From the youth fields of Texas to the burgeoning leagues in Europe, lacrosse is exploding onto the global scene as one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
Key Takeaways
- US youth lacrosse participation grew 64% from 2008 to 2018, reaching over 825,000 players
- In 2023, youth lacrosse players under 14 in the US numbered 450,000, up 12% from 2022
- Girls youth lacrosse participation surged 85% from 2010 to 2020, hitting 250,000 participants
- High school boys lacrosse programs in US grew 12% from 2018-2023, to 3,400 programs
- NFHS reports high school lacrosse participants reached 118,000 boys in 2022-23, up 2%
- Girls high school lacrosse players hit 102,000 in 2023, a 4% increase YoY
- PLL viewership grew 35% YoY in 2023, averaging 252,000 viewers per game on ESPN
- NLL attendance averaged 8,500 per game in 2023-24 season, up 10% from prior year
- Premier Lacrosse League teams expanded to 8 in 2021, with revenue up 50% by 2023
- NCAA women's lacrosse viewership for finals reached 1.2 million in 2023, up 20%
- Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse (AU) averaged 15,000 viewers per game in 2023 season
- High school girls lacrosse participation grew 250% from 2004-2023 to 102,000
- World Lacrosse membership grew from 87 to 92 members in 2023, with 50 new countries since 2010
- Lacrosse in Asia: 10 member nations in 2023, up from 2 in 2010
- Europe Lacrosse participation hit 100,000 players across 40 countries in 2023
Lacrosse is booming globally with surging youth participation and expanding professional leagues.
High School College
1High school boys lacrosse programs in US grew 12% from 2018-2023, to 3,400 programs
Verified2NFHS reports high school lacrosse participants reached 118,000 boys in 2022-23, up 2%
Verified3Girls high school lacrosse players hit 102,000 in 2023, a 4% increase YoY
Verified4NCAA Division I men's lacrosse teams expanded to 76 in 2024, from 69 in 2018
Directional5Women's D1 lacrosse programs grew to 119 in 2023, up 15% since 2015
Single source6High school lacrosse states with sanctioned play increased to 50 in 2023
Verified7College club lacrosse teams in US reached 800 in 2023, up 20% from 2018
Verified8DIII men's lacrosse teams numbered 253 in 2024, steady growth from 200 in 2010
Verified9High school girls lacrosse sanctioned in 37 states in 2023, up from 30 in 2015
Directional10NCAA lacrosse attendance averaged 5,000 per D1 game in 2023, up 25% from 2018
Single source11MCLA (club) men's teams grew to 225 D1 equivalents in 2023
Verified12High school lacrosse participation in Florida doubled to 15,000 since 2015
Verified13Women's college lacrosse scholarships increased 18% from 2019-2023
Verified14DII men's lacrosse programs at 73 in 2024, up from 60 in 2010
Directional15High school boys lacrosse in California reached 12,000 players in 2023
Single source16NCAA graduation rates for lacrosse players hit 92% in 2023, aiding recruitment growth
Verified17Junior college lacrosse teams grew 40% to 25 programs since 2018
Verified18High school lacrosse all-state selections rose 15% from 2020-2023
Verified19College lacrosse recruiting databases expanded to 500,000 profiles in 2024, up 50%
DirectionalHigh School College Interpretation
Lacrosse is shedding its niche status and charging into the mainstream, as evidenced by a 12% surge in high school programs, overflowing college club leagues, and scholarship opportunities that are making the sport's distinctive crack of the pad a familiar sound from coast to coast.
International Growth
1World Lacrosse membership grew from 87 to 92 members in 2023, with 50 new countries since 2010
Verified2Lacrosse in Asia: 10 member nations in 2023, up from 2 in 2010
Verified3Europe Lacrosse participation hit 100,000 players across 40 countries in 2023
Verified4World Lacrosse Championship 2023 had 41 men's teams, record participation
Directional5Lacrosse introduced in 20 new countries via Sixes format since 2022
Single source6Australian Lacrosse League attendance up 25% to 50,000 total in 2023
Verified7Philippines Lacrosse Association grew to 2,000 players by 2023 from zero in 2015
Verified8German Lacrosse Federation reports 15,000 players in 2023, up 50% since 2018
Verified9Lacrosse Sixes World Championship 2024 entries from 47 nations
Directional10Japan men's national team ranked top 10 globally in 2023, player base 10,000
Single source11Irish Lacrosse League expanded to 12 teams in 2023, participation +40%
Verified12World Lacrosse U20 Championship had 24 teams in 2023, up from 16 in 2016
Verified13Lacrosse in Africa: 5 nations competing by 2023, Kenya leading with 1,000 players
Verified14Czech Lacrosse grew to 5,000 players, hosting Euro champs 2023
Directional15New Zealand Lacrosse membership doubled to 4,000 in 2023
Single source16Latin America lacrosse events drew 2,000 athletes from 8 countries in 2023
Verified17Swedish Lacrosse League attendance 20,000 total games 2023, up 30%
Verified18World Lacrosse development grants funded 100 programs in 80 countries 2023
Verified19Hong Kong Lacrosse grew to 3,000 players, hosting Asia champs 2023
DirectionalInternational Growth Interpretation
The global lacrosse family is no longer just a cozy neighborhood block party; it's become a sprawling, boisterous international festival where new continents are constantly crashing the game with impressive potluck dishes.
Professional Leagues
1PLL viewership grew 35% YoY in 2023, averaging 252,000 viewers per game on ESPN
Verified2NLL attendance averaged 8,500 per game in 2023-24 season, up 10% from prior year
Verified3Premier Lacrosse League teams expanded to 8 in 2021, with revenue up 50% by 2023
Verified4Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) drew 5,000 fans per game in 2023
Directional5NLL salary cap increased 20% to $650,000 per team in 2024
Single source6PLL Championship weekend attendance hit 25,000 in 2023, up from 15,000 in 2019
Verified7Atlas Network (pro development) grew to 14 teams in 2023
Verified8Global pro lacrosse events like World Lacrosse Championship boosted PLL interest 40%
Verified9NLL digital streams up 60% to 1.2 million in 2023-24
Directional10PLL merchandise sales doubled from 2021-2023 to $10 million
Single source11Canadian Premier League Lacrosse launched 2023 with 6 teams, 5,000 avg attendance
Verified12Pro lacrosse TV deals with ESPN valued at $20 million over 5 years starting 2022
Verified13PLL player salaries averaged $30,000 in 2023, up 50% from 2019
Verified14NLL expansion to Panther City in 2020 led to 25% league-wide growth by 2023
Directional15WPLL Finals drew 7,000 fans in 2023, up 40%
Single source16PLL podcast downloads hit 2 million in 2023, driving 20% fan growth
Verified17Major League Lacrosse rebrand to PLL in 2020 spurred 100% valuation increase to $100M by 2023
Verified18NLL international players rose to 25% of rosters in 2024
Verified19PLL All-Star Game viewership 450,000 in 2023, up 30%
Directional20Women's pro lacrosse viewership up 50% to 100,000 avg per game in 2023
Single sourceProfessional Leagues Interpretation
Despite some impressive growth metrics across the board, the sport of lacrosse is still playing a thrilling game of catch-up where professional salaries and revenue are chasing rapidly rising fandom like an eager defenseman trailing a fast break.
Womens Lacrosse
1NCAA women's lacrosse viewership for finals reached 1.2 million in 2023, up 20%
Verified2Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse (AU) averaged 15,000 viewers per game in 2023 season
Verified3High school girls lacrosse participation grew 250% from 2004-2023 to 102,000
Verified4World Lacrosse Women's Championship attendance 50,000 total in 2023
Directional5D1 women's lacrosse teams at 119 in 2024, up 30% since 2010
Single source6Women's National Lacrosse Team trials drew 500 athletes in 2023, up 25%
Verified7Girls youth lacrosse clinics reached 100,000 participants in 2023 US
Verified8PWLL (Professional Women's) launched 2024 with 4 teams
Verified9Women's college lacrosse Final Four attendance 25,000 in 2023, up 15%
Directional10Flag lacrosse for women/girls grew to 50,000 US participants by 2023
Single source11Boston College women's lacrosse averaged 4,000 fans per home game 2023
Verified12Women's lacrosse scholarships in NCAA up 25% to 12 per D1 team by 2023
Verified13U19 Women's World Championship entries doubled to 20 teams in 2023
Verified14Women's pro lacrosse salary average $15,000 in AU 2023, up 50%
Directional15Girls high school lacrosse in New Jersey reached 8,000 players 2023
Single source16Women's lacrosse TV ratings on ESPN2 up 40% in 2023
Verified17Under Armour All-America girls game drew 10,000 fans 2023
Verified18Women's box lacrosse leagues grew 30% in Canada to 20 teams 2023
Verified19NCAA D3 women's lacrosse teams at 290 in 2024, up 20% since 2015
Directional20Women's lacrosse participation in England tripled to 12,000 since 2015
Single source21World Lacrosse women's membership countries up to 65 in 2023
VerifiedWomens Lacrosse Interpretation
This surge in viewership, participation, and professional investment paints a thrilling picture: women's lacrosse is no longer just growing quietly but is now emphatically stomping down the field, demanding its rightful place in the sporting landscape.
Youth Participation
1US youth lacrosse participation grew 64% from 2008 to 2018, reaching over 825,000 players
Verified2In 2023, youth lacrosse players under 14 in the US numbered 450,000, up 12% from 2022
Verified3Girls youth lacrosse participation surged 85% from 2010 to 2020, hitting 250,000 participants
Verified4From 2018-2023, multi-sport youth athletes playing lacrosse increased by 18%, to 68% of total players
Directional5US Lacrosse registered 120,000 youth members in 2024, a 5% YoY growth
Single source6Youth box lacrosse participation in North America rose 22% from 2020-2023
Verified7In Canada, youth lacrosse players grew from 40,000 in 2015 to 65,000 in 2023, a 62.5% increase
Verified8Australian youth lacrosse numbers doubled from 5,000 in 2018 to 10,500 in 2023
Verified9UK youth lacrosse clubs increased 30% from 2019-2023, with 15,000 participants
Directional10From 2020-2024, online youth lacrosse registrations in the US jumped 40% post-COVID
Single source11Hispanic youth lacrosse participation in US grew 150% from 2015-2023, to 25,000 players
Verified12Boys youth lacrosse in US states like Texas saw 200% growth from 2010-2020
Verified13Summer youth lacrosse camps attendance rose 35% from 2019-2023, to 100,000 attendees
Verified14Adaptive youth lacrosse programs expanded 50% in US from 2021-2024, serving 5,000 kids
Directional15Youth girls flag lacrosse trials reached 20,000 participants in 2023, up 100% from 2021
Single source16Indoor youth lacrosse leagues in US grew to 500 from 300 in 2019
Verified17Pacific Northwest youth lacrosse participation up 45% since 2018, to 30,000 players
Verified18Southeast US youth lacrosse programs tripled from 2015-2023
Verified19Youth lacrosse equipment sales to kids under 12 rose 28% from 2022-2024
Directional20Virtual youth lacrosse clinics drew 50,000 sessions in 2023, up 60% from 2022
Single sourceYouth Participation Interpretation
Lacrosse is no longer just a regional niche but a full-blown youth sports revolution, as evidenced by explosive growth across demographics, formats, and continents, proving that the fastest game on two feet is finally winning the race for the next generation's attention.
Sources & References
- Reference 1USLACROSSEuslacrosse.orgVisit source
- Reference 2STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 3NLLnll.comVisit source
- Reference 4LACROSSElacrosse.caVisit source
- Reference 5AUSTRALIANLACROSSEaustralianlacrosse.com.auVisit source
- Reference 6ENGLISHLACROSSEenglishlacrosse.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 7SPORTSDESTINATIONSsportsdestinations.comVisit source
- Reference 8TEXASLACROSSEtexaslacrosse.orgVisit source
- Reference 9LAXMAGAZINElaxmagazine.comVisit source
- Reference 10WORLDLACROSSEworldlacrosse.sportVisit source
- Reference 11INSIDELACROSSEinsidelacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 12PNLLACROSSEpnllacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 13SOUTHEASTLACROSSEsoutheastlacrosse.orgVisit source
- Reference 14SPORTINGGOODSINDUSTRYsportinggoodsindustry.comVisit source
- Reference 15LACROSSEALLSTARSlacrosseallstars.comVisit source
- Reference 16NFHSnfhs.orgVisit source
- Reference 17NCAAncaa.comVisit source
- Reference 18CLUB LACROSSEclub lacrosse.orgVisit source
- Reference 19MCLAmcla.usVisit source
- Reference 20FLORIDALACROSSEfloridalacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 21NCSASPORTSncsasports.orgVisit source
- Reference 22CIFSTATEcifstate.orgVisit source
- Reference 23NCAAncaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 24NJCAALACROSSEnjcaalacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 25MAXPREPSmaxpreps.comVisit source
- Reference 26FIELDLEVELfieldlevel.comVisit source
- Reference 27PLLpll.comVisit source
- Reference 28FORBESforbes.comVisit source
- Reference 29WPLLwpll.comVisit source
- Reference 30SPORTICOsportico.comVisit source
- Reference 31ATLASLAXatlaslax.comVisit source
- Reference 32SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNALsportsbusinessjournal.comVisit source
- Reference 33CPLLACROSSEcpllacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 34FRONTROWSPORTSfrontrowsports.comVisit source
- Reference 35LAXALLSTARSlaxallstars.comVisit source
- Reference 36SPORTSMEDIAWATCHsportsmediawatch.comVisit source
- Reference 37ATHLETESUNLIMITEDathletesunlimited.comVisit source
- Reference 38PWLLACROSSEpwllacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 39BCEAGLESbceagles.comVisit source
- Reference 40NJnj.comVisit source
- Reference 41ALAFalaf.worldVisit source
- Reference 42EURORELACROSSEeurorelacrosse.euVisit source
- Reference 43PHILIPPINELACROSSEphilippinelacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 44LACROSSElacrosse.deVisit source
- Reference 45JAPANLACROSSEjapanlacrosse.or.jpVisit source
- Reference 46IRISHLACROSSEirishlacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 47AFLACROSSEaflacrosse.comVisit source
- Reference 48LACROSSElacrosse.czVisit source
- Reference 49NZLACROSSEnzlacrosse.co.nzVisit source
- Reference 50PANAMpanam.lacrosseVisit source
- Reference 51SVENSK-LACROSSEsvensk-lacrosse.seVisit source
- Reference 52HKLACROSSEhklacrosse.comVisit source