Fitness Testing and Match Performance in NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Original Research

Abstract

Introduction: NCAA women’s lacrosse is an intermittent, high-intensity sport requiring a blend of aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, and sport-specific skills. While previous research has established fitness profiles for collegiate athletes, the direct relationship between physical testing metrics and match performance in Division III (DIII) programs remains under-explored. This study aimed to report fitness data for a DIII women’s lacrosse team and examine correlations between athleticism and in-game statistics.

Methods: Twenty-one female DIII lacrosse athletes (height 166.2±3.4 cm; body mass 68.8±11.1 kg) underwent fitness testing during the 2025 season. Assessments included twenty- and thirty-yard sprints (using infrared timing gates) and a countermovement jump (CMJ) on dual force plates. Match performance data, including goals, assists, ground balls, and starts, were collected over a 19-game season. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were used to analyze relationships between fitness and performance variables.

Results: Significant correlations were observed between physical metrics and match performance (r=0.43–0.73, p<0.05). Thirty-yard sprint times and estimated top speed significantly correlated with games started, ground balls, and free position goals. CMJ metrics, specifically jump height, relative propulsive power, and modified reactive strength index (mRSI), demonstrated the strongest relationships, particularly with shots, goals, and turnovers. Stature showed no significant relationship with performance.

Conclusion: Sprint and CMJ metrics are moderate-to-strong predictors of match performance in DIII women’s lacrosse. These findings suggest that prioritizing relative power and acceleration may enhance on-field efficacy, providing coaches with objective benchmarks for roster decisions and talent identification.