RISE Field Hockey is a premier field hockey program based in the Chicagoland area. Our Travel Teams offer dedicated opportunities for our most skilled athletes committed to elevating their game through high-level training and competition and who are willing to commit to the expectations of being involved in a travel-level program. The travel team is for our most competitive and talented athletes.

Athletes are chosen based on ability, attitude, willingness to be coached, and work ethic. Attendance is mandatory at practice and tournaments. 

Playing time and position are determined by the Head Coach and will not be equal.

Teams are chosen based on date of birth for age groups and on a year-to-year basis.

TRAVEL TEAM DETAILS

RISE will field teams in the following age groups: U10, U12, U14, U16, and U19.

Any athlete interested in trying out for the U10 - U19 2026 Travel Team must register for the age-appropriate Winter Select Program, including current 2025 Travel Team members.

AGE GROUPS:

• U10: Players born Aug 1, 2015 – July 31, 2017

• U12: Players born Aug 1, 2013 – July 31, 2015

• U14: Players born Aug 1, 2011 – July 31, 2013

• U16: Players born Aug 1, 2009 – July 31, 2011

• U19: Players born Aug 1, 2006 – July 31, 2009

Younger athletes may "play up" in older divisions, but older athletes may not "play down" in younger divisions. We prioritize athletes competing within their age classifications.

Player evaluations will assess all individuals based on their physical ability, ability to compete, and commitment to a higher level of field hockey. This includes coachability, body language, and commitment level.

RISE aims to field teams with 16-18 field players and 1-2 goalkeepers per age group.

Travel Team Calendar (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

• August – November 2025: U12 - U14 Travel Team practice & competition
• November 2025: U16 - U19 compete at the Shooting Star Tournament
• December 2025 – January 2026: Winter Select
• January 2026 – June 2026: U10 - U19 Travel Team practice & competition. Practice is on Sunday, with an additional weekday practice either (Wednesday or Thursday).
• July 2026: No team commitments

PRACTICE & TRAINING EXPECTATIONS

Travel Team players are expected to attend weekly training, starting with Winter Select sessions and continuing through spring and summer. Practice locations and times include:

• Indoor Winter (December – March): Intentional Sports Indoor Facility (Chicago), Sunday afternoons (1.5-hour sessions between 3 – 6:30 PM) during the Winter Select program

  • Additional Wednesday practices for U16 + U19 Teams at Intentional (1-hour session from 7 - 8 PM)

• Outdoor Spring (April – June): Oak Park & River Forest High School (Oak Park), Sunday afternoons (1.5-hour sessions between 2 – 5 PM)

  • Additional Thursday practices for U14 - U19 Teams at Quad Indoor Sports (Evanston) (1.5-hour session from 8 - 9:30 PM)

Athletes should attend all weekly practices and, when possible, additional sessions at their nearest RISE site. Extra practices may be required as the tournament dates approach.

Example Scenario - As an Evanston Travel athlete, the player would attend the weekly practice in Evanston and participate in at least one Travel Team practice each week.

TOURNAMENT EXPECTATIONS

We expect all athletes to attend every tournament, though we understand there may be conflicts with other sports or school athletics events. Tournaments are either chaperoned (RISE arranges travel, accommodations, and supervision) or unchaperoned (parents arrange their travel).

Chaperoned trips are defined as trips that are planned, supervised, and executed by RISE Field Hockey, with all-inclusive fees. These are great team-building experiences. For longer travel, chaperoned trips cut costs so families are not also traveling, which helps to bring down the additional cost to families.

Unchaperoned trips are defined as trips in which parents are expected to bring athletes to the tournament and bring them home, as well as arrange their hotels if need be. The tournament fee includes the coaching fee and tournament playing fee.

2026 TENTATIVE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

• Winter Escape Showcase | Seminole County, FL (January 17-19, 2026)

  • Invite Only for U16 & U19 (Chaperoned, and the estimated fee is $1,250/athlete)

• Shooting Star Tournament | Delaware (April 17 - 18, 2026)

  • U16 Blue (Chaperoned)

• Aim 7v7 Tournament | St. Louis, MO (April 25, 2026)

  • U10, U12, U14, U16 White (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Aim  Tournament | St. Louis, MO (April 26, 2026)

  • U16 Blue + U19 (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Gateway Regional Cup & RCC | St. Louis, MO (May 9 - 10, 2026)

  • U10, U12, U14, U16, + U19 (Two-day, unchaperoned)

• Pinnacle West Playday | Grand Rapids, MI (May TBD, 2026)

  • U14 + U16 White (One-day, unchaperoned)

• University of Michigan Playday | Ann Arbor, MI (May 30, 2026)

  • ALL LEVELS | U10 - U19 (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Pegasus Cup | Louisville, KY (June 13, 2026)

  • ALL LEVELS | U10 - U19 (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Midwest Best Tournament | St. Louis, MO (September TBD, 2026)

  • U12 & U14 (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Magic Showdown | Louisville, KY (October TBD, 2026)

  • U12 & U14 (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Pumpkin Classic Tournament | Northfield, IL (October TBD, 2026)

  • U12 & U14 (One-day, unchaperoned)

• Shooting Star Showcase | Midlothian, Virginia (November 27 - 29, 2026)

  • U16 Blue & Invite only U19, including committed 2027 grads (Chaperoned)

FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS

The commitment to be a member of the RISE Travel team is also a financial commitment to families. We will always work to keep our costs as low as possible to provide quality instruction at quality facilities. As we continue to grow, the opportunities to train and play mor,e we will continue to offer payment plans for families. 

Travel Team program fees range from $2000 to $3950, depending on age group, covering all practice sessions and non-chaperoned tournament fees for 2025. U/16 and U19 team members also receive college recruiting tools, including Top Recruits  Athlete Account, Honest Game Account, and skills film.

Additional costs include a $200 uniform fee. 

U16 and U19 Travel Team members also receive college recruiting tools, including Top Recruits  Athlete Account, Honest Game Account, and skills film.

Payment plans are available, with a monthly payment plan option from January to November 2026.