Gearing Up: Is Protective Headgear a Necessity in Women’s Lacrosse
Thesis: Despite growing rates of concussions among women’s lacrosse , mandating a headgear or helmet requirement for all players would disturb the unique nature of women’s lacrosse, which relies upon finesse and ability over brute strength, increase aggressive action in game play, or take attention away from more prominent injury risks of the game.
Intro
Lacrosse is the fastest sport on two feet/ fastest growing sport in the United States
Recently, a push for more protective gear has evolved outside the lacrosse community due to rising fear of increased head trauma; it incited a debate revolving around whether or not extra protective headgear would decrease the dangers of
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Required protective headgear could evolve the game into a version that is inconsistent with the original and current styles of women’s lacrosse
Origins of women’s lacrosse in comparison to the current style
Every year, a series of new rules or amendments to current rules are implemented.
Inconsistencies in game rules and major rule alterations cause confusion and disorientation between youth, high school, and collegiate players.
Most rule changes are established at the collegiate level, before integration into high school and youth levels.
Lacrosse is already an evolutionary sport
23 Rule changes in Women’s lacrosse between the 2015 and 2016 season
Overtime, major rule changes alter the game
Shot Clock, 3 Seconds, Dangerous Contact
Actions most likely to cause harm are already prohibited
The purpose of the eight meter and 12 meter arc in protecting players
Mandating headwear requirements undermines the authority and effectiveness of the rules currently in place.
Examples of major and minor fouls
Shooting Space
3 Seconds Rule Dangerous Propelling Dangerous Contact
Blind Picks
Required Yellow and Red Cards
2016 regulated points of
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Ignoring innate dangers of the sport to other body areas could allow
Compare rates of several major injuries in women’s lacrosse
Knee injuries
ACL, biological weakness in the female body
Ankle and foot injuries
Objections
Protective headgear could reduce rising rates of
It also concludes that headgear hardly reduces concussions in sports like girls lacrosse and field hockey. Though some research hints at a figure around 100g, only the hard-sided men’s helmet brought accelerations for blows to the back significantly below that figure. And in many game situations, given how little other protective equipment female players wear, a hard-sided helmet could easily cause more injuries that it prevents, Crisco says. ‘It could actually make the game more aggressive.’” This is important because it shows that girls would need to wear men’s football type helmets to actually reduce concussions, and that would make the game more aggressive. The article also states, ““every shaft was broken by the end of the study, which would never happen in a game. The goal was just to give US Lacrosse and the manufacturers some baseline information on the types of accelerations they could expect to see in a worst-case scenario.” This is important because it shows that, even in a worst case scenario, the scientist believed helmets would not
I have been studying the effects of protective headgear and their ability to prevent head injuries. Attached is my report, “Effects of Protective Headgear on Subsequent Concussions.”
If you touch somebody, it is a penalty. They wear goggles and mouth guards for protection. They play with twelve players unlike men who play with ten. They also all have the same stick, which consists of an aluminum shaft and a plastic head with mesh as a net with no pocket. College Lacrosse is very fun to watch in my opinion.
Lacrosse is a sport that was created by the Native Americans around the 1600s (5). The sport once known as stick ball to the Indians has evolved to a major sport across the world. Lacrosse was a sport that was a real major part of European culture before it made its way to America. It has just recently been picked up in the major ranks of colleges and even a professional level. So with the rise of this sport comes the rise of the preparatory phases to get ready for competition.
There has been extraordinary improvements of helmets from the old leather to the modernized-plastic football helmets along with the face mask and energy- absorbent padding. In addition, the concern over preventing concussions, have led to helmet changes, impact testing methods and reconstruction of injuries during play helping to provide insight on concussions(4). Helmets have been successful in decreasing the risk of traumatic brain injuries, but there is much concern over concussion; therefore, scholars argue the importance of technology development to address concussion(5). As the author(s), David Viano and David Halstead discusses, there is room needed for understanding the types of collisions associated in youths and the impact condition addressing collisions. There are many variables to consider addressing concussion and where they occur.
In the beginning of the season, the Sherwood High School girl’s lacrosse team had enough to field two teams, a JV and a Varsity, but by the end of the season, there was only enough to field one team. At one point in the season the team had 8 out of 26 girls out with concussions Team statistics such as this, have the lacrosse community in an uproar over whether or not to mandate helmets for all levels of women’s lacrosse teams. The debate has arisen out of an increase in concussions and the recent research which has provided more insight to the science of the brain and its injuries. Those in favor of a new headgear mandate suggest that it will prevent concussions and be safer for the players, but
Many Americans love sports, including football, basketball and hockey. What most people do not think about, is the injury and risks that come along with playing sports. Concussions are a major part of this, and can cause severe brain damage and loss of basic functions. Many sports leagues, however, do not have the right protocol to increase player safety. The National government should implement rules and regulations to improve safety for players.
In today’s society, sports are the main highlight in the lives of youth, collegiate, and some adults. Many boys and girls have hopes and dreams of one day becoming a professional athlete. Many people are so involved in the love of the game, that they are unaware if the dangers their children are in. The most dangerous sport involves the lives of males. Over the past decade, many athletes have died or have brain problems because of so many hits to the head, causing them to have a concussion. Concussions damage the brain and create illnesses and diseases the are hard to get rid of. Although sports in all levels are deeply ingrained in the American society, football and hockey are riddled with head injuries and should be changed from the lowest levels through professional sports to lessen the devastating effects of concussions.
Football can be a very dangerous sport. And although those who play the game believe that they are being protected by the helmets that they wear, the truth is that this may not be the case. In a recent study released by the American Academy of Neurology it has been found that “protection against concussion and complications of brain injury is especially important for young players, including elementary and middle school, high school and college athletes, whose still-developing brains are more susceptible to the lasting effects of trauma”(Science Daily, 2014). The study also found that standard football helmets worn by the majority of players on the field today, only reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury by 20 percent compared to not wearing a helmet at all (Science Daily, 2014).
The league office has taken various factors into account, as we considered enacting rule changes designed to reduce head injuries. First and foremost, we engaged in dialogue about whether any rule changes would threaten the “sole” of the sport. We came to the conclusion that these rule changes would not damage the sport, and would only legitimize it further. Secondly, we talked officials from other leagues regarding their changes in sports. Our league has experienced similar
Blankets are put down at 4 p.m. to reserve a seat. Streets become deserted and restaurants empty just before 7:30 p.m. kickoffs” (B. 12). While football is one of the most loved sports; it is also one of the more dangerous. Many football players will endure bone fractures, ankle sprains, and knee injuries, which are very common; but the injury high school football seems to attract the most is head injuries.Head injuries can have a lasting effect on high school players and tend to be very common. Some people consider the players at fault, while others will blame the helmet manufacturing, coaches, or even the parents. High school players are almost always overlooked and many problems can arise. Therefore coaches, players and parents need to take more responsibility and see that there are solutions to prevent concussions and eliminate such a common problem among high school players.
Researchers later found out that headgear is not protecting their brain. A competitor’s brain is still being shook around the skull. The requirement of wearing headgear is now optional to these sports.
Along with typical symptoms, athletes should be aware of ways that the injury can be avoided. In concussion education classes, athletes would be educated on how to wear the proper headgear for their sport, ways to avoid head to head collisions, and what conditions are safe to play in. For many sports, headgear is required and athletes cannot practice or compete without it. Sports involving a possibility for high impact such as football, wrestling, baseball, softball, hockey, horseback riding, skateboarding, skiing, and cycling all require some type of helmet or headgear to be worn while playing (Concussion). While not every sport that requires headgear is a contact sport, head injuries are still likely to occur in all of them. All athletes, even athletes playing non contact sports, should be
Helmets are a major guideline that needs to be improved because a helmet is there to protect the head and prevent concussions but it doesn't seem to be doing a good job. Now there's always that question of “why don't we just make the helmet better and more equipped to prevent concussions?”, well we've had football around for years now and if it hasn't been done yet I don't think it will ever be done. According to the North Eastern Undergraduate Writing Journal, since the 1970s, helmets have been made with a polycarbonate shell, a steel face mask, and padding which is just foam and inflatable air bladders. Even though modern helmets maybe more
Lacrosse has been around since the 1400’s, and is coming back today as one of the U.S.’s most popular sports