The Evolution of Club Lacrosse: Passion vs. Profit

The Passionate Beginning

I’ve been watching club lacrosse evolve, and like many things with good intentions, it starts with a flame that burns bright and pure. Picture a coach, heart full of passion, wanting to keep the game alive in the off-season. They want to give kids more chances to improve, to compete, and to bask in the joy of the game. It’s a scene straight out of a feel-good sports movie—everyone’s fired up, the game’s alive year-round, and it’s all driven by love.

The Shift Towards Profit

But then, slowly, the plot thickens. The story takes a turn. What starts as a passion project can morph into a money-making machine, and who wouldn’t be tempted? The dream of making money while doing what you love is like that seductive siren’s call. And so, you start needing more players, pulling them in from different programs, kids who are hungry for more action, more exposure, more opportunities. Everyone’s eager; everyone’s on board.

The Focus on Elite Players

And that’s when the shift happens. Suddenly, it’s not about the love of the game or giving every kid a shot. It’s about the elite players—the ones who already have that polished gleam, who come from families willing to drop serious cash for the promise of specialized coaching and high-profile tournaments. It’s a strategy that makes financial sense, sure. Who doesn’t want to back a winning horse? But it’s also where things start to get muddy.

The Coach’s Dilemma

And for that coach who started with the purest of intentions, it can quickly become a juggling act. They get hired by a club program, and suddenly, they’re handed a roster of 25-plus kids on the sideline. They’re faced with the impossible task of balancing playing time for everyone who paid to be there while also trying to win games. Program managers, who are focused on the club’s reputation and success, get frustrated when the team isn’t winning. The coach is stuck in the middle, trying to keep the parents happy, the kids engaged, and the managers satisfied with performance. It’s a tightrope walk where they get yelled at from both sides—parents demanding more playing time for their kids, and program managers upset about not fielding the strongest lineup.

The Loss of True Coaching

When the focus narrows to just those elite players, something gets lost. The true spirit of coaching—lifting up every player, nurturing the underdog, the late bloomer, the kid who just needs someone to believe in them—gets sidelined. Instead of pouring time and effort into developing those who genuinely need it, coaches end up riding the wave of those already set up for success, giving them that final push to the finish line. It’s less about teaching and more about managing an already finished product.

The Risk of Exclusivity

And here’s the kicker: when you create a club that only caters to the best, you end up with a sport that’s exclusive, closed off to all but the most skilled or the most financially able. That’s a recipe for stagnation. You see, a sport doesn’t grow when it’s just about the top tier; it grows when it’s inclusive, when beginners and amateurs feel just as welcome as the stars. It thrives when everyone gets a shot, no matter where they’re starting from.

The Path Forward for Lacrosse

For lacrosse to truly grow, we’ve got to remember what got us into this in the first place—a love for the game, a desire to see it spread, and the joy of watching a player grow. It’s not just about building an elite team; it’s about building a community. A community where every player, from the seasoned star to the eager beginner, feels they belong. That’s where the future of the sport lies—in its diversity, its inclusivity, and in its ability to welcome anyone who picks up a stick and says, “Let’s play.”