Money To Be Made, Too Many Bodies, Not Enough Run: The Roster Size Dilemma in Travel Lacrosse

There’s nothing like a tournament weekend.

You drive hours, sometimes states away. Parents pack coolers, kids blast music on the bus, and there’s a strange sense of electricity in the air. You step onto a field surrounded by tents, turf, and tension. But by the end of the weekend, some kids are smiling, some are scowling, and a few are wondering why they came in the first place.

They didn’t play. Or if they did, it was token minutes—garbage time in games that had already slipped away.

They didn’t travel for experience. They traveled to sit.

And the reason? Too many players. Not enough spots.

The Magic Number

Let’s get one thing straight: lacrosse isn’t basketball. It’s not a five-man rotation with a short bench. It’s a grind. It’s fast-paced, full-contact, and exhausting. You need depth. You need guys who can spell your starters, maintain intensity, and step up when someone goes down.

But how many is too many?

For a tournament travel team, the sweet spot tends to be 18–22 players. That’s enough to field three full midlines, a pair of attack and defense lines, and two goalies. It gives you the ability to rotate and stay fresh, while still offering most kids meaningful reps.

Once you creep into 24, 25, 26+? You’re in danger territory.

Suddenly, kids are splitting quarters. Midfielders are getting one shift a half. Attackmen never leave the crease. Defensemen are subbing by injury, not rotation.

At that point, you’re not giving kids opportunity. You’re just collecting checks.

The Business Side: Let’s Call It What It Is

Travel lacrosse is a business. That’s not a dirty word—until it becomes one.

Some programs are built with integrity. Coaches talk to every family. They’re upfront about playing time, expectations, and how many reps your kid might get. They keep rosters tight. They make hard choices. And yes, they leave money on the table to protect the player experience.

Others? Not so much.

They see another registration fee as another dollar in the bank. They run 28-man rosters, roll out line changes like a hockey team, and tell you your son will “learn a lot just being around the competition.”

Translation: he’s gonna ride pine.

That’s not development. That’s bait-and-switch.

And if you’re a parent or a player, you have every right to ask: What am I paying for?

“Everyone Plays” vs. “We Play to Win”

There’s a deeper tension here—one that plagues every level of youth lacrosse: development vs. competition.

Are we here to grow, or are we here to win?

The best programs do both. They keep rosters small enough to ensure reps, but large enough to field a competitive team. They communicate clearly. They reward effort, not politics. And they don’t stack rosters to chase trophies.

If your tournament team is carrying 26 kids and claiming it’s “about development,” ask to see the shift chart. Ask how often the 21st guy gets on the field. Ask if your kid is part of the plan, or just part of the budget.

The Human Side of Roster Bloat

Behind every bloated roster is a kid who feels invisible.

They show up. They grind in practice. They dream of that one breakaway or game-saving slide. And then… they sit.

They watch lesser teams get beat but at least play. They wonder why they’re here. They lose confidence, stop taking risks, and start questioning the game they used to love.

That’s the real cost. Not the money. Not the hotel nights. It’s the kid who starts believing they don’t matter.

And if you're a coach reading this—that’s your responsibility.

How to Handle Roster Size the Right Way

1. Be Honest Before the Tournament Ever Starts
Before a parent pays. Before a player commits. Set the tone.

• “We’re carrying 20 players.”

• “You’ll get time in every game unless injured.”

• “You’ll rotate by position, not politics.”
  If the team is more competitive than developmental, say it upfront. Don’t sugarcoat it.

2. Know What You’re Building
A true development program should prioritize playing time over medals. A showcase team might have tighter subbing patterns and specific exposure goals. Don’t try to be both.

3. Stick to Role Assignments
Have defined roles: “You’re our man-down LSM,” “You’re rotating through the 2nd midfield.” That clarity keeps kids motivated and parents sane.

4. Rotate by Game, Not Just Quarter
If you’re running a big roster, alternate who plays full games instead of giving everyone token shifts. It’s more honest and gives players a real chance to find rhythm.

5. Build a B-Team When Necessary
If you have 30 kids who want to play, great. Build two squads. Split the talent, enter two brackets, give everyone reps. Don’t cram 30 into one team just to maximize margin.

If You’re a Parent, Ask This:

Before you book the flight or sign the check:

• How many kids are on the roster?

• How many games will there be?

• What’s the playing time expectation?

• What’s the coach’s substitution philosophy?

• Are players evaluated before being placed?

You’re not being a problem parent. You’re being a smart one.

The Long-Term View

A kid who plays 80% of a game will grow ten times more than a kid who plays one shift a half. Reps matter. Rhythm matters. Feeling like part of the team matters.

The best memories aren’t made on the sideline. They’re made on the field, in the dirt, in the chaos.

And that’s what this should be about.

Final Whistle

Lacrosse is exploding. Travel teams are everywhere. But just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s good.

A bloated roster might look impressive in a huddle photo, but it leaves kids behind. And youth sports aren’t about business models, exposure pipelines, or egos in polos. They’re about giving kids a chance to grow through competition and connection.

So if you're building a travel team—keep it lean. Keep it honest. Keep it focused on the players, not the profit.

Because they’ll remember the wins, sure. But what they'll really remember is whether they played.

And that, in the end, is what matters most.