What Thunder Lb3 Lacrosse does

Thunder Lacrosse is a private youth and high school lacrosse club organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, operating under the parent 3 Step Sports LLC. The program fields 20 competitive club teams spanning graduation classes 2027-2035 and serves 1,100+ athletes across the Southeast, with primary training concentrated at Life University. The portfolio comprises tiered products: Thunder Elite (core competitive club teams), Thunder All-Stars (invite-only summer program tied to the PLC Summer Championships), Thunder World Series (qualifier program targeting the Lacrosse World Series), and seasonal training and camp offerings (Winter Elite, Spring Elite, Summer Day Camps). The program also generates event revenue through hosted tournaments (Reindeer Games in Georgia, Project South in Matthews, NC) and offers paid Team Training services to external high school and youth programs.

Revenue is generated through a combination of recurring club team memberships (annual commitments covering fall and summer seasons), per-athlete tryout fees ($90), per-session training fees ($75 for Winter Elite), tournament entry fees ($110/player or $1,650/team for Reindeer Games; $1,800-$2,200/team for Project South), summer camp registrations for grad years 2030-2037, team training contracts, and a merchandise storefront. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, funneling families through online registration via the third-party PlayerFirst Technology platform. The program is the only National Lacrosse Federation (NLF)-affiliated club in Georgia, granting exclusive access to NLF recruiting tournaments and college coach showcases, a central driver of customer acquisition and retention. Leadership includes President Andy Pons, Thunder Elite Director Rick Lewis, Events and Training Director Alex Haskins, and Senior Director Bryan Wallace, supported by a bench of high-credentialed coaches including NLL MVP Shayne Jackson and the winningest coach in Georgia high school lacrosse history, Tony Souza.

Name

Thunder Lb3 Lacrosse

Legal name

Thunder Lacrosse

Website

https://thunderlax.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thunder Lacrosse is a Marietta, Georgia-based private youth lacrosse club operating 20 teams for 1,100+ athletes, offering elite club competition, seasonal training, camps, and tournaments as Georgia's only NLF-affiliated program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Club Lacrosse Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Youth lacrosse club
• Club sports training
• Lacrosse team training
• College lacrosse recruiting
• Sports tournament hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Marietta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Club Team Membership Fees: Annual commitment fees for Thunder Elite teams, covering fall and summer tournament seasons, practices, and access to NLF recruiting events.
2. Tryout Registration: Per-athlete registration fee for Thunder Elite tryouts at $90 per athlete, including PlayerFirst processing fee.
3. Training Programs: Seasonal elite training programs including Winter Elite ($75/session) and Spring Elite training, designed for top players in the Atlanta area.
4. Summer Camps: Day camp programs for boys in grades 2030-2037 at various locations, staffed by Thunder alumni and college players.
5. Tournament Entry Fees: Tournament fees for Reindeer Games ($110/player or $1,650/team) and Project South ($1,800/team for high school, $2,200/team for youth).
6. Team Training Services: Customized 90-minute training sessions for external teams during offseason, with 1-2 sessions per week.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thunder Lacrosse operates a year-round youth lacrosse club program based in Marietta, Georgia, fielding 20 competitive teams across graduation classes 2027-2035 plus affiliate programs (All-Stars, World Series). The program sells annual team memberships, seasonal elite training sessions (Spring/Winter Elite at $75/session), summer day camps, hosted 7v7 and showcase tournaments, and contract-based team training services delivered by Thunder coaches to external school and youth programs. All offerings center on player development, competitive tournament play, and college lacrosse recruiting exposure through the program's exclusive National Lacrosse Federation affiliation.

Product overview

Thunder Lacrosse is a lacrosse club organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of club teams and training programs. The core offering consists of Thunder Elite (competitive club teams for graduation years 2027-2035), Thunder All-Stars (invite-only summer experience), and Thunder World Series (qualifier teams). These are supported by seasonal training programs including Spring Elite, Winter Elite, and Summer Day Camps, along with Team Training services for external teams. The organization also hosts tournaments including Reindeer Games and Project South. All programs are affiliated with the National Lacrosse Federation and provide pathways for college recruitment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thunder Elite: Elite-level club teams for experienced, highly skilled high school players competing at the highest club level. Teams require annual commitment for fall and summer tournament seasons.
• Thunder All-Stars
• Thunder World Series
• Winter Elite Training
• Spring Elite Training
• Summer Day Camps
• Team Training
• Reindeer Games
• Project South

Products and services

• Thunder Elite Premier club lacrosse teams for experienced high school players (graduation classes 2027-2035) competing at the highest club level, requiring annual commitment for fall and summer tournament seasons, practices, and access to NLF recruiting events. Sold as annual team memberships.
• Thunder All-Stars Invite-only summer opportunity for Thunder players to compete and train at the PLC Summer Championships, including college campus training and an exclusive Thunder All-Stars uniform.
• Thunder World Series Teams competing at the South Regional Qualifier in Vero Beach for a chance to advance to the Lacrosse World Series Championship in metro Philadelphia, for players born on or after July 4, 2012.
• Winter Elite Training Elite-level winter training program with 7 sessions on Sunday evenings in January for top players (graduation years 2028-2034), designed to maintain competition and training quality, priced at $75 per session.
• Spring Elite Training Elite-level training program with 7 sessions offered on Sunday evenings in February, March, and April for top players in the Atlanta area, open to Thunder Elite athletes and outside players.
• Summer Day Camps Day camps for boys in graduation years 2030-2037 focusing on fundamental stick skills, positional development, and teamwork at Life University (Marietta, GA) and Lambert High School (Suwanee, GA), staffed by Thunder alumni and college players.
• Team Training Off-season and in-season training services where Thunder coaches work directly with external teams through 90-minute practice sessions focusing on fundamentals and team concepts, typically scheduled at 1-2 sessions per week, coordinated through Events and Training Director Alex Haskins.
• Reindeer Games Tournament Annual 7v7 holiday-themed tournament held in December with team ($1,650 per team) and player ($110 per player) registration options, including a Toys for Tots gift program partnership.
• Project South Tournament Tournament held in Matthews, NC open to elite-level club teams with High School Division (graduation years 2028-2030 at $1,800 per team) and Youth Division (graduation years 2031-2033 at $2,200 per team) competing over multiple days.

Quantifiable outcome

• 460+ players sent to college since 2013
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Lacrosse Federation (NLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThunder Lacrosse is a proud affiliate of the National Lacrosse Federation, the only NLF-affiliated program in Georgia. This membership provides Thunder athletes exclusive access to NLF recruiting tournaments and showcases that draw college coaches from top programs nationwide. Thunder was admitted into the NLF, aligning with leading programs across North America and expanding opportunities for athletes.
• PlayerFirst TechnologycoreTechnology or IntegrationPlayerFirst Technology provides single login access to 150+ youth sport organizations across the country. Thunder uses PlayerFirst for all registration, roster management, and waiver processing. Athletes and families use the same account across all brands on the PlayerFirst platform.
• Life UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife University in Marietta, GA serves as the primary training facility for Thunder Lacrosse. Tryouts, training sessions, and many events are held at Life University facilities (Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060).
• Lambert High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLambert High School in Suwanee, GA serves as a summer camp location for Thunder Lacrosse programs.
• Toys for TotsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThunder Lacrosse partners annually with Toys for Tots during the Reindeer Games tournament, inviting participants to donate unwrapped gifts.
• USA LacrossecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThunder coaches and alumni are recognized through USA Lacrosse awards and certifications. Thunder adheres to USA Lacrosse age verification policies and guidelines. Multiple coaches have received USA Lacrosse All-American recognitions for their athletes.
• PLC (Premier Lacrosse League)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThunder All-Stars compete at the PLC Summer Championships, receiving training at a premier college lacrosse campus and coaching from Thunder Directors.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 3 Step Sports: Parent holding company of Thunder Lacrosse and operator of multiple youth sports club brands. Direct comparator for portfolio-level economics, shared services, and platform-driven expansion strategy.

Direct peers

• MadLax Lacrosse Club: National elite youth lacrosse club fielding nationally ranked teams and competing in elite recruiting showcases. Comparable club-based business model targeting college-bound athletes in the same NLF/recruiting ecosystem.
• FCA Lacrosse: Multi-region elite youth lacrosse program competing in major recruiting showcases with strong college placement outcomes. Comparable business model spanning teams, training, and events.
• SweetLax Lacrosse: National elite lacrosse club based in New York with comparable team and tournament portfolio. Competes at the same NLF/recruiting showcases and attracts similar college-bound player profiles.
• Eclipse Lacrosse Club: Prominent national elite youth lacrosse program with strong college placement track record and multi-state footprint. Competes with Thunder for top-tier talent at major recruiting tournaments.
• LB3 Lacrosse: Georgia-based elite youth lacrosse club operating in the same Southeast market and graduation-year cohorts as Thunder. Head-to-head competitor for top Georgia lacrosse talent and NLF-affiliated showcase rosters.
• True Lacrosse: Multi-region youth lacrosse club operating teams, training programs, and tournaments for elite high school players nationally. Direct competitor in the elite club lacrosse recruiting circuit with similar year-round programming structure.
• Team 91 Lacrosse: Long-standing East Coast elite lacrosse club with multiple teams and recruiting showcases. Operates a similar club team + training + events model targeting NCAA-bound athletes.

Others

• National Lacrosse Federation (NLF): Ecosystem partner that operates the elite recruiting showcases and tournaments Thunder exclusively accesses in Georgia. Defines the league/affiliation tier in which Thunder competes.

Regional players

• Eagle Elite Lacrosse Club: Southeast-based elite youth lacrosse club competing with Thunder for top regional talent in Georgia and surrounding states. Similar focus on college recruiting exposure but smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thunderlacrosse
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThunderLC
• Instagraminstagram.com/thunderlaxclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thunderlacrosse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thunder Lb3 Lacrosse