The JVF Dragons admissions process now open!
Updated: Sep 26
Guilford -- The James Vick Foundation's 2027 JVF Dragons scholarship admissions process is underway, providing student-athletes ages 13–18 with the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive competitive field hockey experience at no cost to their families.
As we expand the admissions process to the broader field hockey community this fall, we are looking not only for experienced athletes who can make an immediate competitive impact, but also for promising younger players who have the potential to develop within our program.
That distinction is important to us.
The U/16 JVF Dragons compete at against Dynasty Field Hockey (NY) at the 2026 Yale Series (JVF)
A player does not have to be a finished product to become a JVF Dragon.
A Comprehensive Field Hockey Experience — Fully Funded
JVF Athletics was created around a simple belief: a family's financial circumstances should never determine how far a talented young athlete can go.
Through the support of the James Vick Foundation Annual Fund, selected student-athletes receive scholarships covering their participation in the JVF Dragons program. Families do not pay traditional club dues or participation fees.
Our athletes receive access to competitive training, regional and national competition, player development, recruiting support, leadership resources, and a program designed to support them throughout their athletic journey.
JVF removes the financial barrier while maintaining high expectations for commitment, character, accountability and effort.
100% of program costs are subsidzed by peer to peer fundraising, and the JVF Annual fund.
Who Are We Looking For?
For 2027, JVF is evaluating student-athletes ages 13–18 across multiple positions and stages of development.
Some applicants will be experienced players who are prepared to contribute immediately within a demanding competitive environment. These athletes may already have significant high school or club experience and be approaching or actively navigating the college recruiting process.
We are equally interested in identifying younger athletes whose best field hockey may still be ahead of them.
Kaya England and Ashlyn Meehan at Asbury Park NJ ahead of the Surf and Sands Tournament (JVF)
A developing player may still be building her technical skills, learning a new position or gaining experience against stronger competition. What matters is whether our staff sees the athletic ability, competitiveness, coachability, character and long-term potential necessary to grow within the program.
JVF has never believed that every athlete develops on the same timeline. Part of our responsibility is identifying potential and providing young athletes with the environment and opportunity to realize it.
The JVF Dragons at the Johnson Field (JVF)
No Traditional Open Tryouts
JVF will not hold a traditional open tryout for the 2027 season.
Instead, prospective scholarship athletes are evaluated through a combination of live evaluation, game film, coach recommendations and scholarship applications.
Our staff is actively evaluating athletes during the fall high school season, allowing us to watch prospective players in meaningful competitive environments and gain a more complete understanding of who they are as athletes.
More Than Field Hockey
Competition is an important part of JVF Athletics, but it is not the entirety of the experience.
The team engages in fundraising, community activities, and various culture building endeavors.
The Dragons program operates within JVF's FEAST development standards, emphasizing the personal, academic and leadership development of our student-athletes alongside their growth on the field.
For athletes pursuing college field hockey, JVF also provides recruiting guidance and support designed to help players and families better navigate that process.
We want our athletes to become better field hockey players, but our responsibility to them extends beyond their performance on the field.
The 2026 U/19 JVF Dragons at the Region 4 RCC Tournament (JVF)
Building the 2027 Dragons
As we move through the fall, our staff will continue evaluating athletes who can strengthen the program immediately while also identifying younger players who could become an important part of its future.
For some applicants, the opportunity may be about competing at a high level right away. For others, it may be about entering an environment where they can develop over time, earn larger competitive roles and eventually pursue opportunities that may seem distant today.
Both types of athletes have a place in what we are building.
This philosophy is central to the mission of the James Vick Foundation. Since our founding, we have worked to remove financial barriers from competitive youth sports while creating meaningful opportunities for young athletes throughout Connecticut.
The 2027 scholarship process is another extension of that mission.
If you are an established player looking for a challenging competitive environment, we want to learn more about you.
If you are a younger athlete who is still developing but believes you have the ability and commitment to reach another level, we want to learn more about you, too.
The 2027 JVF Field Hockey Curriculum
A JVF scholarship is designed to provide more than access to a team or a collection of tournaments.
The 2027 JVF Field Hockey Curriculum is a comprehensive competitive and developmental experience that takes athletes through multiple phases of training, competition, personal development and, when applicable, college recruiting support.
The journey begins in December with indoor training and preparation, introducing athletes to the speed, technical demands and decision-making required by the indoor game.
That preparation leads into JVF's winter indoor competition schedule and our pursuit of qualification for the USA Field Hockey National Indoor Tournament (NIT).
As the program transitions outdoors, athletes move into spring training and the 2027 Yale Series. The Yale Series is JVF's signature competitive event. The Dragons then will compete the USA Field Hockey Regional Club Championships (RCCs), and additional competition through the summer.
Each stage of the calendar is intended to challenge athletes differently and provide meaningful opportunities for individual and team development.
2027 Scholarship Information
Eligible Ages: 13–18
Scholarship: Full JVF Athletics scholarship
Cost to Families: $0 in traditional program participation fees
Evaluation: Live evaluation, film, coach recommendations and applications
Traditional Open Tryout: None
Program Begins: December 2026
Application Deadline: November 15, 2026
Scholarships may be awarded throughout the fall as roster decisions are made, so families interested in the program are encouraged to apply before the final deadline.
Grace Creanza defends at the Yale Series 2026 (JVF)
As we continue building the 2027 Dragons, we're excited to meet the athletes who will strengthen our program today and those who may help lead it tomorrow.
2027 JVF Dragons Scholarship Admissions are underway. We look forward to meeting you.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to the contact form on this website.
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