A Decade of JPOL: Challenges, Choices, and Competition
by USA Field Hockey
Content Courtesy of Junior Premier Hockey
Competition at the 10th annual Junior Premier Outdoor League (JPOL), a spring league hosted by Junior Premier Hockey (JPH), kicked off on Sunday, April 16 at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Over eighty club teams representing three age divisions and five regions will participate in JPOL over the next six weekends.
JPOL includes three age divisions (U-14, U-16, and U-19) with additional events for U-16 & U-19 Elite and U-14 Combined.
To celebrate a decade of this competitive event, JPH would like to highlight the three C’s (challenges, choices, and competition) that clubs, their members, and JPH have had to navigate over the past ten years in order to make JPOL a continued success.
Challenges: Clubs and their members must manage busy spring schedules full of Nexus trainings, Regional Club Championships, high school sports, proms, and graduations in order to participate in JPOL each season.
Choices: Clubs and their members must organize and prioritize in order to maximize their efforts and provide the greatest amount of benefit for their athletes. This includes making the choice to participate in JPOL each spring.
Competition: Clubs properly prepare for the competition and fight for the JPOL Championship every year!
This year is no different and thanks to the continued support of clubs, parents, and their members, JPOL looks forward to another successful year!
Ten Years of JPOL
The vision started in 2013 with just one competition in Region 6 and continues to grow each year.
Each region’s JPOL league is played annually during the spring, starting in April and ending no later than the second weekend in June. Participation is open to all USA Field Hockey member youth clubs, and all are encouraged to participate in any of the three age divisions offered (U-14, U-16 and U-19).
This year’s expansion welcomes the inauguration of U-16 Elite in addition to the existing U-19 Elite. JPOL Elite was created out of discussions with clubs regarding their desire to play against the best competition and on water-based turf for a smoother transition to the NCAA format of play. Participation in JPOL Elite is invitation only. Each year, three spots become available in each of the U-16 and U-19 Division. All JPOL participating clubs have the opportunity to earn one of these prestigious invitations, based on performance in their respective regions at both JPH and USA Field Hockey qualifying events.
With tremendous interest and support, JPH continues to host a U-14 Combined league that brings together clubs from Region 3 through 7 to compete over four competition dates. Region 8 continues to support its own U-14 division, competing over two full weekends at the River City Sportsplex in Midlothian, Va. and at the Regional Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va. JPH also continues to offer playing opportunities to teams in Canada and looks forward to welcoming them again in Region 4 this year.
2023 JPOL Participants:
| JPOL U-16 Elite | JPOL U-19 Elite |
| Central Penn FH – Dillsburg, PA Freedom HKY – Annapolis, MD Mayhem FHC – Wayne, PA Powerhouse FH – Wayne, PA South Jersey Edge – Erial, NJ Spirit of USA – Cherry Hill, NJ Uprise FH – Moorestown, NJ Warhawks FHC – Glenwood, MD | Central Penn FH – Dillsburg, PA Freedom HKY – Annapolis, MD Powerhouse FH – Wayne, PA Princeton FHC – Princeton, NJ Spirit of USA – Cherry Hill, NJ Uprise FH – Moorestown, NJ Warhawks FHC – Glenwood, MD Xcalibur FHC – Elverson, PA |
Region 1 - 4 (Northeast / New York / Canada)
Coming Soon!
| Region 5 (Pennsylvania) | Region 6 (New Jersey) |
Alley Cats – Harrisburg, PA FSC – Mechanicsville, PA High Styx FH – Kempton, PA Horizon FHC – Wallingford, PA Nook Hockey – Manheim, PA PA Revolution – Hummesltown, PA Souderton Strikers –Hatfield, PA | Blue Star FH- Princeton, NJ CT Elite HC – Darien, CT Jersey Intensity FH – Monmouth Beach, NJ Krossfire FHC – Mount Royal, NJ Mid Jersey Knights – Highland Park, NJ New Heights – Chatham, NJ NJ Starz – Oxford, NJ Princeton FHC – Princeton, NJ South Jersey Edge – Erial, NJ Total Dutch FH – Somerset, NJ Uprise FH – Moorestown, NJ |
| Region 7 (Chesapeake) | Region 8 (South) |
| Alpha Hockey – Ellicott City, MD Empower FHA – Newark, DE Freedom HKY – Annapolis, MD Hymax FHC – Baltimore, MD Maryland Legacy - MD Mustangs FHC – Washington, DC Oranje-Gottaloveit! – Millsboro, DE Shore Byrds – Delmar, DE Washington Wolves – Clarksburg, MD | Bull City FH - NC Carolina All Stars FH – Chapel Hill, NC Charlotte Ambush FHC – Charlotte, NC High Voltage – Fredericksburg, VA Husel FH – Oakton, VA Krossfire FHC – Mount Royal, NJ Metro HC – Bethesda, MD Panthers United – Richmond, VA Saints FHC – Henrico, VA Xtreme FH – Annandale, VA |
U-14 Combined Division
Alley Cats – Hatfield, PA
Central Penn FH – Dillsburg, PA
Freedom HKY – Annapolis, MD
H2O – Middletown, DE
High Styx FH – Kempton, PA
Maryland Legacy - MD
Mayhem FH – Wayne, PA
Next Level – Bethesda, MD
Powerhouse FH – Wayne, PA
Souderton Strikers –Hatfield, PA
South Jersey Edge – Erial, NJ
Spirit of USA – Cherry Hill, NJ
Uprise FH – Moorestown, NJ
Warhawks FHC – Glenwood, MD
WC Eagles – Spring City, PA
Xcalibur FHC – Elverson, PA
About JPOL & JPH
JPOL is a USA Field Hockey Sanctioned Event. Participation in JPOL provides athletes and coaches with an organized level of competition on a regular basis, that helps prepare them and their club for success at Regional Club Championships, National Club Championships, National Hockey Festival, and other domestic competition.
In continuing to Grow the Game, a key component that is often overlooked is the officials. JPH events are staffed with dedicated tournament officials (umpires, technical officials, and site coordinators) who are recruited from each region and are sometimes entering hockey for the first time in a role other than an athlete or spectator. All JPH tournament officials are developed and supported by highly experienced officials so they too can become key players in Growing the Game.
JPH is currently searching for a Title Sponsor for this year’s JPOL as well as the upcoming Junior Premier Indoor League (JPIL). For individuals or companies interested in supporting one or both of these youth leagues, please contact JPH or visit their Sponsor page for more information.
JPH would like to give a special thanks their sponsors: Rothman Orthopedics, Harrow Sports, and Exeter Foot & Ankle Center. More information on sponsorship and support can be found on the website.
If you or your club are interested in participating in future JPH events (JPOL or JPIL), or need additional information about this year’s event, visit the JPH website.
You can follow JPH on Instagram and Twitter at @JrPremierHockey or on their Facebook page.
Subscribe to the JPOL YouTube to watch several of this season’s matches.
Good luck to all JPOL participants!