the changing landscape of elite lacrosse talent: a 25-year study of ncaa division i all-americans

This study examines whether the geographic distribution of lacrosse talent, as indicated by ncaa division i all-american awards, has shifted from traditional hotbed states maryland and new york to other regions over the past 25 years. data on ncaa division i all-american lacrosse players from 2000 to 2024 were collected and divided into five periods: 2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2014, 2015-2019, and 2020-2024. the number and percentage of award winners from each state were calculated, and the number of states represented each year was tracked. this was compared with the growth in high school lacrosse participation. maryland and new york’s dominance decreased from 75.0% of all-american winners in 2000-2004 to 39.1% in 2020-2024. concurrently, high school lacrosse participation grew from 46,206 in 2002-2003 to 107,865 in 2021-2022. the number of states represented increased from 8 in 2002 to 16 in 2024, indicating broader talent distribution. the decreased dominance of maryland and new york suggests a diversification of lacrosse talent, aligning with nationwide participation growth and more states producing all-american players. this diversification highlights the successful expansion of the sport, ensuring a more inclusive talent pool and reflecting the positive impact of increased access to lacrosse across the country. lacrosse development programs and recruitment strategies should expand beyond traditional hotbeds to support emerging regions, fostering a more inclusive and diverse talent pool, and enhancing the sport’s growth at all levels.