Girls Lacrosse Academy - Girls Lacrosse Program

IMG Academy’s girls lacrosse program emphasizes intentional personal development and a methodology that prepares each student-athlete for the next stage, regardless of their current level. The program is known for its unparalleled college placement, innovative on-field training, and a challenging yet supportive environment, placing over 40 girls lacrosse student-athletes in college over the last five years, including 25+ Division I placements.

Since the program’s inception, IMG Academy girl lacrosse student-athletes have committed to top-tier programs after developing foundational skills, proper technique, lacrosse IQ, and confidence. Players train directly with experienced coaches, former NCAA champions, and hall-of-famers who offer advice and guidance that cannot be found anywhere else.

Girls Lacrosse Program

overview

athletic development

facilities

methodology

coaching staff

Overview

Program Structure

IMG Academy’s girls lacrosse program emphasizes improving key fundamentals such as shooting and passing, player movements, strategies and teamwork, and formations developed within IMG Academy lacrosse’s overall methodology.

IMG Academy’s lacrosse coaches instruct players to control the tempo of the game and play smart and aggressively while focusing on spacing, the pace of the game, and staying on the offense to create scoring opportunities in pressure situations.

At the same time, student-athletes receive support throughout the year from highly specialized coaches, expert mentors, trainers, and industry leaders.

Tracking growth & success:

Each student-athlete has a support system around them inclusive of lacrosse coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, teachers, college advisors, and more to aid in the developmental process that includes:

An individual lacrosse developmental plan
A team tactical periodization plan
An individual tactical periodization plan
An athletic personal development plan

Home Away From Home: Hear directly from our families

Teams

IMG Academy lacrosse provides customized programs for prospective student-athletes grades 6-12 as well as for post-graduate players based on their age, skill level, position, and overall goals.

Athletic Development

IMG Acadmey girls lacrosse student-athletes have access to proven performance training in areas like vision, strength & conditioning, nutrition, and sports medicine. Athletic Development coaches and trainers integrate into the program's larger support system, ensuring that each student-athlete feels confident and prepared off the court as well.

Strength & Conditioning

IMG Academy’s Strength & Conditioning team designs a specific program that supplements basketball training to help student-athletes reach their potential.

Speed, agility, and movement
Endurance & Conditioning
Strength and power
Flexibility, mobility, balance, and core

Sports Medicine

IMG Academy’s Sports Medicine program educates and helps student-athletes keep their bodies healthy during demanding training and competition schedules. Our team promotes athlete availability through preventative and corrective exercises, holistic injury evaluation & treatment and movement quality assessments.

Athletic training
Physical therapy
Injured athlete program
Corrective exercise work
Recovery
Education on injury management
Return-to play management

Nutrition

At IMG Academy, we understand how important it is for student-athletes to fuel their bodies to meet their high-level lifestyles and sport demands. Our Nutrition program maximizes student-athlete performance by equipping them with nutrition knowledge and resources to fuel and hydrate themselves for academic, athletics and long-term health.

Optimal everyday nutrition
Performance Plate
Nutrient intake and timing
Hydration strategies
Supplement education
Pre and post-competition fueling
Travel nutrition
Energy balance

Visual Training

Vision Training is not just about seeing – it’s about doing. Student-athletes will train their eyes to perform more quickly and efficiently through eye muscle and visual system development.

Hand-eye coordination
Peripheral vision
Reaction time
Depth perception
Vision strength

Learn more about Personal Development

Facilities

IMG Academy’s girls lacrosse program trains and competes on the following facilities on campus:

Two dedicated lacrosse fields (both grass and turf) along with 20+ multi-sport fields
Lacrosse-specific turf field for showcased games
Covered turf facility
Field House with professional locker rooms, lacrosse coaches' offices, and team meeting rooms for practice and game video analysis and review

Other Facilities

Explore our housing and amenities here

Dorms
Campus Center
Academic Center

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Annual Training Schedule

IMG Academy’s annual training schedule ensures that student-athletes are focusing on proper recovery methods and team building as well as competition opportunities, strength training, and more. IMG Academy’s college-preparatory environment emphasizes academic excellence, college recruitment, personal growth, and lacrosse training in a structured atmosphere that’s proven in developing student-athletes for the next level. The girls' program competes against nationally-credited opponents that challenge each student-athlete both individually and as a part of the team.

Fall Team meetings Conditioning and strength training begins along with player evaluations Coaches will begin to learn each student-athlete game and will structure practices to ensure complete on-field development and progression Fall competition includes 1-2 play days against other high schools and 1-2 showcases
Winter Spring training begins to prepare for the upcoming competition Conditioning elements and Athletic Personal Development components continue to be incorporated into the scheduling
Spring A full schedule of games for the spring season Trips to schools and tournaments in the northeast to take on the best in the country

Girls Lacrosse Head Coach, Shannon O'Neil

Shannon O’Neil joins the IMG Academy lacrosse program with 15+ years leading young women to success on and off the lacrosse field at the high school and collegiate levels. A native of Newburgh, NY, Shannon attended Villanova University as a four-year starter. During her time on the Main Line, Shannon became a 2x Mid-Atlantic Region All-American and team captain. She was invited to participate in the North/South Senior All Star Game after her senior season. O’Neil is still second in Villanova’s all-time women’s lacrosse record book for total career points, assists and ground balls.

Following graduation, O’Neil was named the first women’s lacrosse head coach at Division II Saint Anselm College in Manchester. After establishing that program as a conference contender, she returned to the Main Line to become the head coach at Villanova from 2000-2006. During her tenure, the Wildcats made multiple trips to postseason play for the Patriot League and she was named Patriot League Coach of the Year.

Experience

BA in Sociology, Villanova University
MSW, University of Pennsylvania
Assistant Coach, Villanova University
Head Coach, St. Anselm College
Head Coach, Villanova University
Head Coach, Shipley School

Coach	Title
Tom Marechek	Director of Lacrosse
Shannon O'Neil	Head Coach
Alexandra Giovannone	Assistant Coach
Joe Taylor	Program Manager
Jake Allison	Student Athlete Advisor
Joey Galuppi	Student Athlete Advisor

Program Achievements

Some impressive highlights of the IMG Academy girls lacrosse program include:

Ava Kitt named 2023 USA Lacrosse All American

Alumna, Natalia Raiszadeh named 2023 USA Lacrosse all-academic

2022 National Cup Champions

Alumna, Brynn Gallagher named 2022 Adrenaline All American

Alumna, Ruby Lynch named 2022 US Lacrosse All-American

Cece Bliss named to the 2022 America Select Florida Team

View Our Stories

Take an inside look at IMG Academy student-athletes and their unique journeys on campus. While each student-athlete has a unique background and story, their shared passions and goals are clear as they strive together to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.

Through the Eyes of a Senior - Sophie Macleod - IMG Academy Lacrosse Campus Tour

From the Inside, Out - Gabby A.

Tuition

IMG Academy boarding school is built for dedicated and passionate student-athletes. We provide the tools and resources for our student-athletes to achieve their goals in the classroom, in their sport, in college and beyond. IMG Academy tuition rates are based on the comprehensive nature of our programming and resources available to student-athletes.

2023-2024 full year girls' lacrosse tuition ranges from $67,400-$89,900 depending on age and program enrollment.

Download Girls' Lacrosse Tuition

Academics

Offering grades 6-12 as well as post-graduate options, IMG Academy provides lacrosse student-athletes with a robust academic curriculum, unmatched academic support, and resources that prepare them for the rigors of university life and beyond.

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Personal Development

IMG Academy girls lacrosse student-athletes participate in courses targeted towards imperative topics such as eliminating distractions, confidence, strength and conditioning, and communication skills.

Learn the Process

College Placement

It’s critical for lacrosse student-athletes to feel confident and equipped to find the best college fit. IMG Academy’s proven, industry-leading college placement services and technology have placed more student-athletes on college rosters than any other program in the world.

Learn more

Campus Experience

IMG Academy develops female leaders in sports and life through a supportive environment of peers and mentors who share similar passions and goals.

Explore Campus

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IMG Academy Boarding School Application

IMG Academy is the world leader in sports education and the boarding school admits a limited amount of students annually from a large pool of qualified applicants, so we encourage interested student-athletes to submit an application as early as possible. Submit your online application to get started today.

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