NTDP FAQ's

The National Team Development Program (NTDP) is an extended pathway for elite high school players to experience, train, and develop their talent on the International Stage. NTDP allows USA Lacrosse is a pipeline of potential athletes to compete in elite competitions, while also creating an opportunity for lacrosse athletes around the country to be exposed to holistic, elite-level training and development; pillars of the National Team brand.

No! National Team coaches directly select players to tryout for the World Lacrosse championships and the Olympics. The NTDP helps identify, develop and train those potential U20 athletes and senior team athletes.

To be eligible for the 2026 National Team Development Program, individuals must be born on or between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2013. 

• U19: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2009 
• U17: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2011 
• U15: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2013

The next World Lacrosse U20 World Championships are scheduled for 2029. Players will be selected for the NTDP annually. One could be accepted at age 15, not make it at age 16, and then make the U.S. U20 team at age 18, for example (given they are still age eligible).

The NTDP is not the one and only way into the U.S. National Team system but is an advantage at a future U20 or Senior team tryout if the player has been working in and training in the NTDP versus someone who is new to the program at a later age.

The NTDP is a multi-phase journey. It starts with Player ID events - Regional ID Camp, Virtual Application, or by being scouted by our National Evaluators at selected ID showcases- followed by an invite-only National Combine event for each age group, finally leading to U.S. Youth National Teams at the U15, U17 and U19 age groupings.

In the first phase to the selection process, USA Lacrosse will host regional ID events across the country. USA Lacrosse membership is required to participate and there is a fee of $250. If you are unable to attend a live ID Clinic, you may submit film via our virtual application portal. That fee is $100.

Following the regional events, USA Lacrosse will be inviting the top 100 U15 and U17 boys and girls and top 75 U19 boys and girls to our National Combine at USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, MD. The cost to attend the 2026 National Combine remains at $1,250. This fee will include housing, meals, apparel, and classroom sessions with Mental Performance Coaches, Nutritionist, and Media Training over the course of the 3-4 day event.

If selected to a U.S. Youth National Team, players will be brought back to compete at up to two events in the Fall - one in field lacrosse and one in sixes lacrosse. The fee for the team is $250 for U15 players and $300 for U17 & U19 players. This fee includes housing, meals, uniforms, helmets (girls goalies and boys only), goggles (girls only), stick, and gloves (girls goalies and boys only).

The Regional ID Clinics will be a one day, 90-minute evaluation. During this session, players will work hand and hand with past and current U. S. National Team coaches and players. We have created a standard, well-organized curriculum to be used at every regional event where players be evaluated and developed on both technical and tactical skills.

The curriculum for the regional clinics will be fast-paced, focusing on position-specific, as well as team skills through a series of drills including competition in 1v1’s, 2v2’s, transition drills, and 6v6. Competition, drills and playing situations are specifically designed to give our evaluators insight to the following areas where they will be rated: Athleticism, Stickwork, Positional Skill, Game IQ, Decision Making, and On-Field Presence.

No, players are nationally ranked. We select the top girls and boys to the National Combine no matter where they live, where they go to school, or what team they play for. Players can try out at whichever regional tryout they prefer, and as many times as they want.

There's an option submit a virtual application. Apply here.

If you would like to transfer to another Regional ID Clinic, please first register for the NEW clinic you would like to attend to reserve a spot, and then email nationalteams@usalacrosse.com to request a refund for your first registration. Remember, we can only refund you if it's at least 2 weeks before the first clinic date.

The National Combine is a three-four day tryout opportunity and overnight training camp (invite only) operated by our Youth National Team Coaches and Staff.

During National Combine, athletes will be taken through elite level training of both individual and team skill development as well as sessions on strength and conditioning, recruitment, student athlete advisory, social emotional learning, and leadership training. Combine players will live, breathe, eat and sleep nothing but USA lacrosse for four days.

The tryout process is built in line with the qualifying steps for the U.S. National Team. As such, the experience will be challenging physically and mentally. Those that participate in the process will better understand the rigors associated with playing at the highest level. They will also receive a first-hand look at how the world’s most elite lacrosse team trains, prepares and operates. Skill development will be a huge focus for this program.

As a team, it is the highest priority for USA Lacrosse to make sure participants have a great experience, learn, have fun, and walk away with a better understanding of the U.S. National Team culture - and what it takes to compete at the highest level. Our hope with this program is to provide greater connectivity between the next generation of athletes and the sport’s highest honor. Additionally, we aim to further develop elite athletes at a young age - preparing them for the next step in international competition.

At the conclusion of the National Combine, USA Lacrosse will name teams of 24 players each: U.S. Youth National Teams for boys' and girls' at the U15, U17 and U19 levels.

If selected to a U.S. Youth National Team from the National Combine, players will be brought back to compete against international competition twice in the fall, competing in both sixes & international field lacrosse.

You will be notified either way if you’ve been invited to the next round or not. If you’re still age eligible, we encourage you to try out again next year! The number one priority of the National Team Development Program is your development. It is our hope that you will continue to development and train throughout your lacrosse journey.