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Frequently Asked Questions


We develop top national players and seek hardworking, passionate athletes in our club

About Minnesota Elite Girls Lacrosse

Minnesota Elite Girls Lacrosse is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit competitive girls lacrosse program dedicated to taking talented youth and high school lacrosse players to the next level of their game. Our club is staffed with the area's top girls lacrosse coaches who are committed to the complete development of every player.  Our objective is to develop top national lacrosse players and that starts with our youngest competitors.

We are a year-round program, meaning that we offer training year-round to girls lacrosse players - those playing with MN Elite teams as well as the entire girl's lacrosse community.  Our schedule accommodates the multi-sport athlete, we are known by the NCAA   coaches community for fielding teams with top multi-sport athletes, a coveted trademark of our Club!

MN Elite has traveling lacrosse teams for girls in the 2nd through 12th grades. We also hold clinics throughout the year for experienced players and brand new players - in a fun and welcoming environment.

It is our mission to promote the growth and development of girls lacrosse in Minnesota. 

Minnesote Elite Coaches

The number one reason our players choose Minnesota Elite is for our outstanding coaching staff. Our coaching staff is comprised of varsity high school coaches, current and former collegiate players, World Cup players, and All-Americans. Our coaches understand the game and know how to coach our players as they grow through our programs, to work on developing each player to her greatest potential. In addition, our coaches understand coaching girls and developing character, leadership, sportsmanship, and integrity on and off the field. 

Current NCAA players are a valuable part of our lacrosse program and we have many college players on our coaching staff. These young women are playing at the highest level of the game and pass along cutting edge drills & skills fresh off NCAA competition. We are fortunate that our MN Elite Alum can't wait to come home in the summer to help train our girls.

When are tryouts?

Tryout information is HERE

How are teams chosen?

All players, including players previously on MN Elite teams, must try out each year to determine team placement. Our tryouts are always OPEN TRYOUTS.  We follow MSHSL (Minnesota State High League) guidelines for all of our tryouts.

Our coaching staff's evaluations will determine your team placement. Prospective players should try to attend as many evaluation sessions as possible, however attending one tryout session is required.  Our evaluators look at multiple aspects during tryouts, including: 

  1. Athleticism 
  2. Work ethic and commitment (we seek players who possess a "that's my ball mentality")
  3. Desire to be your best (mindset)
  4. Speed and endurance
  5. Lacrosse field sense/Lax IQ
  6. Skills - stick-work, ball-handling

Is there help with the cost of team fees?

We strive to provide an affordable and competitive lacrosse experience for all participants. We offer financial support for players/families where their financial situation limits their ability to participate in our programs. More information is on our website HERE 

What does it cost to play for MN Elite?

The cost varies for each team and depends on the grade/tournament each team attends. We are diligent in our mission to keep costs as low as possible for our year-round training (winter indoor space is a premium) and tournaments. We build most costs into the team fee (except for airline costs to tournaments) so that families can choose to pay throughout the year on monthly installments, and also so there are no "hidden/surprise" costs when it comes to tournaments - all costs (except airline tickets) are built into the team fee.

To receive cost information for your team(s), please email Hannah Riggs or Maria Slusser.  You will be asked to include your full name, player grad year in the fall and your email address to receive this information.

Where do teams practice?

MN Elite has players coming from communities throughout the metro and beyond. We recognize the difficulties of getting to practices and we try to have consistency in where our practices are held, with central location being a key factor. In the fall and summer when we can be outside, we generally practice at central locations such as Benilde St. Margarets and Blake Hopkins Camps. During the late fall, winter, and spring months we practice at Champions Hall indoors located on the edge of Edina and Eden Prairie. Our Box Lacrosse (Grades 7-12 teams) is located at First Athlete in Edina.

Do MN Elite teams play in rec leagues?

MN Elite teams are "travel/tournament teams" meaning that we play in tournaments only. Club teams are not allowed to participate in the local rec leagues (MSLAX) but we encourage our youth and middle school players to continue playing with their community/school teams in rec leagues (and almost all our players do). 

Can I play for Minnesota Elite Lacrosse and another traveling club team?

We encourage our youth and middle school players to participate with their rec/school teams (MSLAX).  However,  MN Elite players are not allowed to play on other travel lacrosse teams.

What is your lacrosse season?

We offer training in Fall, Winter, Spring (for our non-MSHSL players) and Summer. Tournaments are generally in Fall and Summer but we do offer optional tournaments throughout the year.  

My daughter also plays other sports, can she still play on MN Elite team?

We value the multi-sport athlete and encourage players to continue playing the sports they enjoy. While it may be a juggling act to manage multiple team schedules, we know that every family will review their schedules and prioritize commitments as best as possible. In order for our programs to excel and to create viable teams that develop and compete successfully, we ask for player/family commitment to your MN Elite Girls team just as you would any of your other sports teams.   At the national level, we are known for top multi-sport athletes and the majority of our girls play other sports.  Most of our girls play other sports and we like it that way! It helps you translate skills from other sports, reduces burnout, reduces the incidence of injury and NCAA lacrosse coaches have a very high regard for the multi-sport athlete!   

How do you help with the college lacrosse recruiting process?

At MN Elite we support each player in her quest to play beyond the high school level, helping her match academic and athletic goals in the college selection process. Our High School teams are comprised primarily of players interested in playing women's lacrosse beyond high school. It is our goal to help players find and explore options for playing college lacrosse. We attend tournaments and showcases that are focused on maximizing exposure to college lacrosse coaches. 

In addition, we hold College Recruiting Seminars for our high school players to provide in-depth details of the recruiting process. To further provide personalized recruiting advising, we meet one-on-one with the player and her family to better understand her goals and to individualize her process. Our coaches and recruiting advisors have developed a strong network of relationships with college coaches - NCAA Division I, II, III, & NAIA. We are here to support each player/family and are experts in navigating  every step of the recruiting process!

Do all of your players go on to play lacrosse in college?

While not all of our players go on to play lacrosse in college, and it is not a requirement to play for MN Elite, the majority of MN Elite players find a great fit with college lacrosse. Some find playing lacrosse opens doors to prospective colleges. We e have more than 160 girls who are playing or played at the collegiate NCAA/NAIA level.

See where MN Elite Girls players are playing in college HERE

What tournaments do you play in?

Each age group competes in tournaments, either at the local, regional, or national level. We provide our youth and middle school teams with local and regional tournaments to provide high level of competition. As players progress in age, more opportunities to play nationally are added for stronger and diverse competition and for more lacrosse exposure. Our high school teams play in the highest level at the most competitive national recruiting tournaments.