FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cancellation & Weather Policy
Cancelled Practices
For inclement weather & other events beyond our control, we reserve the right to cancel a practice at any time. If the facility has availability and we have the coaches to staff such practices, we will do our best to offer a make-up session. However, this is not guaranteed.
National Weather Service Lightning & Outdoor Sports Activity Guidelines
We adhere to the UFSAH National Weather Service policy and all guidelines for inclement weather and outdoor sporting activity.
Once notified of lightning within 10miles, our Weather App: WeatherBug will prompt a 30 min delay from the last strike.
Any sighting of lightning, or hearing thunder, also prompts a stoppage to practices outside. We will resume when weather (WeatherBug) monitoring apps say that there is no lightning within 10miles of the current location.
Application Reference:
Winter Indoor & Spring Outdoor
What's the difference?
- Winter Indoor Season - October - March
- Spring Outdoor Season - April - July
- Turf vs. Court - Outdoor is on Field or Astro Turf and Indoor is on Sport Court inside and much smaller.
- Smaller Teams - Outdoor is 11v11. Indoor is 6v6.
- Different Shoes - Turf shoes vs non-slip indoor cleats.
- Gloves - In Outdoor, gloves are recommended. In Indoor, it is mandatory.
- Smaller Sticks - As we are not allowed to hit the ball, our sticks are slightly thinner and lighter.
Indoor Specific Rules
- No Hitting - Can't swing the stick at the ball and hit it, this makes the game more technical.
- No 3D skills - In open play, the ball can't leave the playing surface, EXCEPT for a shot on goal within the circle.
- Boards - In Outdoor, the ball can go out of bounds for a free hit to the other team. In Indoor, we have boards that prevent the ball from leaving the sideline and we can pass the ball up the boards as a tactic.
USA Field Hockey Membership
Along with your PGH Venom registration, players receive insurance through USA Field Hockey for practices and regular tournaments. If your player is attending a USAFH sponsored event (NITQ, NIT, RCC, Nexus, etc.), you will also need to purchase an individual membership through USAFH and select PITTSBURGH VENOM as your club.
Please visit the following link to register: USA FH Membership
Spooky Nook Tournaments
Address: 75 Champ Blvd, Manheim, PA 17545
Spooky Nook is located in, Manheim, PA (near Lancaster). These are 1 day tournaments where teams from each of the 3 divisions (U14, U16, U19) play 4-5 games.
- Schedules generally come out the Wednesday before the tournament and will be sent out to the club.
- Games start at 8am and can go until 9pm.
- Generally, play time for each division occurs within a 4 hour window . Example: U14 8am-12pm, U16 12pm-4pm, U19 4pm-8pm. Spooky Nook determines the schedule and the order of play. The order can change from tournament to tournament.
- It is HIGHLY recommended that you book a hotel room for BOTH Friday evening and Saturday evening, EARLY, and then cancel appropriately once the schedule is released.
- Players are expected to be at practice if there is no tournament scheduled for that particular day.
About Spooky Nook
Nook is a huge facility with multiple sports going on at any given time. Players must be ready to go at least 45 minutes before their first game.
Outside food is usually not permitted. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Water bottle filling stations are available for players.
PGH Venom will set up camp in an area near the playing courts. Team Coaches/Captains will communicate to players where this will be.
Nook has a parking fee that you can pay at the front desks as you enter. This can be purchased anytime throughout the day and must be presented as you are driving out of the parking lot. Parents, please bring chairs. Players should bring a blanket to sit on.
Bring ALL YOUR UNIFORMS.
There are no available outlets or charging stations. Please charge devices before entering the Nook and you may want to consider an external battery charger.
HOTEL INFO
PGH Venom does not secure hotel rooms for tournament days, because of the random scheduling.
Here are a few options that are close by:
- Warehouse (at Spooky Nook)
- Comfort Suites, Manheim
- Hampton Inn, Manheim
- Holiday Inn, Manheim New
- Fairfield Inn, Lancaster
For additional options, see link below:
Hotels near Spooky Nook
Things To Bring:
-Indoor Hockey Stick
-Venom Uniform (Black & White)
-Socks (Black & White)
-Gloves
-Mouthguard
-Shin Guards
-Non-Slip Shoes
-Water Bottle
-Food or Snacks
-Chair or Blanket
-Winning Attitude!
What is NIT and NITQ?
NIT stands for National Indoor Tournament and NITQ stands for National Indoor Tournament Qualifier. ALL U16 & U19 teams must attend a qualifier tournament (NITQ) to determine if they can play at the National tournament (NIT). NITQ are all-day tournaments where teams play 4 games, and the top teams (12) from each NITQ then move forward to the NIT.
U14 teams do not have a qualifier, but they do get to attend an NIT. Generally, U14 & U16 have NITs at Spooky Nook. U19 have NITs at the Convention Center in Richmond, VA. NITs are 3 day tournaments.
NITs are Stay to Play tournaments. Tournaments are assigned hotels by USAFH. Please use the housing portal for hotel arrangements. PGH Venom will send out the link to make reservations at eligible hotels.
Players for these National bound teams are hand selected by coaches or are formed from a try-out process at the start of the season.
What is a Field Hockey Showcase Event?
A showcase is an opportunity for players to "showcase" themselves in front of NCAA college coaches. Venom puts together a team of girls who are interested in playing in college. These are outdoor games over a select weekend. The coaches will assist the girls with resumes and coach contacts prior to the showcase. Showcases are generally held in such places as Virginia, Florida, Delaware, New Hampshire, etc.
Field Hockey Equipment
We have partnered with Longstreth as our equipment supplier! Visit their store to stock up before the season or if something breaks!
UNIFORMS
Pinneys
Reversible pinneys are required for all practices. You may purchase a pinney at registration or from us directly.
Uniform
All traveling players are required to purchase a PGH Venom uniform.
Goalies are required to purchase a GK Jersey. Field Players are required to purchase a jersey & skort/short. You may purchase them in registration and if you contact us directly.
SPIRIT WEAR
Venom has partnered with a local vendor to provide team apparel to show your Venom Spirit! Online Store is available at the start of each season.
