When Does Lacrosse Season Start?
Lacrosse is a spring sport at every level. For 2027, high school practice opens between late January and mid-March depending on your state, and college teams open in late January or early February. Here's a full breakdown of when each lacrosse season starts, plus the pro calendar, tryout timing, and how to get your team ready.
Lacrosse is a spring sport. For 2027, high school practice opens between late January (Georgia) and mid-March (Massachusetts), NCAA Division I teams open the last weekend of January or the first weekend of February, and the college championships are Memorial Day weekend (May 28-31, 2027). Pro lacrosse fills the rest of the year: the NLL starts Nov. 27, 2026, and the PLL plays in the summer.
| Level | Season | 2026-27 dates |
|---|---|---|
| High school | Spring | Practice late Jan to mid-Mar 2027 by state; state finals early May to mid-June |
| NCAA D1 men | Spring | Opens late Jan/early Feb 2027; final May 31, 2027 (Philadelphia) |
| NCAA D1 women | Spring | Opens early Feb 2027; final May 30, 2027 (Towson, Md.) |
| Youth / club | Spring + fall | Spring Mar to Jun; fall ball Sep to Nov |
| NLL (pro box) | Winter/spring | Nov 27, 2026 to Apr 25, 2027, then playoffs |
| PLL (pro field) | Summer | 2027 dates TBA (2026 ran May 8 to Sept 20) |
Dates checked September 22, 2026 against the NCAA, state athletic associations, the NLL, and the PLL. State dates can change, so confirm with your school or league.
Lacrosse is growing faster than almost any other team sport in the United States. If you're a parent signing your kid up for the first time, or a coach building a new program, the first question is usually the same: when does lacrosse season start?
The short answer: lacrosse is a spring sport. High school lacrosse runs from late winter through May or June, starting earliest in the South. College lacrosse starts in late January or early February and runs through Memorial Day weekend. Club and youth programs vary, but most follow a similar spring schedule with additional fall leagues.
Below, we break down the timing for every level, when tryouts happen, and how to make sure your team has custom lacrosse jerseys ready before the first face-off. Check out the lacrosse TV schedule to watch some games and get pumped for the season.
High School Lacrosse
Spring is game time. Here's when the action starts.
Season: Late Winter to May/June
High school lacrosse is a spring sport in the vast majority of states, but the start date depends on where you live. Each state athletic association sets its own first practice date. Southern states start earliest, with practice in late January. Mid-Atlantic states start around March 1. New England and New York start in March. In northern states where weather is a factor, teams may practice indoors or on turf fields for the first few weeks.
First games usually come two to three weeks after the first practice. The season runs 12 to 16 weeks, with teams playing 2 to 3 games per week. Most games are weeknight affairs, with occasional Saturday tournaments. Conference playoffs and state championship tournaments happen from early May in the South to mid-June in the Northeast.
2027 Start Dates in Key Lacrosse States
| State (association) | First practice | First games | State finals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia (GHSA) | Jan 25, 2027 | Feb 8, 2027 | May 13-15, 2027 |
| Florida (FHSAA) | Late January (Jan 19 in 2026) | Early February (Feb 9 in 2026) | Early May (May 7-9 in 2026) |
| Maryland (MPSSAA) | Around March 1 (Feb 28 in 2026) | Around March 20 (Mar 20 in 2026) | Late May (May 19-21 in 2026) |
| New York (NYSPHSAA) | Mar 8, 2027 | Set by section | June 11-12, 2027 |
| Massachusetts (MIAA) | Mar 15, 2027 | Mar 25, 2027 | Mid-June (June 12-13 in 2026) |
Dates marked "in 2026" are last season's dates, shown as a guide until the association publishes its 2027 calendar. Always confirm with your school's athletic department.
Boys vs. Girls Lacrosse
Both boys and girls lacrosse run in the spring on the same timeline. The sports play by different rules, though. Boys lacrosse is a full-contact sport requiring helmets, gloves, shoulder pads, and arm pads. Girls lacrosse has limited contact and requires only goggles and a mouthguard (no helmets, though that's changing in some states). Understanding the lacrosse positions is important for both versions of the game.
Tryouts: Late January to Mid-March
High school lacrosse tryouts happen at the start of the official practice period: late January in states like Georgia and Florida, around March 1 in Maryland, and in March across New York and New England. Tryouts run 2 to 5 days. Coaches evaluate stick skills, athleticism, field awareness, and coachability. For newer programs in non-traditional lacrosse areas, some teams carry everyone who shows up. In established lacrosse hotbeds on the East Coast, making varsity can be extremely competitive.
State Championships: Early May to Mid-June
State lacrosse championships run from early May in early-starting states (Georgia's 2027 finals are May 13-15, and Florida finished May 7-9 in 2026) to mid-June in the Northeast (New York's 2027 finals are June 11-12). The playoff format varies by state, but most use a bracket or regional qualifier system. In lacrosse-heavy states like Maryland, New York, Virginia, and New Jersey, the state tournament is a major event. Newer lacrosse states are building their tournament structures as the sport grows.
College Lacrosse
Late January to Memorial Day. Fall ball for development.
Season: Late January to May
College lacrosse at the NCAA level starts earlier than high school. Division I men's teams usually open the last weekend of January or the first weekend of February (the 2026 season opened Jan. 30-31, and 2025 opened Feb. 1). Women's teams open the first weekend of February (Feb. 6 in 2026). Non-conference games fill February and March, conference play wraps up in late April, conference tournaments are in early May, and the NCAA tournament runs through May.
Schools are releasing 2027 schedules now. Johns Hopkins, for example, opens its 2027 men's season on Feb. 6 against Drexel. The NCAA Division I championships are on Memorial Day weekend: the 2027 men's semifinals and final are May 29 and 31 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and the women's championship is May 28-30 at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland, where the Division II and III women's finals will be played too.
In 2026, Princeton won the men's title, beating Notre Dame 16-9 for its first championship since 2001, and Northwestern won the women's title, beating North Carolina 14-11. College lacrosse keeps growing, especially on the women's side, and the sport has expanded well beyond its traditional East Coast base. Check the lacrosse TV schedule to catch college games on ESPN, ESPN+, and other networks.
Fall Ball: September to November
Fall ball is an informal but important part of the college lacrosse calendar. Teams practice and hold scrimmages from September through November, though they can't play official games. Fall ball is when coaches evaluate incoming freshmen, experiment with lineups, and develop team chemistry. Many programs also play fall scrimmages against nearby colleges.
Recruiting Timeline
College lacrosse recruiting has gotten earlier, especially for men's Division I programs. Many coaches start evaluating players during their freshman and sophomore years of high school through club tournaments, showcases, and prospect days. The key recruiting windows are summer showcase events (June to August) and fall club tournaments. Women's recruiting follows a similar timeline. Film is increasingly important, and having a highlight video is expected by most programs.
Professional Lacrosse
PLL and NLL bring year-round lacrosse at the highest level.
PLL (Premier Lacrosse League): Summer
The PLL is the top professional outdoor lacrosse league, with eight city-based teams. It uses a tour-based model, visiting different cities each weekend. The 2026 season started May 8, two weeks earlier than ever before, and ended with the championship game on Sept. 20, when the Philadelphia Waterdogs beat the Denver Outlaws 14-4. The 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Games stream in the ESPN app, with select games on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. See the PLL schedule for dates and TV info.
NLL (National Lacrosse League): November to Spring
The NLL is the professional box lacrosse league. Box lacrosse is played indoors on a hockey rink-sized floor, with 5 runners and a goalie per side. The 2026-27 regular season runs from Nov. 27, 2026 to April 25, 2027, with 12 teams playing 18 games each, followed by the playoffs. The Toronto Rock are the defending champions. In the U.S., games stream on ESPN+ in the ESPN app. Box lacrosse skills translate well to the outdoor game, and many elite players play in both leagues. See the NLL schedule for games and TV info.
Youth and Club Lacrosse
Multiple seasons for development and competition.
Spring Season: March to June
Most youth rec lacrosse programs run in the spring, mirroring the high school season. Programs are typically organized by age group (U8, U10, U12, U14) and run 8 to 12 weeks with one practice and one game per week. Spring youth leagues are a great entry point for kids trying lacrosse for the first time. Registration usually opens in January or February.
Fall Club: September to November
Fall club lacrosse is where more competitive youth players develop. Club teams practice 2 to 3 times per week and compete in weekend tournaments from September through November. Fall ball is also important for club players who want to be seen by high school or college coaches. Tryouts for fall club teams are usually in August.
Summer Tournaments and Camps: June to August
Summer is packed with lacrosse activity. Tournament weekends happen from June through August, and overnight and day camps run by colleges and clubs are available throughout the summer. For players with college aspirations, summer showcase events are critical for exposure. Many recruiting commitments happen based on summer performance.
Pre-Season Prep Checklist
What to do before lacrosse season starts.
Get the right equipment
Boys need a helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, a stick, and a mouthguard. Girls need goggles, a mouthguard, and a stick. Cleats are required for everyone. For youth players, look for age-appropriate equipment from brands like STX, Maverik, and Warrior. Equipment quality matters for safety, so don't skimp on helmets.
Order uniforms early
Custom lacrosse uniforms need 4 to 6 weeks for production. For spring seasons starting in March, order by late January. In states where practice opens in January, like Georgia and Florida, order in December. Secondslide makes custom lacrosse jerseys with no minimums and fast turnaround. Youth lacrosse uniforms are available too.
Work on stick skills
Wall ball is the single best thing a lacrosse player can do to improve. Spend 15 to 20 minutes a day throwing against a wall to develop your catch, throw, and cradle. Use both hands. Players who can use both hands effectively have a massive advantage at every level.
Start conditioning
Lacrosse requires running. A lot of it. Midfielders can cover 5 to 7 miles per game. Start running, doing sprints, and building cardio at least 3 to 4 weeks before tryouts or the first practice. Agility work, including ladder drills and cone drills, helps with the footwork needed for dodging and defense.
Learn the positions
Understanding lacrosse positions will help you prepare for the specific demands of your role. Attack, midfield, defense, and goalie each require different skills and fitness levels. Knowing what your position does before tryouts gives you a head start.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does high school lacrosse season start in 2027?
High school lacrosse is a spring sport in most states, and start dates move north with the weather. In the Southeast, practice starts in late January: Georgia opens practice Jan. 25, 2027 with games from Feb. 8. In the Mid-Atlantic, practice starts around March 1 (Maryland opened Feb. 28 in 2026). In the Northeast it starts in March: New York on March 8, 2027 and Massachusetts on March 15, 2027. State championships run from early May (Florida finished May 7-9 in 2026) to mid-June (New York, June 11-12, 2027).
When does college lacrosse season start in 2027?
NCAA Division I men's teams usually open the last weekend of January or the first weekend of February (the 2026 season opened Jan. 30-31), and women's teams open the first weekend of February (Feb. 6 in 2026). Some 2027 schedules are already out: Johns Hopkins men open Feb. 6, 2027 against Drexel. The 2027 men's championship is May 29 and 31 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and the women's championship is May 28-30 at Towson University in Maryland.
Who won the 2026 NCAA lacrosse championships?
Princeton won the 2026 NCAA Division I men's title, beating Notre Dame 16-9 on May 25 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was the Tigers' first title since 2001. Northwestern won the 2026 women's title, beating North Carolina 14-11 on May 24 on its home field in Evanston, Illinois.
Is lacrosse a spring or fall sport?
Lacrosse is primarily a spring sport at both the high school and college levels. The competitive season runs from late January or March through May or June, depending on the level and state. Many club programs run fall leagues and tournaments, and fall ball is an important development period for college programs. Pro lacrosse fills the rest of the calendar: the NLL plays indoor box lacrosse from late November to spring, and the PLL plays outdoors in the summer.
When does the NLL season start?
The 2026-27 National Lacrosse League regular season starts Friday, Nov. 27, 2026 and runs through Sunday, April 25, 2027. Twelve teams play 18 games each over 22 weeks, followed by the playoffs. The Toronto Rock are the defending champions after beating the Halifax Thunderbirds in the 2026 Finals.
When does the PLL season start?
The Premier Lacrosse League has not announced its 2027 dates yet. The 2026 season ran from May 8 to the championship game on Sept. 20, when the Philadelphia Waterdogs beat the Denver Outlaws 14-4. The PLL usually releases its next schedule in the offseason, so check back this winter.
When are lacrosse club tryouts?
Club lacrosse tryouts vary by region but most happen in August or September for the fall season and January for the spring season. Some clubs hold tryouts as early as June for the following year. Club lacrosse is separate from school programs and runs during different parts of the year, so many players do both. Costs vary widely depending on the level of play and how much travel is involved.
When should I order lacrosse uniforms?
Order lacrosse uniforms 4 to 6 weeks before your first game. For high school teams starting in March, place orders by late January or early February. In early-starting states like Georgia and Florida, where practice opens in January, order in December. For club teams with fall seasons starting in September, order in July. Secondslide offers fast turnaround on custom lacrosse jerseys with no minimum orders, so even late orders can be accommodated.
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