What is the Vandal Lacrosse Program?

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Vandal Lacrosse is the official men's club lacrosse team of the University of Idaho. The Vandal Lacrosse program is a member of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), the largest lacrosse league in the world. The MCLA consists of approximately 150 teams in 9 conferences throughout the US and Canada. The Vandals compete in the Pacific Northwest College Lacrosse League (PNCLL) in the Division II bracket. Our conference currently includes Montana, College of Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University, Western Oregon, Central Washington, Western Washington, Southern Oregon, Puget Sound University, and Pacific Lutheran. Our out-of-conference competition in recent years has included Sonoma State University, Brigham Young University, Chapman University, University of Utah, and University of Nevada.

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In addition, Vandal Lacrosse, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation, led by the coaches and managed by a Board of Directors primarily comprised of parent volunteers who support the coaches and team in various ways.

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Why play college lacrosse at the University of Idaho?

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Being a member of the Vandal Lacrosse program offers the opportunity for a balanced college experience. Playing lacrosse promises fun at a competitive level, but also allows players to have time to focus on studies and engage in other activities that the University of Idaho and Moscow community offers (such as fishing, whitewater rafting, skiing, and camping, all within 45 minutes of campus). The team regularly travels to Washington, Oregon, and Montana for competition, which provides an opportunity to see first-hand the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

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Does your team have membership dues?

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Yes, since it is a Club Sport organization and not a sanctioned college athletic sport. Like most club teams competing in the MCLA, our team operates on a budget that is funded through player membership dues, fundraising, and donations. Player membership dues and player team equipment fees are approximately $2,000 - 2,500 per academic school year.

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Do you offer athletic scholarships?

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Since the main source of funding is from individual membership dues and team fundraising, we cannot offer scholarships at this time. However, we hope to as our program grows. Payment schedules for dues are common and can be discussed.

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What are the student-athlete academic requirements?

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Team members must be enrolled full-time at the University of Idaho (12 credit hours) and maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.0. With that being said, our team has exceeded these academic requirements year over year. 

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Do you recruit?

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Yes! We welcome players from anywhere! Our coaching staff can be seen recruiting at Pacific Northwest area high schools, camps, and tournaments. We have had players on our roster from several states, coast-to-coast, and even from other countries (Japan and Germany)! We also have had several NCAA transfers join our team.

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What does a year of lacrosse experience look like as a Vandal Lacrosse player?

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Typically, there are three commitment segments throughout the school year: Fall Ball, Winter Training, and Spring Season.

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Fall Ball usually begins in early September for about six weeks. Two-hour practices are held 2-3 days per week. Practice times are most often in the evenings. Team members are expected to be at all practices each week. The Fall season traditionally finishes with competition in a regional tournament. Fundraising activities are also focused on during the less busy fall season.

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Winter Training begins shortly after Fall Ball ends. During this time, players start workouts and conditioning before finals while still at school. Generally, the team meets twice a week for one hour and the rest is captain-led. This segment lasts about a month, finishing the week before Thanksgiving holiday break.

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Spring Season is the most exciting time of the year! Spring practice begins the second week of the spring semester and continues through the end of April. Like the fall, practice times are usually in the evening, with two-hour practices four to five times per week. Games are typically played on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, and often two games in one weekend.

 

We encourage our athletes to add fitness classes that are offered through the university to their quarterly or semester schedules. A few examples of these classes include weight training, rock climbing, yoga, swimming, etc.

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Where can I read more information about the University of Idaho?

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The University of Idaho website is filled with information about academics, school life, extracurriculars, and costs. The Head Coach will be happy to answer any questions about U of I. Don't hesitate to reach out to him via the contact form on the Recruits page. You can visit University of Idaho's site here.

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How can I join Vandal Lacrosse or get more information?

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1) Email the Head Coach via the contact form (on the recruits page) with a brief introduction. Be sure to include your first and last name, high school graduation year, cumulative GPA, academic goals, and your lacrosse experience, and any questions you have.

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2) Become a student at University of Idaho!

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3) Follow us on our social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.