With three expansion teams coming on board in the next two years, the National Lacrosse League rolled out a series of combine events this year to mine North America for new box lacrosse talent.

“In preparation for needing a player pool — a robust player pool — we’re investing in these combines,” NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz said. “It’s a great opportunity for our coaches and scouts to see where the diamond in the rough may be.”

Similar to the NFL combine, the NLL events featured physical testing, such as speed and jumping. The league brought in Kinduct, a human performance data analytic company, to run the tests and evaluate its players. 

US Lacrosse Magazine photographer Todd Bauders captured the Philadelphia combine Sept. 9 at the Wings training center.

Illinois Agility Test

Step 1: Complete the weaving running course in the shortest time possible with and without a ball. 

Step 2: At the starting cone, lie on the ground with your face to the start line and hands by your shoulders. 

Step 3: At the whistle, jump to your feet as fast as possible, sprinting to the first cone 10 meters ahead, weaving through the center cones and heading to the finish line. 

Rotation Power 

Step 1: Stand perpendicular to the start line, holding the power ball with both hands.

Step 2: Keeping it between the waist and chest, draw the ball back with a slight bend at the elbows and throw it up and forward, aiming for maximum distance and force.

PHOTO BY TODD BAUDERS

20-Meter Sprint 

Step 1: Start from a stationary position, with one foot in front of the other behind the starting line. 

Step 2: At the whistle, drive hard through your arms and legs to run as fast as possible to the finish line. 

Step 3: Using 1080 Sprint to correlate power, force and velocity, repeat adding a 15-kilogram concentrated load with the resistance belt.

PHOTO BY TODD BAUDERS