Any chance girls lax will begin wearing helmets?

[Anonymous]

I know of 5 girls who have been hit in the head playing lax this year and got concussions.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the Heads up!!!!

See what I did there I made a pun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the Heads up!!!!

See what I did there I made a pun.

Well if this serious thread is instead going to turn into a pun chain, someone had to get the ball rolling...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the Heads up!!!!

See what I did there I made a pun.

Well if this serious thread is instead going to turn into a pun chain, someone had to get the ball rolling...

Let's stick with the topic at hand.

[Anonymous]

It depends if US Lacrosse or other governing bodies are on the ball...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends if US Lacrosse or other governing bodies are on the ball...

US Lacrosse is a total basket case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends if US Lacrosse or other governing bodies are on the ball...

US Lacrosse is a total basket case.

[Anonymous]

Sure, there's a chance. Should they have to wear them, no. Some believe mandating helmets will make the game more dangerous simply because players will be inclined to check to the head more often and more aggressively. Wearing a helmet won't stop the aggressive teams creating these dangerous situations. Enforcing the rules consistently will have a bigger impact.

[Anonymous]

Helmets don’t belong in girls lax. They should be banned. The few girls wearing them are usually reckless and a danger to other players - feel invincible and are therefore less cautious. Hitting another player with a helmet inflicts a lot of damage.

[Anonymous]

"It will make them more aggressive" is an incredibly stupid argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"It will make them more aggressive" is an incredibly stupid argument.

Belongs with "giving kids condoms will make them suddenly want to have sex" - ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

One thing I've observed as a spectator is that I see fewer "in the sphere" calls when the ball carrier is wearing a helmet, even though I often see more sticks closer to the helmet than on girls who only wear goggles. So, I don't think the concern is unfounded.

Equally though, I see the earlier poster's point about some of the helmeted girls being more aggressive (not sure, though, whether that is causation or correlation and/or whether more aggressive girls (or their parents) are more likely to select helmets than less aggressive ones.

I think it should be an option, particularly where there has been a prior head injury to a player. If my daughter played field, I'd consider whether a helmet would be helpful and I'd probably demand she wear one if she ever were concussed. As it is, I have a goalie, so she's fully helmeted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I've observed as a spectator is that I see fewer "in the sphere" calls when the ball carrier is wearing a helmet, even though I often see more sticks closer to the helmet than on girls who only wear goggles. So, I don't think the concern is unfounded.

Equally though, I see the earlier poster's point about some of the helmeted girls being more aggressive (not sure, though, whether that is causation or correlation and/or whether more aggressive girls (or their parents) are more likely to select helmets than less aggressive ones.

I think it should be an option, particularly where there has been a prior head injury to a player. If my daughter played field, I'd consider whether a helmet would be helpful and I'd probably demand she wear one if she ever were concussed. As it is, I have a goalie, so she's fully helmeted.

As a parent of a goalie, you probably pay closer attention than most and this is a good example. When re-defending, players will attempt to check the ball from the goalie with far more aggression than on a field player. The ref's typically let this go as the goalie is protected by a helmet. I have never seen a girl carded for a attempted check within the sphere v. a goalie. No one would ever advocate that goalies not wear a helmet.

[Anonymous]

The original question was, will the girls game get to a point where players have to wear helmets. Wearing helmets won't stop aggressive behavior or players checking to the head. And agree it could make matters worse if the primary reason for concussions is not addressed, which is illegal checks to the head. If it's proven wearing a helmet is a deterrent for checks to the head then by all means strongly encourage the girls to wear helmets. But it's unlikely wearing a helmet will make an aggressive player stop and think about swinging at another player's head. Consistent enforcement of the rules will do more to improve safety by removing these types of players from the game. Helmets or not officials need to enforce the rules. Otherwise have the girls wear helmets, throw on the pads like the boys, and make it a full contact sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I've observed as a spectator is that I see fewer "in the sphere" calls when the ball carrier is wearing a helmet, even though I often see more sticks closer to the helmet than on girls who only wear goggles. So, I don't think the concern is unfounded.

Equally though, I see the earlier poster's point about some of the helmeted girls being more aggressive (not sure, though, whether that is causation or correlation and/or whether more aggressive girls (or their parents) are more likely to select helmets than less aggressive ones.

I think it should be an option, particularly where there has been a prior head injury to a player. If my daughter played field, I'd consider whether a helmet would be helpful and I'd probably demand she wear one if she ever were concussed. As it is, I have a goalie, so she's fully helmeted.

As a parent of a goalie, you probably pay closer attention than most and this is a good example. When re-defending, players will attempt to check the ball from the goalie with far more aggression than on a field player. The ref's typically let this go as the goalie is protected by a helmet. I have never seen a girl carded for a attempted check within the sphere v. a goalie. No one would ever advocate that goalies not wear a helmet.

DP. I agree with the goalie parent.

While I also see the earlier poster's point that girls become more aggressive when playing with helmets, I also have seen some very troubling occurrences of extremely aggressive checks that have certainly been in the head sphere. When that has happened only rarely has the ref called the check and even more rarely issued a yellow or red card. I believe there is a tremendous need for the refs to review the rules and then enforce them as written.

In the DMV especially, these are elementary, middle and high school girls playing high level lax because they are competitive, athletic and skilled. Coaches need to enforce the rules for their girls during practice so the girls develop good habits of behavior and muscle memory, and refs need to enforce the rules during games. With more consistent practices at practice, and enforcement of the rules during the games, including assertive use of the red card, the game will still be competitive but much less dangerous. Our girls are smart. After a few red cards behaviors will change.