By Callie Rogers

“We started Relentless to offer more training opportunities to those in the Richmond area,” said Relentless Field Hockey co-founder, and my sister, Cameron Rogers. 

Relentless Field Hockey U19 team. Photo credit: Relentless Field Hockey’s Instagram (@relentlessfieldhockey).

Relentless began as an extra training program for athletes who were already a part of various field hockey clubs. However, this fall, founders Rogers and Annie Snead decided to make the leap from a training format to an actual USA Field Hockey-affiliated club. Athletes were incredibly excited to hear the news, and subsequently various U12, U14, U16, and U19 teams were formed for the 2024 indoor season. Rogers and Snead, who played Division I field hockey at Georgetown University and William and Mary, respectively, were ecstatic about the significant level of interest they received from athletes all over Richmond. 

Rogers said, “From the very beginning, one of our biggest goals has been to become a club that offers opportunities to athletes with different backgrounds, whether its schools or regions.” Relentless wanted to create a club welcome to athletes all over Richmond, and the owners can confidently say that they have done so, with athletes from local public and private schools, including Collegiate, Trinity Episcopal School, Godwin High School, James River High School, and more. I am a member of their U19 indoor team, and I have enjoyed every minute getting to play with girls from different high schools. On top of that, the training schedule has created a strong routine for me to bring to my upcoming college season. 

Despite most of their athletes not spending time with each other in the classroom, the time spent together during their weekly practices has made them more united. Collegiate Freshman Cabel Berkeyheiser (‘27), a member of the U16 and U19 teams, said, “Relentless is not only a club but a family.” Berkeyheiser, who had a standout Freshman year for the varsity field hockey Cougars, earning All-LIS honors, chose Relentless for “the chance to play more tournaments and at a bit of a higher level.” Darcy Kopsinis, a senior at Trinity, chose Relentless to help prepare her for college, as she joins the William and Mary field hockey team in the fall. Kopsinis said, “Relentless has been critical to challenging me to improve in every aspect of the game, on and off the field.” 

U16 team after qualifying for the NIT. Photo credit: Relentless Field Hockey’s Instagram (@relentlessfieldhockey).

Indoor field hockey is played on a Sport Court-tiled floor in the winter as a substitute for playing outside during colder weather. The peak of the indoor season for athletes is the National Indoor Tournament, or the NIT. The NIT is played at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the U14 and U16 divisions, and the U19 NIT is played at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The tournament is very competitive, as it sees teams from all around the country eager to compete for a medal. The NIT is also a great opportunity for younger players to have their talents observed by various college coaches. U16 and U19 teams must qualify for the tournament through a National Indoor Tournament Qualifier, or NITQ. The qualifier makes the competition at the NIT more intense and selective, as it is a difficult feat to qualify for the tournament. 

Relentless has qualified both their U16 and U19 teams, which is an impressive accomplishment for their first year as a club. After their great success at the NITQ, Rogers said, “Goals moving forwards are to continue growing as a team and continue to push ourselves to learn new skills and concepts, so that when we ultimately get to the NIT, we are able to perform well.” 

Adult and college player pick-up. Photo credit: Erika Latta.

While Relentless is a club for younger players, they also value their adult league immensely. Relentless is one of the only clubs in Richmond to offer adult and college player pickup field hockey in the summer. Current and retired athletes are always eager to learn the dates in which Relentless will run a series of pick-up games. Rogers and Snead believe in the importance of keeping adults in the game for as long as possible. Rogers said, “There’s not a lot of opportunity for adult players in this country, so we want to be able to continue to offer that.” Relentless has succeeded tremendously in their adult league, as it has grown in numbers each year, and Rogers and Snead plan to enter an adult team to the NIT. Rogers and Snead will play on the team along with their various friends, who also played field hockey in high school or college. It will be an enjoyable experience for the younger athletes to watch their coaches in the NIT, and a reminder that field hockey is played for the love of the game and does not have to end when high school or college seasons end. 

Featured image courtesy of Relentless Field Hockey Club.