Lacrosse recruiting standards sit between the purely measurable (baseball velocity, track times) and the purely subjective (soccer evaluation). Coaches evaluate a combination of athletic tools — speed, agility, size — and lacrosse-specific skills — stick work, field vision, game sense — that create position-specific evaluation profiles. A face-off specialist is evaluated completely differently from an attackman. A women's draw control specialist is evaluated on skills that don't exist in the men's game.
The advantage for lacrosse families is that the evaluation criteria are knowable. Coaches at every division have clear expectations for what they recruit at each position, and understanding those expectations — before spending money on showcases and recruiting services — is the difference between targeting programs where your athlete has a genuine shot and chasing programs that were never realistic. This article covers what coaches evaluate by position and division for both men's and women's lacrosse.
What lacrosse coaches evaluate: the skills and measurables that matter
Before examining position-specific standards, understand the evaluation framework coaches apply to every lacrosse recruit.
Athletic measurables (the baseline filter). Speed, agility, size, and endurance. Lacrosse is a running sport played on a large field — coaches need athletes who can cover ground. A 40-yard dash time, shuttle time, and general athletic profile help coaches sort recruits by physical tier. These measurables don't drive the evaluation the way velocity does in baseball, but they create baseline expectations.
Stick skills (the separator). Passing accuracy, catching under pressure, shooting mechanics, ground ball technique, and stick protection. Lacrosse is a stick-skills sport first — an athlete with elite speed but average stick work has limited recruiting value above D3. The athlete with strong stick skills and average speed is more recruitable at every level because stick skills are harder to teach at the college level than conditioning.
Lacrosse IQ. Field awareness, off-ball movement, defensive positioning, transition decision-making, and communication. Coaches evaluate this through full-game film and live observation at showcases. Lacrosse IQ is what separates recruitable athletes from athletes who are simply fast with a stick.
Positional fit. Lacrosse positions have distinct evaluation profiles. An attackman is evaluated on dodging, shooting, and feeding. A midfielder is evaluated on two-way play and transition. A defenseman is evaluated on footwork, body positioning, and stick checks. A goalie is evaluated on save percentage, clearing, and communication. Coaches recruit by position — understanding what they value at your athlete's position is essential.
Lacrosse recruiting standards by division
The competitive level required differs dramatically across divisions — and the gap between established programs and emerging programs within the same division can be significant.
| Evaluation area | D1 (Power programs) | D1 (Mid-major / emerging) | D2 | D3 / NAIA |
|---|
| Speed / athleticism | Elite — college-level athletes who can compete in multiple sports | Above average — strong athletes with room for physical development | Good athleticism — competitive at regional level | Solid athletic base — functional speed and endurance |
| Stick skills | Advanced — consistent under pressure, both hands, full repertoire | Strong — reliable execution with developing off-hand | Solid fundamentals — consistent in game situations | Functional — sound basics with potential for development |
| Lacrosse IQ | High — reads the field, makes quick decisions, anticipates play | Above average — understands systems, makes good decisions | Developing — understands basics, learning to read at speed | Foundational — coachable, willing to learn systems |
| Competition level | Top club teams, NLF/3d standouts, national-level recognition | Strong regional club, showcase circuit experience | Competitive club or strong high school program | Competitive high school, developing club experience |
| Recruiting recognition | National rankings, All-American lists, USA Lacrosse identification | Regional recognition, showcase standout lists | State-level recognition, coach recommendations | High school honors, club coach endorsement |
The geographic factor. Lacrosse is growing rapidly nationwide, but the sport's historical base is concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and select pockets of the Midwest and West Coast. D1 power programs (in the Big Ten, ACC, Patriot League, Ivy League) recruit nationally from the deepest talent pools. Emerging D1 programs in non-traditional lacrosse regions recruit strong athletes from growing programs — the standards are lower because the pipeline is newer, but the opportunity is real.
Position-specific evaluation: what coaches want by position
Attack (men's) / Attack (women's)
Men's attack is evaluated on dodging ability, shooting accuracy and velocity, feeding (passing to cutters and shooters), and off-ball movement. Elite attackmen combine quick hands, a strong shot from multiple angles, and the ability to create opportunities for teammates. D1 power programs recruit attackmen who can score from anywhere on the field. Mid-major and D2 programs value attackmen who are dangerous in specific situations — fast break, man-up, or settled offense specialists.
Women's attack is evaluated on shooting accuracy, draw speed, cutting ability, and one-on-one moves. The women's game emphasizes footwork and spatial awareness differently — the defensive zone rules create different offensive structures. Elite women's attackers are evaluated on their ability to finish in traffic and create space without relying on screens.
Midfield
Men's midfield is the most versatile position and the most heavily recruited. Coaches want two-way players who can run the field, play transition, contribute offensively, and check defensively. Speed and endurance are paramount — a midfielder who can run box-to-box at full speed for a full game is the foundation of most college rosters. D1 programs recruit middies with elite footspeed who can also shoot from the outside.
Women's midfield is similarly demanding in terms of fitness and versatility. Draw control ability is evaluated separately — midfielders who can win draws (the women's equivalent of face-offs) carry enormous recruiting value because possession starts with the draw.
Defense
Men's defense evaluation centers on footwork, body positioning, stick checks, and communication. Coaches want defenders who can stay in front of dodging attackmen without fouling, who can direct slides and recoveries, and who carry enough size to match up physically. D1 defensemen typically need to be 6'0"+ with the agility to guard in space.
Women's defense is evaluated on positioning within the zone, stick-on-stick ability, and transition outlet passing. The women's game uses a defensive zone that creates different evaluation criteria — coaches want defenders who understand spacing and can direct the zone while also having the individual skills to win one-on-one matchups when the zone breaks down.
Goalie
Men's and women's goalies are evaluated on save percentage, clearing ability (distributing the ball to start transition), and communication. Lacrosse goalies are the quarterbacks of the defense — they direct the unit and initiate the offense. Coaches evaluate reaction time, positioning, and how goalies respond to high-pressure situations. Film is critical for goalie evaluation because save percentage alone doesn't capture shot quality, angle difficulty, or game context.
Face-off (men's) / Draw (women's)
Face-off specialists (men's) are a unique recruiting category. Win percentage is the primary metric — a face-off specialist winning above 60% draws serious D1 attention. Coaches evaluate technique variety (clamp, plunger, rake), ground ball conversion rate, and whether the specialist can contribute as a midfielder after winning possession.
Draw specialists (women's) are evaluated similarly on win percentage and technique. The women's draw is structurally different from the men's face-off, but the recruiting value is the same — possession starts with winning the draw, and specialists who consistently win it are among the most recruited players in women's lacrosse.
Men's vs. women's lacrosse evaluation differences
Beyond position-specific differences, the overall evaluation landscape differs between men's and women's lacrosse.
Physical contact and checking. Men's lacrosse is a full-contact sport with body and stick checking. Coaches evaluate physicality, toughness, and the ability to absorb and deliver contact. Women's lacrosse has limited checking (stick checks only, no body checking), which shifts the evaluation toward footwork, positioning, and stick skill rather than physical dominance.
Program count and scholarship availability. D1 men's lacrosse has approximately 78 programs with 12.6 equivalency scholarships each. D1 women's lacrosse has approximately 126 programs with 12.0 equivalency scholarships each. The significantly larger number of women's programs means more opportunities — and more variation in recruiting standards across programs. For the full scholarship math, see our lacrosse athletic scholarships guide.
Recruiting geography. Men's lacrosse recruiting is concentrated in traditional hotbeds (Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts). Women's lacrosse has seen more national expansion, with growing programs and recruiting pipelines in the Southeast, Midwest, and West Coast.
Using your evaluation to build a realistic target list
The standards above aren't aspirational — they're calibration tools. Compare your athlete's profile against the expectations for each division and build a target list around programs where the fit is genuine.
If your athlete is a standout on a nationally recognized club team with showcase recognition: D1 power programs are realistic targets. Build a list that includes top D1 as reaches, mid-major D1 as fits, and strong D2 as safeties.
If your athlete is strong on a competitive regional club team: Mid-major D1 and D2 are the realistic center. Include a few D1 power programs as reaches, mid-major D1 as fits, and D2/D3 programs as safeties.
If your athlete is competitive at the high school level with developing club experience: D2 and D3 are the genuine fits. Include D3 programs where the academic and athletic profile align, and NAIA programs where the total financial package may be strongest.
Build across 2–3 divisions. A single-division target list leaves no margin. The athlete who targets only D1 and receives silence has wasted a year. The athlete who targets D1, D2, and D3 simultaneously has multiple active recruiting conversations and leverage to compare offers. For the framework on building this list, see our guide on how to build a college recruiting target list.
The bottom line
Lacrosse recruiting standards are position-specific, division-specific, and increasingly geography-aware as the sport expands beyond its traditional base. The athlete playing on a top Northeast club team faces different competitive benchmarks than the athlete developing in a newer lacrosse region — and both can find the right college program if they assess honestly and target appropriately.
For the full D1 program landscape by conference tier, our D1 colleges for lacrosse guide maps the landscape. For the scholarship math — including how 12+ equivalency scholarships split across a roster — the lacrosse athletic scholarships guide covers the numbers. For the full recruiting timeline by graduation year, the lacrosse recruiting timeline maps when coaches evaluate and when families should act. And for the framework on building a target list across divisions, our guide on how to build a college recruiting target list walks through the process.