Op-Ed: Colorado Lacrosse Is Growing. So Are the Growing Pains.

As of Spring 2026, Colorado high school lacrosse continues to grow. Club competition is stronger. Recruiting exposure has increased. In many communities, youth participation is engaged and expanding.

At the same time, several high school varsity programs struggled to secure head coaches this season. Some roles were filled just before the first official practice. And in late February, Resurrection Christian School announced it would end its 2026 boys lacrosse season due to roster numbers.

Growth in Colorado high school lacrosse is real. So are some specific issues within it.

The Coaching Gap in Colorado High School Lacrosse

Across classifications, athletic directors were still searching for varsity coaches deep into the 2025-'26 winter. In some cases, assistants stepped in at the last minute. In others, programs relied on short-term fixes.

High school coaching now extends far beyond practice plans. Coaches manage film, offseason training, recruiting guidance, parent communication, strength work, and year-round expectations. Many salaries have not kept pace with the time commitment now required to build and sustain a successful program.

If Colorado wants stable varsity lacrosse programs, compensation must reflect reality. Increasing pay signals that schools value leadership and continuity. It also makes it realistic for former players and young professionals to step into coaching roles without financial strain. Stability with coaches is where the team foundation is laid.

Stronger Rec Programs Are Necessary, But Need to be Concentrated

Yet sustainable varsity lacrosse programs start years earlier. Strong rec and middle school programs build skill, culture, and long-term interest in the sport. Communities with consistent youth participation in pre-high school programs tend to produce deeper high school rosters.

But size alone is not the only variable.

In some regions, the issue is not just limited to youth lacrosse programs. It is also the number of varsity programs relative to the player pool. When too many schools field teams without a deep participation base, athletes are spread thin across multiple rosters. That can leave programs carrying 13 to 18 players instead of 25 to 35.

Dilution creates risk. An entire season can be destabilized by one graduating class, one injury cluster, or one group of multi-sport athletes choosing a different path .

This is not an argument against schools offering more access to lacrosse. It is a call for better alignment according to player numbers - and thus salary. School administrators, districts, and lacrosse leaders must evaluate whether participation numbers support the number of varsity programs in a given region - and thus a coach's salary. Strong rec pipelines and realistic program counts have to work together along district lines and not just individual schools.

The Resurrection Christian Decision

In a statement to Colorado Lacrosse News, Athletic Director Bart Mayes shared the following:

“The decision to end the 2026 Resurrection Christian School boys lacrosse season was a very difficult one. We truly care about our student-athletes, and it is deeply disappointing that we are unable to provide them the opportunity to compete in lacrosse for RCS this year.

"This decision was driven entirely by roster numbers. While we have been fortunate to experience strong seasons — including playoff appearances the past two years — graduation attrition, combined with several athletes choosing to pursue other sports, left us with 13 committed players for the upcoming season. That number is not conducive to a safe or sustainable varsity experience. The risk of injuries, limited substitution depth, and potential eligibility or forfeiture situations during the season created concerns that we could not responsibly overlook.

"At this time, this is a season-by-season evaluation. RCS will continue to assess annually whether we are able to field a team based on participation and sustainability. One of the biggest challenges to sustaining our program has been the lack of consistent feeder programs into our school, as well as the overall distribution of lacrosse athletes in Northern Colorado.

"RCS has communicated multiple times with CHSAA and has worked hard to ensure that our student athletes will be eligible to compete at another area school while still abiding by the state statutes.

"This was not a decision made lightly. Our hope is that the majority of our players who still wish to compete will be able to find opportunities with neighboring programs and continue playing the sport they love.”

Mayes' statement reinforces two broader realities facing Colorado high school lacrosse: roster sustainability and player/athlete distribution.

Roster sustainability requires depth. Thirteen players is not a safe varsity number over the course of a full spring season. And without consistent feeder systems, participation volatility becomes more likely.

It also highlights a regional challenge. In parts of Northern Colorado, athlete distribution across multiple schools may be stretching participation thinner than the numbers suggest on paper.

Club Growth and High School Identity

Colorado has developed into a strong club lacrosse market. Players train year-round. Recruiting conversations start earlier. Travel schedules are as intense as anywhere else.

High school lacrosse still anchors community identity. It represents classmates, rivalries, and school pride. For many athletes, it is where their competitive careers end.

If club growth continues while rec pipelines remain inconsistent and varsity programs expand beyond sustainable participation levels, instability will continue to surface in cancelled seasons and coaches' salaries that cannot go the distance.

What Needs to Happen

If Colorado lacrosse wants long-term stability, several priorities stand out.

• First, strengthen and invest in local rec and middle school programs to build a wide participation base.
• Second, evaluate whether regional participation supports the number of varsity programs currently fielded.
• Third, increase varsity coaching stipends to reflect the real workload.
• Fourth, build intentional coaching pipelines so former players transition into leadership roles.
• Fifth, improve alignment between clubs, rec leagues, and high schools to reduce fragmentation.

Colorado lacrosse is not shrinking. It is evolving. The next phase depends on whether infrastructure, compensation, and realistic program planning keep pace with participation and expectations.

If the base is strong and leadership is supported, varsity programs will be more durable across the state, and Colorado will continue to emerge as a hotbed for lacrosse for seasons to come.

About the Author

Asa McKee is the founder of Colorado Lacrosse News. He brings coaching experience across youth, club, high school, and college lacrosse.

He has helped launch two varsity high school lacrosse programs and coached teams that reached multiple state playoff quarterfinals, including two state championship teams. Through Colorado Lacrosse News and his work coaching in the community, Asa focuses on player development, recruiting insight, and the long term growth of lacrosse in Colorado.