After a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Team Development Program (NTDP) is picking up right where it left off after a successful launch in 2019. The program is a high-level training opportunity for the nation’s top high school players that also serves as a pipeline for the U.S. National Team Program.
“We’re so excited to be back on the field,” said Natalie Wills, senior manager of the NTDP. “There’s a lot of positive buzz and it’s been a long time coming. We can’t wait to be back together with our athletes.”
More than 1,000 players have already signed up for the regional tryouts, which kick off with a women’s event on May 28 in Bel Air, Md., just ahead of the USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament. A total of 20 events — 10 men’s and 10 women’s — will be held from late May through mid-July around the country. Two of the women's events have already sold out, but a virtual application is also available for players unable to attend one of the local tryouts.
Following the tryouts, 300 players — 150 men and 150 women — will be invited to USA headquarters in Sparks, Md., for a pair of national combines. The women’s event will be held Aug 10-12 and the men’s event’s will be held Aug. 17-19.
Following the combine, 88 players will be selected for the four USA Select teams (U16 and U18 men’s and women’s). The USA Select teams will compete alongside the U.S. national teams during the Fall Classic at USA Lacrosse headquarters the weekend of Oct. 15-17.
The men’s USA Select teams will be coached once again by John Galloway (Jacksonville) and Joel White, a pair of gold medalists from the 2018 U.S. men’s team. The women’s teams will be coached by a pair of former U.S. women’s team players Molly Ford Hutchison (Hockaday School/Grit) and Lauren Schwarzmann Skellchock (Mount St. Mary’s).
For more information on NTDP, please visit: https://www.usalacrosse.com/national-team-development-program
