(Note: Approximately 25 Girls and Boys have signed up for the tryout already. The limit currently stands at 100 for each, so if you are interested, DO NOT WAIT to Sign Up!)

The National Team Development Program (NTDP) is a three-phased process for high school-aged boys’ and girls’ players that leads to USA Select teams.

The ultimate goal of the NTDP is to provide high-level training for the nation’s top young players that will ultimately expand the talent pool for the U.S. national teams that participate in international World Lacrosse competitions.

BOYS SIGN UP LINK

GIRLS SIGN UP LINK

FAQ’s

Is This a Replacement for the National Team Tryouts?

No! We are still planning on hosting tryouts for all of our teams that participate in World Lacrosse championships. Those team tryouts usually occur one year prior to the world championship for each respective team.

Our hope is that with the NTDP, we will begin to identify, development and work with those potential U20 athletes and senior athletes as early as their high school years, instead of meeting them for the first time a year before the team championships.

How old do I need to be to particpate?

To be eligible for the 2023 National Team Development Program, individuals must be born on or between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2009 and be enrolled in high school in the fall of 2023.

U18: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2006. 

U16: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2009

The Development Program is for high school athletes only. Players cannot in the 8th grade or in college in the fall of 2023.

What if my age does not line up with the U20 requirement for a competition year?

The World Lacrosse U20 World Championships generally occur every four years. In the first couple of years of the NTDP, the U20 cycles will not match up perfectly for all; unfortunately, a lot of it relies on the luck of when a player is born. Players will move in and out of the NTDP annually. One could be accepted at age 15, not make it at age 16, and then make the U.S. U20 team at age 18 (given they are still age eligible).

The NTDP is not the one and only way into the U.S. National Team system but is an advantage at a future U20 or Senior team tryout if the player has been working in and training in the NTDP since their freshman year in high school versus someone who is new to the program at a later age.

Can you give me an overview of each phase of the process and the price points?

The NTDP is a 3-phase journey. It starts with a regional tryout, followed by an invite-only National Combine event, finally leading to U16 and U18 USA Select Teams who compete in along with our Men’s and Women’s Senior USA National Teams at Fall Classic.

In the first phase to the selection process, USA Lacrosse will host regional tryouts across the country. USA Lacrosse membership is required to participate and there is a fee.

Following the regional tryouts, USA Lacrosse will be inviting the top 150 men and 150 women to a National Combine. The cost to attend the 2023 National Combine is still to be determined. This fee will include housing, meals, apparel and the three-day tryout.

If selected to a USA Select U16 or U18 team from the National Combine, players will be brought back to compete at USA Lacrosse headquarters for the Brogden Cup at Fall Classic. Once named to the USA Select Team, players’ travel, housing, equipment, gear, and apparel will be covered in full by USA Lacrosse.

What will I see at the regional tryouts?

The regional tryouts will be a one day, 180-minute evaluation. During this session, players will work hand and hand with past and current U. S. National Team coaches and players. We have created a standard, well-organized curriculum to be used at every regional tryout where players be evaluated and developed on both technical and tactical skills.

The curriculum for the regionals tryouts will be fast-paced, focusing on position-specific, as well as team skills through a series of drills including competition in 1v1’s, 2v2’s, transition drills, and 6v6. Competition, drills and playing situations are specifically designed to give our evaluators insight to the following areas where they will be rated: Athleticism, Stickwork, Positional Skill, Game IQ, Decision Making, and On-Field Presence.

Do I have to tryout in my region?

No, players are nationally ranked. We select the top 150 women and 150 men to the National Combine no matter where they live, where they go to school, or what team they play for. Players can try out at whichever regional tryout they prefer, and as many times as they want. 

What if I can’t make a regional tryout or there isn’t one in my area?

There’s an option submit a virtual application. There is a fee for this option. 2023 virtual application opening soon.

Can I transfer to a different regional tryout?

If you would like to transfer to another tryout location, please first register for the NEW tryout you would like to attend to reserve a spot, and then email nationalteams@usalacrosse.com to request a refund for your first tryout registration. Remember, we can only refund you if it’s at least 2 weeks before the first tryout date.

What’s the National Combine all about?

The National Combine is a three-day tryout opportunity and overnight training camp (invite only), at the USA Lacrosse National Headquarters in Sparks, Md. This three-day event will be operated by current and past U.S. national team players and coaches. 

Men’s National Combine: July 31 – Aug. 2, 2023

Women’s National Combine: Aug. 7-9, 2023

During National Combine, athletes will be taken through elite level training of both individual and team skill development as well as sessions on strength and conditioning, recruitment, student athlete advisory, social emotional learning, and leadership training. Combine players will live, breathe, eat and sleep nothing but USA lacrosse for three days.

The tryout process is built in line with the qualifying steps for the U.S. National Team. As such, the experience will be challenging physically and mentally. Those that participate in the process will better understand the rigors associated with playing at the highest level. They will also receive a first-hand look at how the world’s most elite lacrosse team trains, prepares and operates. Skill development will be a huge focus for this program.

As a team, it is the highest priority for USA Lacrosse to make sure participants have a great experience, learn, have fun, and walk away with a better understanding of the U.S. National Team culture – and what it takes to compete at the highest level. Our hope with this program is to provide greater connectivity between the next generation of athletes and the sport’s highest honor. Additionally, we aim to further develop elite athletes at a young age – preparing them for the next step in international competition.

What happens after the National Combine?

At the conclusion of the National Combine, USA Lacrosse will name 4 teams: a men’s and women’s USA Select U16 team, and a men’s and women’s USA Select U18 team.

If selected to a USA Select U16 or U18 team from the National Combine, players will be brought back to compete against international competition in Maryland in the fall of 2023. Once named to the USA Select Team players’ travel, housing, meals, equipment and apparel will be covered in full by USA Lacrosse.

What if I’m not selected?

You will be notified either way if you’ve been invited to the next round or not. If you’re still age eligible, we encourage you to tryout again next year! The number one priority of the National Team Development Program is your development. It is our hope that you will continue to development and train throughout your lacrosse journey.

Refund, Cancellation and Transfer Policy 

• A refund may be requested no later than 2 weeks prior to the tryout date. If the request is made within 2 weeks of the tryout, USA Lacrosse cannot guarantee a full refund.
• Tryout registration will be closed no later than 1 week prior to the tryout date if not already sold out.
• If you would like to transfer to another tryout location, please email nationalteams@usalacrosse.com with the player’s USA Lacrosse membership number, the tryout location they are registered for, and which location they would like to transfer to. 
• No refunds will be issued if the event is shortened in part for any reason, including inclement weather or any other “Act of God.”
• If a tryout is canceled in whole, for whatever reason, by USA Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse will issue partial refunds. Players may submit a virtual application instead at no additional cost.
• No refund for any player that is removed from the event by the National Team Development Program Senior Manager, Event Director or any USA Lacrosse employee, for behavior that is not compliant with the event rules and facility protocol.
• USA Lacrosse, its coaches, employees, and staff will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any player if the event is canceled in whole or in part.
• USA Lacrosse, along with local county or school officials, reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the operation of the event and its judgment is final.

Curriculum

The drills and competitions featured in the USA Lacrosse NTDP tryouts have been developed by the U.S. National Team coaches & personnel, with the goal to mirror the same level of elite training and evaluation used at the national team level. Each aspect of this event is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to showcase their skill while also gaining insight as to what it takes to become a top-level player. Drills will include an emphasis on stick work, dodging, clearing, small-sided play, man-up/man-down situations, full-field play, and Olympic model 6v6 play. Throughout the tryout, individuals will be evaluated on athleticism, stick work, positional skill, game IQ, decision making, and overall field presence.

The purpose of the regional tryouts is to identify the elite players to move on to Stage 2 while giving all of the participants a first-class experience with a hands-on look at what the National Team pipeline looks like. Given that the tryout is only three hours in length, in-depth and individual instructional feedback is NOT guaranteed.