Should Girl Lacrosse Players Wear Headgear?

An article in the NY Times discusses the challenge of requiring girls' lacrosse players wear protective headgear. There is much to suggest it is time for the players to have some sort of protection on their heads. Even with rules that protect players from cross checking and "polite" competition, the rate of concussions are one of the highest in sports. Not just sports with girls competing, but all sports. Per the article, only football, ice hockey, boys' lacrosse and girls' soccer are higher. 

While to some, requiring headgear for girls' lax is a no brainer (purposeful pun), there are those who feel adding headgear will incite a sense of daring and the players will take more chances. This could, according to the traditionalists, result in more head trauma.

The headgear I saw in the article look more like bike helmets with incorporated eye protective guards. There are pockets of clubs in the rest of the country who are requiring and/or providing helmets for the players. The cost quoted in the article is around $150 per helmet.

Maybe the Hillsboro schools and clubs will be leaders in this movement and requirement headgear, especially for the youth players. 

Greg

Article:  Pennington, Bill. As Concussion Worries Rise, Girls' Lacrosse Turns to Headgear. NY Times. 23 Nov 2017.