Project 1

ELITE
WINTER TEAMS

One goal. NIT 2027.

U10 · U12 · U14 · U16

The Program

Built to compete at the highest level.

Steel FHC Elite Winter Teams are tryout-based competitive squads for players U10 through U16. Selected players compete in 3 to 5 winter tournaments across December, January, and February — representing Steel FHC against top clubs regionally and nationally.

This is competitive field hockey for players who are ready to put in the work and compete on a bigger stage. Our primary goal is NIT 2027.

Tryout Details

Dates, location & cost.

U10 & U12

June 23, 2026

U14 & U16

June 24, 2026

Location

St. Luke’s SportsPlex, Lehigh Valley

Tryout Fee

$30 per player · Non-refundable

Via LeagueApps — link below

Competitive teams for U10 · U12 · U14 · U16

Team selection is based on birth year, not grade. Make sure you know which age group your player falls into.

View USFHA Age Groups ↗

Season Timeline

Tryouts through tournaments — everything in one place.

Every key date, payment, and milestone for the Steel FHC Elite Winter Team season from tryouts through NIT 2027.

June 23 & 2
2026

Tryouts

St. Luke’s SportsPlex, Lehigh Valley. Register in advance via LeagueApps.

Due

$30

Non-refundable

3 Days After

Teams Announced

Selected players notified by email within 3 days. Confirm your spot before the team fee is due.

—

Upon Selection

Team Fee Due

Due only if your player makes a team. Covers uniforms and all practice sessions for the full winter season.

Due

$500

Uniforms + practices included

Dec 7
2026

Practices Begin

Full practice schedule below. Location: St. Luke’s SportsPlex, Lehigh Valley. Included in team fee.

Included

In team fee

September
2026

Tentative Tournament Schedule Posted

A tentative Dec, Jan, Feb tournament schedule posted here. Dates and locations subject to change through October.

—

October
2026

Tournament Schedule Finalized

Final schedule confirmed and communicated to all team members with full event details.

—

November
2026

Tournament Fees Due

Covers 3–5 winter tournaments. NIT 2027 fees are separate and only apply to qualifying teams.

Due

~$500

3–5 tournaments

Dec 2026 –
Feb 2027

Tournament Season

3–5 competitive tournaments across December, January, and February. All selected with NIT 2027 qualification in mind.

Included

In tournament fee

U10/12s: 2/26-29
U14s: 2/12-14
U16s: 2/29-21

NIT 2027 — The Goal

National Invitational Tournament. The primary goal this entire season is built toward. Qualifying teams receive full NIT details separately.

If Qualified

TBD

Separate from all other fees

Ready to compete? Tryouts open June 2026.

Practice Schedule

Winter practice dates & times.

All practices at St. Luke’s SportsPlex, Lehigh Valley

December 2026

Dec 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 28, 30

Mondays — Dec 7, 14, 21, 28

U105:00 – 6:30pm

U126:30 – 8:00pm

Wednesdays — Dec 2, 9, 16, 30

U145:00 – 6:30pm

U166:30 – 8:00pm

U16 season begins in January

Jan – Feb 2027

Jan 4–Feb 22 (Mon) · Jan 5–Feb 9 (Tue)

Mondays — Jan 4, 11, 18, 25 · Feb 1, 8, 15, 22

U105:00 – 6:15pm

U126:15 – 7:30pm

U167:30 – 9:00pm

Tuesdays — Jan 5, 12, 19, 26 · Feb 2, 9

U147:00 – 8:30pm

📍

All practices at St. Luke’s SportsPlex, Lehigh Valley
Schedule included in team fee

FAQ

Common questions.

Does my player need to be a current Steel FHC member to try out?

No — tryouts are open to any eligible player. If your player makes a team, Steel FHC membership is included in the team fee.

What happens if my player doesn’t make a team?

The $30 tryout fee is non-refundable. Players not selected are welcome to participate in Steel FHC programs and will be notified of future tryout opportunities.

Is the team fee due at tryouts?

No — the $500 team fee is only due if your player makes a team, and is collected after teams are announced. You will have time to confirm before payment is required.

Are tournament fees included in the team fee?

No — tournament fees (~$500) are separate and due in November once the schedule is finalized. NIT fees are also separate and only apply to teams that qualify.

How do I know which age group my player is in?

Age groups are based on birth year per USFHA guidelines — not school grade. View the USFHA age chart here ↗

TRYOUTS OPEN
JUNE 2026.

$30 tryout fee · U10 through U16 · St. Luke’s SportsPlex, Lehigh Valley. Don’t miss your shot.