Tryouts Start Sooner Than You Think. Here’s How to Walk In Ready
Last verified: October 14, 2026
There’s a particular kind of quiet on the first day of tryouts. Forty players, one field, a coach with a clipboard and no idea yet who belongs where. High school lacrosse tryouts are short, and the first impression usually comes from the warm-up line before a single drill is run. The players who look ready on day one were getting ready in January.
When do high school lacrosse tryouts start? It depends on your state, and the spread is wide. Florida opened its 2026 season with tryouts on January 19, Maryland’s 2027 boys’ season starts with first practice on March 1, and Colorado allows first games on March 6, 2027. Most tryouts happen in the first days of the official practice period.
High School Lacrosse Tryouts: Key Dates by Example
| Event | Dates | Location / format | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida: first official practice/tryout date | Jan. 19, 2026 was last season’s date (first games Feb. 9, 2026). 2027 date not confirmed as of Oct. 14, 2026 | Florida (FHSAA) | FHSAA’s 2026 lacrosse season dates |
| Maryland boys: first practice | March 1, 2027 (first play March 22; state finals May 25–27) | Maryland public schools (MPSSAA) | MPSSAA’s 2027 boys lacrosse calendar |
| Colorado boys and girls: first scrimmages and games | March 6, 2027 | Colorado (CHSAA) | CHSAA’s 2026-27 start-date adjustment |
| NFHS shot clock permitted in boys’ lacrosse | Announced Aug. 14, 2026, for 2027; adoption is state by state | National rules body, applied by each state | MPSSAA’s note on the 2027 NFHS rule changes |
These three states are examples of how far apart start dates sit, not a national schedule. Lacrosse seasons are set by each state’s high school association, and in some states lacrosse is played as a club sport rather than a sanctioned school sport, which changes how teams are picked. Your school’s athletic office or coach can give you your exact date and any paperwork deadlines.
How High School Lacrosse Tryouts Usually Work
Formats vary by school, but most high school lacrosse tryouts share a pattern.
- They’re short. Often only a few days at the start of the official practice period. Some programs fold tryouts into the first week of practice.
- Paperwork comes first. Many states require a current physical and other forms before you can step on the field. Missing one can mean sitting out day one, so ask early.
- Skills, then scrimmage. Expect stick work (passing, catching, ground balls), position-specific work, and then live play where coaches watch decisions.
- Varsity and JV are often decided together. At larger schools, tryouts sort players across levels at the same time.
What Coaches Tend to Watch
Every coach has a different checklist, but the basics show up quickly at high school lacrosse tryouts:
- Catching and passing with both hands. It’s the fastest tell of how much a player has worked on their own. Drops in warm-up lines get noticed.
- Ground balls. Players who get low, scoop through and move away with the ball stand out.
- Shooting accuracy. Hitting corners with control matters more than one hard shot that sails over the cage.
- Effort and coachability. Sprinting to the next line, listening and fixing a mistake on the next rep.
For boys’ players, there’s one rules change to keep in mind. In states that adopt the newly permitted shot clock, possessions get shorter and players who catch and shoot quickly become more valuable. Ask your coach whether your state is using it.
How to Get Ready: An 8-Week High School Lacrosse Tryouts Timeline
Find your first practice date, then count back eight weeks. For a late-January state, that’s around Thanksgiving. For a March state, it’s early January.
8 weeks out: skills and a plan. Start daily wall ball if you haven’t already, with the weak hand getting at least half the reps. Our wall ball routine with rep counts gives you sets to follow. Get your backyard goal ready too. If the net is frayed or sagging after a season outdoors, now is the time to replace it rather than the week before tryouts. Our guide to 5 mm vs. 6 mm vs. 7 mm net thickness helps you pick the right replacement, and if you don’t have a goal yet, the Gladiator Lacrosse® Official Lacrosse Goal with 6mm Net is a full 6×6 that snaps together and comes apart for storage.
6 weeks out: accuracy. Shoot with a purpose, not just volume. Coaches watch where shots go, so practice hitting corners. The Gladiator Lacrosse® Corner Targets give you a defined spot in each corner to aim at, which keeps sessions honest. If you’re deciding between target styles, we compared them in our beginner, advanced and corner targets guide.
4 weeks out: game speed. Speed up wall ball and shoot on the move. Add ground-ball work: roll balls out, scoop through at speed, and turn away. Practice with balls like the ones you’ll see at tryouts; most programs use balls that meet the NOCSAE standard, and our post on what a NOCSAE certified ball actually means explains the marking. Girls’ players should practice with the bright ball colours their games use. A Gladiator Lacrosse® Pack of 6 Official Lacrosse Balls (Yellow) is enough for a backyard session.
2 weeks out: gear and paperwork. Check your physical and forms are in. Try on your helmet or eyewear, gloves and pads, and make sure everything still fits after a growth spurt. Ask your coach what equipment standards your state requires, since they’re set by your state and the governing rule book. Restring or adjust your pocket now, not the night before.
Tryout week. Keep wall ball short and sharp. Sleep, eat well, and show up early. Go hard on every rep, and hustle between drills. Coaches remember effort.
The Bottom Line
High school lacrosse tryouts can start anywhere from late January to March, depending on your state, and they don’t last long. Find your date, count back eight weeks, and spend that time on both hands, ground balls and accurate shooting. Walk in ready and let the first drill do the talking.
A Word on Gladiator Lacrosse
Gladiator Lacrosse began in 2012 when Rachel Zietz, a 13-year-old player in Boca Raton, kept hearing her coaches say the same thing: play wall ball as much as you can. The backyard gear available then was too expensive or didn’t last outdoors, so she started a company to build better. Gladiator still makes lacrosse equipment only. For tryout prep, the Gladiator Lacrosse® Official Lacrosse Goal with 6mm Net paired with Corner Targets turns a backyard into a place to sharpen your shot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do high school lacrosse tryouts start?
It depends on your state. Florida held its 2026 first practice/tryout date on January 19, Maryland’s 2027 boys’ season begins with first practice on March 1, and Colorado allows first games on March 6, 2027. Check with your school or state association for your exact date.
How long do high school lacrosse tryouts last?
Usually only a few days at the start of the official practice period. Some programs fold tryouts into the first week of practice, so it pays to be ready on day one.
What do coaches look for at lacrosse tryouts?
Most coaches watch catching and passing with both hands, ground balls, shooting accuracy, effort and coachability. Stick skills show up immediately in warm-up lines.
How should I prepare for lacrosse tryouts?
Start about eight weeks before your first practice. Do daily wall ball with both hands, practice accurate shooting at the corners, add ground-ball and game-speed work, and check your gear and paperwork two weeks out.
Is there a shot clock in high school boys’ lacrosse?
The NFHS now permits states to use a shot clock in boys’ lacrosse starting with 2027 rules. Each state decides whether to adopt it, so ask your coach or state association.