THE ALLIANCE LACROSSE LEAGUE
A National Stage for Elite Club Lacrosse — Ten partner programs, their leadership, players and the championship events shaping one of the club game's most competitive circuits.
Alliance Partner Programs
A League Built by Club Lacrosse Leaders
The Alliance Lacrosse League has emerged as a destination for elite boys' club lacrosse, built around high-level competition, recruiting exposure and a national network of established programs. Launched in 2023 under the 3STEP Sports umbrella, the Alliance was founded by five of the country's premier club programs — Mad Dog Lacrosse, Next Level Lacrosse, 3d New England, Building Blocks Lacrosse and Sweetlax — with a simple premise: top players should have meaningful opportunities to compete against top players.
The founding leadership group includes Tommy Duerr (Mad Dog), Dave Mitchell (Next Level), Pete Sessa (3d New England), Andrew Hubschmann (Building Blocks) and Kevin Martin (Sweetlax). Their collective club and coaching experience gives the league a strong player-development foundation as well as tournament credibility, attracting college coaches and evaluators from across the country.
For athletes, the environment is not just about playing another summer weekend. It is a chance to measure themselves against comparable talent, play within a structured championship setting and make their performance count when recruiting attention is highest.
The Founding Partners
3d New England
One of the most recognized names in club lacrosse, 3d New England operates as part of the nationally renowned 3d Lacrosse network, training players in the proprietary 3d Methodology developed by some of the country's most experienced coaches. Based in Connecticut with programs across New England, 3d has built a reputation for elite skill development, tactical training and a consistent pipeline of college-bound athletes. Their Select teams compete at the highest levels of summer and fall tournament circuits, making them a fixture at national championship events and a trusted resource for college recruiters.
Building Blocks Lacrosse (BBL)
New Jersey's premier club program, Building Blocks Lacrosse — known as BBL — lives up to its name by developing players from the ground up. With a mission centered on elite player development at every stage, BBL challenges its athletes against top competition nationwide while emphasizing character, leadership and academic growth. The organization has established itself among college coaches as a top recruiting source, backed by a dedicated team of college lacrosse recruiting guidance counselors who support players through the entire recruiting process. BBL's winning culture and strong community have made it a model for club lacrosse development.
Mad Dog Lacrosse
A nationally recognized lacrosse organization, Mad Dog Lacrosse provides top-tier player development and character building for athletes from both traditional and emerging lacrosse hotbeds across the country. With regional programs spanning from Los Angeles to Illinois and beyond, Mad Dog National teams bring together the best talent to compete on a larger stage. Since 2021 alone, the program has facilitated the college recruitment of over 200 student-athletes to some of the finest academic and athletic institutions in the nation. Founded and managed by elite coaches with a deep passion for the game, Mad Dog prides itself on a strong, positive culture and access to prestigious events nationwide.
Next Level Lacrosse
Operating as the Next Level Spartans, this program is intensely focused on player development and mental performance. Next Level takes pride in its coaching staff, hiring positive role models who guide athletes through competitive tournament play and proven development pathways. The program provides a terrific lacrosse experience that emphasizes both the physical skills and the mental fortitude needed to succeed at the next level, making it a valuable partner in the Alliance's competitive ecosystem.
Sweetlax
Based in upstate New York (Rochester), Sweetlax has built a national reputation as one of the top club programs for college exposure and individual player development. The Sweetlax mission is to provide club members with individual player development and team-building skills while delivering national college exposure. Their Upstate program draws serious players looking to elevate their game, and the organization has become a known name among college recruiters seeking elite talent from the Western New York region and beyond.
The Partner Clubs
Duke's Elite Lacrosse
A premier lacrosse club dedicated to providing high-quality training and development to players of all levels, Duke's Elite competes in some of the most prestigious lacrosse tournaments in the country. The program gives its players the opportunity to showcase their skills in elite environments, with a focus on competitive development and preparing athletes for the next stage of their lacrosse careers. Duke's Elite has built a reputation for developing complete players who are ready to contribute at the college level.
Legacy Lacrosse
Based on Long Island, New York — one of the historic heartlands of lacrosse — Legacy Lacrosse brings a wealth of lacrosse knowledge to the Alliance. The program begins teaching core principles at a young age and guides players through every stage of development. Legacy offers both boys' and girls' programs and has established itself as a competitive force in the Long Island club scene, with championship-format events and a commitment to elite competition that prepares athletes for the collegiate level.
Shore 2 Shore Lacrosse
A competitive, high-level club lacrosse program based in New York, Shore 2 Shore focuses on superior coaching and training to prepare student-athletes for the next level. With a commitment to keeping rosters focused — fewer than 24 players per team — S2S ensures personalized attention and development. The program offers teams, camps and clinics designed to build fundamentals and competitive readiness, making it a strong developmental partner within the Alliance network.
2Way Lacrosse
Connecticut's premier lacrosse club, 2Way operates nationally competitive AA club team programs based in the New Haven County area, with a North program in Simsbury. Founded in 2015, 2Way has been offering competitive club teams, camps, leagues and training experiences. The program emphasizes a four-day training approach for dedicated lacrosse players seeking quality reps and development, making it a strong developmental partner in the Alliance.
Team Ten
Team Ten Lacrosse inspires, develops and sparks multisport athletes to achieve and compete at their very best. Providing an atmosphere of family, fun, healthy competition and development, Team Ten offers programs across multiple graduation years. The organization focuses on building well-rounded athletes who excel both on and off the lacrosse field, bringing a unique multisport philosophy to the Alliance partner network.
Players to Watch
The 2026 Summer Championships continued to draw national recruiting attention. Inside Lacrosse coverage of the event identified Class of 2027 standouts Card, Fodor, Morsell and McCarthy, illustrating the level of player talent on display across Alliance events. Strong individual performance at events like the Alliance can help provide college coaches with valuable context — especially when players are facing elite peers from outside their home region.
The 2026 championships were staged July 10–12 at Maryland SoccerPlex, Blandair, Liberty Sports Park and Troy Park. Boys' divisions covered the Classes of 2027 through 2035, with AA and A brackets across the event footprint. The depth of competition across these graduation years means college coaches can evaluate players against comparable talent from programs across the country — a key advantage of the Alliance's national club network.
Championship Events
2026 Summer Championships — July 10–12, 2026. Divisions spanned Boys 2027–2035 across four Maryland venues: Maryland SoccerPlex (2027AA & A, 2028AA & A, 2029AA), Blandair (2029A & 2035AA), Liberty Sports Park (2030AA, 2031AA) and Troy Park (2033AA & 2034AA). Game film was available through NLV Productions.
2026 Fall Invitational — November 21–22, 2026. Classes of 2028–2035 compete at Kirkwood Sports (DE) for 2028 & 2029, MSI (PA) for 2030 and Sandhill Fields (DE) for 2031–2035.
2027 Summer Championships — July 9–13, 2027. Maryland SoccerPlex hosts 2030AA & A through 2034AA, Troy Park hosts 2035AA & 2036AA and Delaware Turf hosts 2028AA & A and 2029AA & A.
What's Next
As the Alliance continues to add partner programs and expand its calendar, it is becoming an increasingly important platform in the club lacrosse landscape — connecting directors, coaches, families and players around competition that carries national relevance. With the Fall Invitational approaching in November and the 2027 Summer Championships already on the calendar, the Alliance is cementing its position as one of the most competitive circuits in elite boys' club lacrosse.
Sources: Alliance Lacrosse League official website (thealliancelacrosseleague.com) | 3STEP Sports launch announcement (October 2023) | Inside Lacrosse event coverage (2026)
