Click here for a printable copy of Winter Travel Description
The Windy City Field Hockey Travel Teams are offered for athletes who want to commit to playing field hockey all year. The goal is to develop each team over time by training together with a highly qualified coach and becoming a successful competitive group. Players in the Travel program will generally stay with the same core players and coach throughout their tenure with the Windy City teams. Each travel team is limited to 15-16 field players and 1-2 goalkeepers which allows the coaches to provide the most optimal presentation of their knowledge and experience to the players. The Windy City Club is based upon team loyalty and openings on teams are expected to be limited.
Practice sessions will be organized to develop individual players' skills as well as the group's tactical abilities. On average, the schedule will offer 3 practice sessions per week during the months of December through March. Some practice sessions during the week will provide time for tactical classroom sessions and video review to enhance learning.
An important part of the Travel Teams is to attend challenging competitions throughout the year. In the future, clubs will have to qualify for the USFHA sponsored tournaments and Windy City has been building to meet the challenge to be adequately prepared for qualification and participation in the USFHA National Championships. Additional tournaments are scheduled to help prepare teams for the high profile events. Players on the Travel Teams are required to attend all scheduled tournaments. The Windy City Travel season is from March to March.
All players will receive playing time at tournaments although not always be equal for all players. Playing time will be related to the effort and attendance made in the practice sessions in addition to the players' individual skills.
Payment for Travel Teams will happen 4 times per year; once for Winter training; once for Spring/Summer training; once for Winter Travel events; once for Spring/Summer Travel events.
A new USFHA rule this year requires players must officially declare themselves an affiliate of a club for the 2011/2012 affiliation window (see USFHA rules). To be on the Windy City Travel Teams you must be a USFHA member and affiliate with Windy City Field Hockey.
Members of the Travel Teams are required to attend all outdoor tournaments. All training is directed toward developing the individual and the team. If the team is to be successful, each player needs to dedicate themselves to their own development, but even more importantly to the development of the team. The goal of Windy City is to give the Travel Teams every opportunity to compete successfully at tournaments and create a name that is respected among the top clubs in the country. Our training methods, coaching staff and players all focus on enjoying the game at the highest level of competition. Travel expenses are in addition to Windy City Club Travel Membership.
The Windy City Field Hockey Club provides fantastic opportunities for players to gain National exposure to Division I, II and III coaches and recruiters through our participation in preparation tournaments and USFHA Sponsored National Tournaments. The club tournaments are listed in the web site at Travel Teams>Tournament Info.
All players in the Travel Team program will train in the Indoor and Outdoor games in the winter. Training the indoor game is an essential part of development for players wishing to compete at a high level. All players are required to attend all outdoor tournaments; however Windy City is aware that some travel players who compete in other sports may not be able to attend the Indoor Tournaments. Consequently, not all players are required to "travel" to the Indoor Tournaments. Players will indicate their tryout intention on their membership form. Windy City will enter two U19 teams and two U16 teams of 8 field players and 1 goalkeeper each in the qualifying tournament. Two U14 teams will attend the St. Louis tournament. During the first week of winter practice, the coaches will conduct a tryout for the Indoor Travel Teams. All players practice schedule times for their weekday and Saturday training will be reassigned after tryout results. Sunday training schedules will not be affected by indoor tryouts.
As part of the continuous training program for the Travel Teams, players will train two days for 6 weeks in the spring and one day for 6 weeks in the summer. Spring will involve training one day during the week at a Windy City facility and one day on the weekend at Northwestern University Trienens Indoor Fieldhouse. During summer, many players will be participating in college camps so the Travel Teams will train one day per week at Northwestern University outdoor Lakeside Astroturf fields.
Players need an indoor and outdoor stick, shin guards, mouth guards and indoor gloves for both hands. Eyewear at club competition is optional, but not required.
Players will purchase a Windy City practice pack which includes a reversible numbered jersey, shorts, white shirt and back pack. Players that make the travel team will be required to own a Windy City skirt, socks, two jerseys and a cold weather warm-up. These items will be available 4 times per year on the web site at WC Apparel.
Players who wish to commit to Windy City Travel will register for the Winter Program and then again in the Spring for the Spring/Summer Program.
Session 1: U19, Sundays, 7:00am-9:30am; 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 2/26, 3/3 or 3/4 at NU
Session 2: U16, Sundays, 9:15am-11:45am; 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 2/26, 3/3 or 3/4 at NU
Session 3: U14, Sundays, 11:30am-2:00pm; 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 2/26, 3/3 or 3/4 at NU
PLEASE NOTE: There is a possibility that the proposed dates and times at Northwestern University may change subject to their athletic teams needing the facility.
Dates: Week of Nov 28, Dec 5, Dec 12, Jan 2, Jan 9, Jan 16, Jan 23, Jan 30, Feb 13, Feb 20, Feb 27. Each session includes 30 minutes of tactical classroom sessions or video. In general Travel Team practices will be on a Wednesday or Thursday in a 2 hour time slot between the hours of 4:30-9:30pm.
Dates: Dec 3, Dec 10, Jan 7, Jan 21, Feb 4, Feb 18, Feb 25. Each session includes skill development and competitive games at the coaches discretion. Times are:U14 7:00-9:00am; U16 9:00-11:00am; U19 11:00-1:00pm
*Indoor Travel Teams will be at tournaments, Indoor non Travel Teams will be at NU
Windy City Winter Programs are directed and coached by the Travel Team coaching staff who has committed to working with their teams for a year competition cycle.
CONFIRMATION
As registrations are received, the names of those individuals will appear on the appropriate Winter Program program.
Additional confirmation information will be sent via e-mail to all registered players by the end of November.
$900 nonrefundable after received
Travel Team Player Profiles 
