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Nike Field Hockey Camp at University of St. Joseph X Sacred Heart University

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Camp Overview

Improve your game and have serious fun
at Nike Field Hockey Camps

Join our overnight field hockey camp at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford! This fun and action-packed camp is led by University of St. Joseph Head Coach Karen Nell and Sacred Heart University Head Coach Sydney Van Der Mer.

Campers of all skill levels are welcome. Each day includes a mix of drills, small games, and scrimmages designed to help players grow and stay engaged. Don’t miss this exciting chance to improve your game, meet new friends, and make lasting memories on and off the field!

Highlights Include

  • Instruction from college coaches and players
  • Excellent training and residential facilities
  • 1:10 staff to camper ratio
  • Partner Camp of USA Field Hockey; sanctioned to make referrals to USAFH Nexus program
  • All multi day campers receive a Nike Field Hockey Camps package (reversible jersey, ball, lanyard) and other fun prizes.

Camp Coaches

  • Karen Nell

    Karen Nell

    Co-Director

    Karen Nell is the Head Field Hockey Coach at the University of Saint Joseph.

    Karen Nell

    Karen Nell

    Co-Director

    Before coming to USJ Nell racked up a 13-year record of 148-76-24 as the head field hockey coach at New Fairfield High School. She led the Rebels to the 2008 Class S State Championship, 12 state and SWC play-off appearances as well as being named the News Times Coach of the Year. Nell has also successfully helped establish a youth field hockey program, and runs camps in conjunction with World Camp USA in New Fairfield.

    For the last seven seasons Nell has been the head coach of the girl's lacrosse team. Nell was extremely successful at New Fairfield, winning three-straight Class S State Championships in girl's lacrosse from 2017-2019, and back-to-back South-West Conference Championships in 2018 and 2019. In seven seasons, she compiled a record of 124-32, and was named Connecticut Class S Coach of the Year following the 2018 season.

    Nell also spent a season coaching at the collegiate level as the assistant women's lacrosse coach at Division III and intrastate opponent Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in 2015. There, she helped guide the Colonials to the second round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament, a 10-8 overall record, and a 4-2 mark in the LEC. It marked just the fourth winning season in WCSU program history since the school started sponsoring women's lacrosse in 2000.

    Nell attended Boston College on a field hockey scholarship, but an injury prematurely ended her playing career. She went on to earn her associate's degree in physical therapy from Housatonic Community College, before obtaining a bachelor's degree in psychology from Charter Oak State University.

  • Sydney Van Der Merwe

    Sydney Van Der Merwe

    Co-Director

    Sydney Van Der Merwe is the DI Head Field Hockey Coach at Sacred Heart University.

    Sydney Van Der Merwe

    Sydney Van Der Merwe

    Co-Director

    Sydney Van Der Merwe took over the Pioneer field hockey program prior to the 2016 season coming to SHU with nearly 15 years of field hockey experience.

    Before SHU:

    • Came to Sacred Heart after spending the previous two season as an assistant coach at Missouri State, where he helped execute practices and game preparations, including scouting the opposition. He also assisted in all aspects of recruiting and student-athlete development. During the fall of 2013, he assumed the responsibilities of the Head Coach while she was on maternity leave
    • Prior to MSU, Van Der Merwe served as the Head Varsity Coach at the Hathaway Brown School for four years helping the Blazers to four straight North East Ohio Championships. In just his second season, he led Hathaway Brown all the way to the 2008 Ohio State Championship, followed by a pair of State semi-final appearances before falling in the title game in 2011
    • Van Der Merwe first broke into American collegiate field hockey as an assistant coach at Oberlin College in 2006 helping with recruitment, team practice and creating pre-season training programs
    • Since he left Oberlin, Van der Merwe has been coaching with USA Field Hockey's Futures Program. In 2009 and 2010, he led his U16 Region 9 Team to back-to-back National Futures Championships
  • Camp Staff

    staff

    Our Camp Director will be assisted by a talented staff which may include their assistant coach(es).

Camp Details

SECURE YOUR SPOT!

You can expect high demand for these first-come-first-serve camper spots, so please be sure to register early.

2025 OVERVIEW

  • Dates: 2026 Camp Dates Coming Soon. Join Priority List!
  • Age Group: 10-18
  • Gender: Girls
  • Camp Types: Overnight & Extended Day (Commuter)
  • Check-in: 2:00-3:00 PM on Day 1
  • Check-out: 12:00pm on Day 4
  • Extended Day (Commuter) Schedule: 1:00pm-7:30pm on Day 1, 8:30am-7:30pm on Days 2-3, 8:30am-12:00pm on Day 4. Commuters check out between 7:30pm–9:00pm on Days 1-3, depending on their final activity.
  • Meals: All meals will be provided for Overnight campers. Lunch & Dinner will be provided for Extended Day campers.
  • Program: This All Skills program is geared towards players of all abilities. The camp program includes stick work instruction & skills, technical & tactical training, offensive & defensive skills, and positioning work. Goalie-specific training is available as well. Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff and placed into groups based on age and ability level.

Please note: Camp schedules and details may be subject to change.

2025 HOUSING

The information below is subject to change each year.

  • Dorm Name: TBA
  • Dorm Style: TBA
  • Number of Campers Per Room: 2 per room
  • Roommates: Rooms are assigned by age & roommate requests. Roommate requests must be mutual and received no later than 14 days before the start of camp. If you don't have a roommate request, you will be placed in a room with someone near your age. It will be a great opportunity to meet someone new!
  • Bathrooms: TBA
  • Linens: Not provided. Bring linens or sleeping bag, pillow, pillowcase and a towel
  • Air Conditioning: TBA

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE FEE?

  • Instruction: Morning, afternoon and evening training sessions
  • Overnight campers: Dormitory housing on campus and all meals are provided.
  • Extended Day (Commuter) campers: Lunch and dinner are provided.
  • Supervision: Campers are supervised by staff during camp hours.
  • Camp Gear: The All Skills Camp participants will receive a Nike Field Hockey Camps package (reversible jersey, ball, lanyard) and other fun prizes. *Excludes 1-Day clinic participants.

INSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT & FACILITY

  • Ratio: 1:10 staff-to-camper ratio
  • Groupings: Campers are grouped by ability, age, and experience, per the Director’s discretion.
  • Equipment Needed: Hockey stick, water bottle, mouth guard, shin guards, sneaks for indoor courts, and turf shoes (goalies must bring full goalie protective equipment)
  • Medical Protocol: Most camps have an athletic trainer on-site to help with illness or injury. In case of an emergency, campers will be transported to the nearest hospital.

PREPARE FOR CAMP: COMPLETE YOUR PRE-CAMP CHECKLIST

To view your customer account, complete your mandatory forms, pay balance dues, and review important camp information, visit Pre-Camp Checklist. All necessary camp information is on this page. If there are any imperative changes prior to camp start, registered campers will be notified via email and this webpage will be updated!

CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BRING

Below is a suggested list of clothes, equipment, and personal items. US Sports Camps is NOT responsible for lost or stolen articles or money.

ALL CAMPERS (OVERNIGHT & COMMUTERS):

  • Athletic, on-field clothing (t-shirts, shorts)
  • Turf shoes or sneakers
  • Reversible jersey
  • Socks
  • Hockey Stick(s)
  • Mouth guard
  • Shin guards
  • Goggles (not required, but recommended)
  • Court shoes for indoor play in case of rain
  • Goalies must bring their own full protective equipment
  • Water bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Snacks
  • Small gym bag/backpack
  • Packed lunch (if required for commuters)
  • Spending money
  • Signed Health & Release forms and waivers (forms completed online do not need to be printed and turned in at camp)

OVERNIGHT CAMPERS ONLY:

  • Athletic clothing mentioned above (1-2 pairs/day)
  • Comfortable off-court clothing (pants/shorts, shirts, sweatshirts, 1 pair/day)
  • Undergarments (1-2 pair/day)
  • Pajamas
  • Bathrobe
  • Flip flops
  • Laundry bag
  • Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, facewash, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
  • Personal items & medications
  • Eye mask, ear plugs (optional)
  • Washcloth and bath towel
  • Alarm clock
  • Fan (optional)
  • Bed sheets (if linens not provided)
  • Comforter or sleeping bag (if linens not provided)
  • Pillow and pillowcase (if linens not provided)

TEAM DISCOUNT

If you have a group of 4 or more campers registering for the same camp, each camper is eligible for a $25 discount. If you have a group of 8 or more campers registering for the same camp, each camper is eligible for a $45 discount. Discounts are not available for camps priced at $250 or less. Please fill out the Team Discount - Field Hockey form and we will create a unique discount code for your group.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is not provided. Campers are responsible for getting to and from camp on their own. There is no supervision before or after camp hours so please make arrangements to pick up your child on time.

COMPANY POLICIES

For information regarding our cancellation policy and all other company policies, please visit USSC Policies.

NIKE FIELD HOCKEY CAMP FAQ

For general questions about our field hockey camps please see our FAQ page.

SCHOLARSHIPS

We cannot offer scholarships due to NCAA regulations. Our affiliation with NCAA coaches and schools puts us in a position where any scholarship money can be seen as an inducement to a future collegiate athlete. This puts our coaches and our host universities in jeopardy of damaging their status with the NCAA and incurring penalties at the hands of their organizing body.

Camps are open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

ALL SKILLS CAMP SAMPLE SCHEDULE

7:30am-8:30am Wake-up Call, Breakfast

8:30am-8:45am Extended Day campers arrive. Stretching & Warm-up

8:45am-12:00pm Training Session I

12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch, rest

1;00pm-2:15pm Training Session II

2:15pm-2:30pm Rest

2:30pm-4:00pm Training Session III

4:00pm-6:00pm Dinner, Rest

6:00pm-7:30pm Training/Nighttime Activities

7:30pm Extended Day Campers Depart, Overnight Campers to dorms for group activities or free time

10:00pm Lights out

Campers will train on the outdoor turf fields at the University of St. Joseph!

What Camper Families Say

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