Girls Sixes Youth Lacrosse Tournament coming to Albany, New York in January 2026
Winter in the Capital Region is when great teams reset, sharpen, and get a step on spring. The Northstar Winter Classic is that day—an indoor lacrosse tournament built for girls who want real reps, real competition, and a smooth experience at Afrim’s Sports Park in Albany, NY.
If you’ve been searching for a girls youth lacrosse tournament in Albany, NY that actually moves the needle, this is it: small-sided games, quick decisions, and enough touches to boost confidence in a single day.
Why sixes—why now
Sixes lacrosse (the Olympic Sixes format) compresses space and amplifies skill. Fewer players, more ball movement, constant transition. For coaches, it’s a perfect winter laboratory to rep two-person actions, quick outlets, and pressure reads. For players, it’s the most game-like way to build rhythm before tryouts. Put simply: sixes rewards creativity and work rate, and it shows up in March.
What the day actually looks like
One Sunday, indoors, no weather curveballs. Each team plays five 26-minute games in 6v6 (five runners + goalie) on a modified field that keeps play flowing. Divisions let you choose the right lane for your roster: 2026–2028 Gold, 2026–2029 Silver, 2026–2029 Bronze, and 2030–2031. Capacity is capped at 32 teams and schedules are compact by division, so families can plan their day without the all-weekend grind. If “indoor lacrosse tournament” has meant chaos for you in the past, this one is built to run on time.
Why Albany—why Afrim’s
The Capital Region girls lacrosse community deserves a mid-winter event that feels intentional. Afrim’s Sports Park delivers: quality indoor surfaces, clear sightlines for parents, warm lounge and concessions, and parking that’s actually easy. Albany is also an efficient meet-in-the-middle for many upstate programs, which keeps travel sane while still delivering fresh opponents.
Who should circle this on the calendar
- Middle school and high school girls who want meaningful winter competition without marathon days.
- Coaches who value tight brackets, predictable timing, and a format that accelerates decision-making.
- Programs looking to preview lines, test a ride/clear package, or just add a confidence day in January.
How to get the most from the Classic
Arrive with two or three simple points of emphasis (e.g., sub off turnovers, call early switches, hunt the middle in transition) and track them all day. Rotate draw specialists, let different voices run the huddle, and use sixes to get every athlete real touches. Parents: bring the crew—Albany coffee, a warm venue, and on-time games make the day easy.
Key details at a glance
- Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
- Location: Afrim’s Sports Park (Albany, NY)
- Format: Sixes lacrosse (Olympic Sixes rules adapted for youth), 6v6, modified field for max flow
- Game count: Five (5) games per team, 26 minutes each
- Divisions: Girls 2026–2028 Gold; 2026–2029 Silver; 2026–2029 Bronze; 2030–2031
- Capacity: 32 teams; compact schedules by division
For readers finding this via search
If you landed here looking for “girls youth lacrosse tournament Albany NY” or scouting a reliable indoor lacrosse tournament before spring, Northstar Winter Classic is designed for the Capital Region girls lacrosse community and for teams traveling in from nearby states. It’s a fast, fun, development-minded day that still feels like real competition.
Next steps
- Register for the Northstar Winter Classic (Albany) HERE
- See all 2026 PLL Play tournaments in New York HERE
Have a question about fit, divisions, or schedule? Our team’s happy to help you pick the right lane for your roster. Reach out to our Sales Team.
