Lacrosse Growth

About This Survey

Following the completion of each calendar year, US Lacrosse publishes this report to gauge the growth of the sport of lacrosse. Data is compiled using a number of internal and external sources, including surveys of 58 US Lacrosse regional chapters throughout the country.

Lacrosse Today

America’s first sport is rapidly becoming one of America’s favorite sports. Since 2001, the number of people playing lacrosse has grown by nearly 68 percent. The lacrosse movement spans all ages and touches virtually every corner of the country. The fast-paced play appeals to players and spectators, as well as making it a television favorite, and the skills required make the sport accessible to players of all sizes. Sports Illustrated devoted nine pages in an April 2005 feature on the sport’s growth, and other major print publications have published articles about the sport’s rise. Both professional leagues have deals with national television networks—Major League Lacrosse on ESPN2 and the National Lacrosse League on Versus. In addition, CSTV and the ESPN networks will combine to televise more than 60 college lacrosse games in 2007.

US Lacrosse Estimate on Number of Lacrosse Players in 2006

Youth (non-high school, age 15 and under)...................... 220,797
High School................................................................... 169,625
College............................................................................26,651
Post-Collegiate Club............................................................8,649
Professional..........................................................................300
Total.............................................................................426,022

US Lacrosse Estimate on Number of Lacrosse Players Nationally

2001............................................................................. 253,931
2002............................................................................. 288,104
2003............................................................................. 301,560
2004............................................................................. 351,852
2005............................................................................. 381,568
2006............................................................................. 426,022

Youth

Participation at the youth level has seen an explosion over the last several years. Data collected from US Lacrosse’s 58 regional chapters following the 2006 calendar year indicated more than 220,000 youth players played the sport. Since 1999, the number of youth members (age 15 and under) has grown from over 40,000 to over 125,000. There are examples of the growth coming from all over the country:

US Lacrosse Estimate of Number of Youth Lacrosse Players in 2006

US Lacrosse Chapter Survey...............220,797

High School

Examining data from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) annual participation survey shows that lacrosse has the fastest growth rate of any high school sport over the last 10 years. That growth has resulted in the following states either sanctioning or formally recognizing boys’ and/or girls’ lacrosse since 2000: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Lacrosse now has official status from the governing state high school
associations in 17 states. As the number of teams playing the sport has increased, so has the level of play. More and more of the top athletes at high schools are choosing to play lacrosse and the top collegiate recruits are increasingly coming from more diverse areas. Among the top collegiate freshmen in 2007 is Notre Dame’s Will Yeatman. The San Diego native is a tight end for the Irish football team in addition to his role as an attackman in lacrosse.

The 2006 U.S. Men’s Team had Colorado (Christian Cook) and Illinois (Todd Rassas) high school graduates on the team, marking the second straight time the U.S. had two players away from the Eastern seaboard. Hilary Harkins, a California high school product, recently became the first native of her state to be selected to one of the U.S. Women’s National Teams.

Kent Denver finished 11th in the 2006 Lacrosse magazine rankings of the top high school girls’ lacrosse programs, the
highest ranking ever for a team west of the Mississippi. Missouri’s Rockhurst Jesuit, which had a perfect 27-0 season,
ranked 22nd in the boys’ rankings in the same publication.

Fastest-Growing NFHS Sports

Men's and Women's	10 Year Growth	Men's	10 Year Growth
Lacrosse	200.2	Bowling	175.6
Bowling	168.6	Lacrosse	158.8
Water Polo	121.6	Water Polo	53.0
Ice Hockey	69.4	Ice Hockey	52.6
Soccer	39.7	Soccer	29.3

Based on data from the annual NFHS participation survey. Percentages are based on the number of teams from 1995-96
to 2005-06 for a 10-year growth rate. Minimum of 100 total teams (each gender) to be included in total.

The numbers from the NFHS survey show tremendous growth and they only represent a portion of the high school lacrosse being played around the country. Significant areas, such as Pennsylvania with nearly 200 boys’ teams, are not included in this data because it will
not be state sanctioned until 2009. There are numerous other examples from other states.

US Lacrosse Estimate of Number of High School Lacrosse Players in 2006
NFHS Survey                                                117,021
Additional data from US Lacrosse chapters        52,604
Total                                                           169,625

College

Over the last 10 years, no sport has grown faster at the NCAA level than lacrosse, and the sport appears poised for a new wave of growth. A total of 29 new varsity programs have been announced, including 26 in 2008 alone. Among the major universities that will be adding varsity programs in the coming years are the University of Florida, University of Louisville, University of South Carolina and the United States Naval Academy.

While the majority of varsity collegiate lacrosse programs are still located in the East, lacrosse is expanding throughout the country at the collegiate level. New varsity programs are coming to Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and several other states. In women’s lacrosse, the 2006 NCAA Division I tournament featured three teams from outside of the East — Northwestern, Notre Dame and
Stanford — and ended with Northwestern winning its second consecutive championship. At the Division III level, Colorado College has played in five straight NCAA tournaments and reached the semifinals in 2005.

In men’s lacrosse, Denver and Notre Dame both qualified for the 2006 NCAA tournament and finished the season ranked in the national Top 20. In Division III, Whittier (Calif.) College has played in the NCAA tournament three times this decade, reaching the semifinals in 2003.

Fastest Growing NCAA Sports

Men's and Women's	10 Year Growth	Men's	10 Year Growth
Lacrosse	51.3	Lacrosse	24.4
Soccer	45.6	Soccer	19.3
Golf	43.4	Cross Country	17.5
Baseball/Softball	25.7	Golf	16.9
Cross Country	21.7	Indoor Track	15.3

Based on data from the annual NCAA participation survey. Percentages are based on the number of teams from 1994-95
to 2004-05 for 10-year growth. Minimum of 100 total teams (each gender) to be included in total. (NCAA data from 2006 was not available at the time this publication went to press).

Despite the rapid growth of varsity collegiate lacrosse, there is demand for even more playing opportunities. There are well over 400 club teams competing at universities.

US Lacrosse Estimate of Number of College Lacrosse Players in 2005
NCAA varsity players                 13,569
Junior college, club players        13,082
Total                                       26,651

For More Information On the Growth of Lacrosse Visit: WWW.USLACROSSE.ORG