“The tournament continues to be a proving ground for future NLL players, coaches, and officials. Events like these are an invaluable tool in helping grow the sport of box lacrosse in the United States,” said NLL EVP of Lacrosse Operations Brian Lemon.

The NCBS enters the new year after one of its most exciting National Championships since its inception in 2018. For the second straight year, the world’s best college box lacrosse players took center stage in Utica, NY, to compete in the NCBS National Championship.

The event, presented through a partnership between the US Box Lacrosse Association and the NLL, capped off an incredible four days with a thrilling 14-13 overtime national championship game won by the Hawkeyes of the Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (UCBLL).

The National Collegiate Box Series (NCBS) will operate in Colorado (CCBLL), Connecticut (CTCBLL), Ohio (OCBLL), Upstate New York (UCBLL), California (CACBLL), and the DMV (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia area). The Ohio Rivermen captured the inaugural event in 2019. Since Ohio’s title run, the tournament has grown from two to eight teams. The Royals (San Diego) won three straight titles from 2021-23, while the Hawkeyes ended the Royals’ bid for a four-peat in 2024.

Players interested in submitting their names into the 2025 NCBS player pool can follow this link and provide the required information. A representative from the league(s) you expressed interest in will follow up with additional information on how you can be considered for an NCBS roster this year.

Rochester Institute of Technology

Ritter Arena
51 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY 14623

TOURNAMENT DATES:
Aug 6-9, 2025

Tournament Hotels 
Hotel Partners

Streaming Information 
All games will be live streamed on the NLL YouTube Channel

Team Makeup  - NCAA Compliance

• Ages - HS seniors to just graduated collegiate players (with 5th year NCAA eligibility)
• If a player did not attend college in 2025 then they must be born 2002 or earlier
• No more than 5 players from any one college on one team (NCAA compliance)
• Max 3 players (2 players + 1 goalie) who played in Canada (JR A/B/C or Sr) in 2025

The National Collegiate Box Series (NCBS) was established by the US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) in 2018. The highly skilled series provides American collegiate players an opportunity to improve their overall lacrosse skillset through box lacrosse, to compete for a national championship, and also increase their chances of one day playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

First formed in 2017, the Colorado Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (CCBLL) predates the formation of the NCBS, joining the series when it was officially launched a year later. In 2018, the Ohio Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (OCBLL) was established with teams based in both Columbus and Cleveland. In 2019, the OCBLL's Rivermen won the inaugural NCBS National Championship beating the CCBLL's Fighting Bison 2 games to 1 at the 2019 USBOXLA Nationals. 

In 2020, the NCBS welcomed the Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (UCBLL) and the Connecticut Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (CTCBLL) in a season that was ultimately cancelled. 

The NCBS resumed in 2021 with the addition of the California Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (CACBLL).  In 2021, the NCBS National Champions were the CACBLL Royals from San Diego. In 2022 the NCBS welcomed the Mid Atlantic Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (MACBLL).  In both 2022 and 2023,the CACBLL Royals won the NCBS Championship.