Don’t get me wrong, physical tools matter in lacrosse… a lot. Speed, quickness, size, and strength all play a role, but at higher levels, the players who separate themselves usually do so in a quieter way.
They “think” better than those around them. Guys like Xander Dickson, Jeff Teat, Kieran McCardle, and Ryan Goldstein come to mind when I think of the “smartest” lacrosse players (I am biased towards offensive players, obviously).
That ability is often referred to as lacrosse IQ. And while some players seem to have it naturally, the truth is simpler: lacrosse IQ is a learned skill, not one you’re born with.
What Lacrosse IQ Actually Is
Lacrosse IQ isn’t memorizing “plays” or knowing where to stand. It’s the ability to:
- Feel spacing
- Anticipate reactions
- Understand cause and effect
- Make decisions that have an attractive risk vs. return profile
High-IQ players don’t just react — they recognize patterns. They understand why something worked or failed, and they adjust accordingly. Further, they are able to play at higher levels in which the game moves fast because of their IQ. But how do we build this skill?
Watch the Game Like a Student
One of the fastest ways to build lacrosse IQ is to watch the game intentionally.
That means:
- Watching off-ball movement, not just the ball
- Studying how defenses slide and recover
- Noting when great players decide to take risks and when they live to fight another day
- Focusing on how players at a high level communicate with one another
Film teaches timing, spacing, and decision-making in ways drills never can. The best players aren’t just athletes — they’re students of the game. And the best film to watch? Your own, especially the bad parts.
Question Everything your Coaches say
Great players ask questions, not in a “standoffish” manner, but in a curious one. Every time a coach explains how to do something, you should be asking “why?”.
The best way to learn anything is to teach it. For youth players, this can look like explaining concepts to people who don’t know lacrosse, maybe even their parents. For college athletes, this can be done by training people on NextRep, of course.
This mindset turns coaching into collaboration and accelerates learning. Blind obedience creates execution. Understanding creates adaptability and scalability.
Learn to Make Risk-Adjusted Decisions
Every decision in life and lacrosse involves risk. The skill of understanding what decisions can yield appropriate amounts of benefit for the risk involved is one only obtained via experience.
High-IQ players don’t avoid risk, but they learn how to manage it. They understand game context, score, time, and personnel. That judgment can’t be taught on a whiteboard.
It’s earned through experience, specifically failures. The only way to know when it is appropriate to feed the crease is to try to feed the crease. The only way to know what is a high percentage shot is to take a couple low percentage shots. The only way to know what an open skip lane feels like it to get a couple skip passes picked off. You need to fail in order to learn.
You Just Have to Play
At the end of the day, lacrosse IQ comes from time in the game. Just like video games, if you want to learn how to dominate mentally in lacrosse, you just need to play the game a lot.
Pick-up. Small-sided games. Free play with your friends in the backyard. Games where things aren’t scripted and decisions matter. The more situations a player experiences, the faster the game slows down.
At NextRep, we believe great players aren’t just trained — they’re developed through exposure, curiosity, and opportunity. When players watch, ask, fail, and play enough, lacrosse IQ follows.