The high school girls season is a clean three-month spring block, which makes lacrosse one of the easier varsity sports to plan a family around. Tryouts to state playoffs runs March through May in most states, with February starts in the South.
The gear conversation trips up parents coming from boys lacrosse or from no lacrosse. Girls field lacrosse is played without helmets or shoulder pads because body checking is illegal. The required list is a girls stick (different pocket rules), SEI-certified goggles, a mouthguard, and cleats. Headgear meeting the ASTM standard exists and is optional in most states.
The June fork is the real decision. Club lacrosse costs $1,500–4,000 a summer and matters for the small group chasing college rosters, where recruiting runs through club tournaments rather than high school games. A player who loves the sport and isn’t chasing a roster spot can play fall ball for a tenth of the price.
Last updated June 2026.