive but development-focused stretch to cap the year.


Format	Outdoor
Length	10 weeks (March – May)
Practices	2 per week — weeknight + weekend
Competitions	4 tournaments — Spider 7v7, Longwood 7v7, Debbie Cale 7v7, TBD
Roster	14 athletes, 1 team
Focus	Outdoor game application, competitive growth

Summer

U19

Fall

Fall at U19 is a training-only block. One Sunday practice per week gives athletes and coaches a consistent, low-noise environment to focus on individual skill and team identity — without the distraction of a tournament schedule. The competition load picks up significantly in winter.

Format	Outdoor
Length	8 weeks (September – October)
Practices	1 per week — weeknight
Competitions	4 7v7 tournaments
Roster	10 athletes per team, 2 teams max
Focus	Team chemistry, outdoor fundamentals

Winter

U19 Torch mirrors the U16 indoor structure. For U19 athletes, the NIF carries added weight — it's a national event that puts Torch players in front of a broader field hockey audience at a pivotal point in their development and, for many, their recruiting timelines.


Format	Indoor
Length	12 weeks (November – February)
Practices	2 per week — weeknight + weekend
Competitions	4–5 tournaments — Virginia Beach, VWU, CNU, Lynchburg, NIF
Roster	10 athletes per team, 2 teams max
Focus	Technical development, competitive experience

Spring

Spring is the final season for U19 Torch athletes — four regional tournaments, two practices a week, and one last opportunity to compete together before the year closes.


Format	Outdoor
Length	10 weeks (March – May)
Practices	2 per week — weeknight + weekend
Competitions	4 tournaments — Spider 7v7, Longwood 7v7, Debbie Cale 7v7, TBD
Roster	14 athletes, 1 team
Focus	Outdoor game application, competitive growth

Summer

Getting Started

New to Relentless?
Curious to learn more about our Torch program? Tell us a bit about your athlete and we'll help you find the right path. No commitment — just a conversation.

Ready to register?
If you already know Torch is the right program for you, you can browse open opportunities and register directly 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

What level of player is Torch for?

Can a first-time high-school-age player join Torch?

Do Torch teams travel for tournaments?

Get In Touch

Torch – Developmental Travel

Developmental Travel Field Hockey in Richmond, VA

overview

What Torch Is

Who Torch Is For

Seasons

U14

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

U16

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

U19

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

Getting Started

Registration Schedule:

FAQ

contact us

about us

programs

© 2024 relentless field hockey

Format	Outdoor
Length	Varies (June – August)
Practices	Weekly training, private lessons, clinics
Competitions	Summer Bash at the Beach
Roster	Varies
Focus	Bridge training, fall preparation

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

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