Should Helmets Be Required in Girls Lacrosse?

The tongue-in-cheek expression "had his bell rung" has all but disappeared from sports vocabularies in recent years as medical and game officials have gained a deeper appreciation for the dangers — immediate and long-term — of concussions.

When it comes to women's and girls lacrosse, that same concern has fuelled a perennial debate: should helmets be required?

Men's lacrosse already mandates helmets for all players, but only goalies are permitted to wear them in the women's game (though mouthguards and eye guards are obligatory). 

That discrepancy may seem odd at first blush, but it comes with some key differences, including a ban on body-checking for women and, in turn, less physical contact. 

As the New York Times reported in February, the debate about whether to change that policy has played out all the way up to National Organizing Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, which sets standards for safety equipment in most sports. 

Where some medical professional see a chance to minimize concussions with helmets, many — including U.S. Lacrosse — worry that introducing the new gear would have the opposite effect, encouraging more physical play and raising injury rates.

"While girls lacrosse is an athletic game it's also an aesthetic game," said Lisa Lindley, coach of the Darien High School girls lacrosse team and a former collegiate player for Northwestern and UMass.

"It's very different from the boys game in that checking is not allowed," Lindley said. "That puts a premium on body positioning, speed, stick -handling and passing, which makes for a fine line between aggressive and dangerous play."

Emma Getsinger and Emma Tuzinkiewicz, Blue Wave co-captains for the upcoming 2011 season, echoed the thoughts of their coach.

"The rule — called the halo rule — [is that] any intrusion within seven inches of the head, accidental or otherwise, is off limits. The imaginary halo between the shoulders and the head cannot be crossed. It's illegal," said Getsinger.  

Still, unintentional contact and falls can and do cause concussions. According to data from the Center for Injury Research and Policy, girls lacrosse has the third-highest rate of concussion among female scholastic sports. From 2009 to 2010, the center says that head and face injuries accounted for about 22 percent of the injuries reported in practice and competition.

Dr. Brian Rieger, director of the Central New York Sports Concussion Center, told the Times in February that "Any time we can prevent a concussion, we should try to do it."

“Even though it’s usually a short-lived event, there are certain situations, I’ve seen it, where even a kid with one concussion can be out of school for weeks or months, and struggle," he said. "When you see a child or parent go through it, it makes me feel we should do anything to prevent it.”

But calling women's lacrosse a "safe sport," US Lacrosse maintains that "the game today continues to be one of finesse and speed, using minimum equipment and prohibiting intentional body contact."

"Helmets do not prevent concussions. But for those who want additional protection on the field, according to the US Lacrosse rulebook, women are permitted to wear soft helmets – which may help lessen the severity of head trauma and facial lacerations," a statement from the organization reads.

"More comprehensive and conclusive research is needed in the area of concussion prevention in youth sports, in order to make the case for additional rule changes that include more protective equipment in women’s lacrosse," it adds.

While officials have decided against introducing the helmets to date, rough and dangerous play has a new "three-and-out" rule in 2011, which Getsinger said would lead players to "think twice about getting too physical."

"The new rule this year at the high school level is that if a player receives three yellow cards, they're not out for three minutes as it's been in past years. This year they'll be out of the game," she said.