The New York Times Sports Sunday (October 30) section featured an article titled “New Headgear for Girls Comes on the Market and Reignites an Old Debate”, by Bill Pennington. I read this piece with great interest, as I have been coaching Girl’s Lacrosse for many years now and am familiar with the ongoing debate. With Cascade and now Hummingbird Sports (a start-up company out of New Jersey) launching helmets designed specifically for girls, it seems that at least a portion of the lacrosse industry, is willing to bet that the market will support their venture into this previously unclear area.
The very next day, Cascade’s parent Company, Performance Sports Group, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection. While it appears that the company will be “restructured” and business will go on, the timing of this seems odd, at least to me.
Like anyone else involved in Girls Lacrosse, for me, player safety, is priority number one. I have come to love the Girls game and its distinct differences from the Boys game. I would hate to see the game changed forever by the proliferation of Helmets. But, what parent is going to pass up putting their daughter in a Helmet, whether mandated or not? How do you preserve the unique and beautiful essence of the sport, while continuing to make it safer for its players? I am not sure if there is any clear cut answer.
I have been involved in girls lacrosse for many years now and understand both viewpoints. What seems interesting to me is the notion that girls will become more physical if they wear a protective helmet. Has anyone noticed that they already are? This discussion reminds me of the hockey arguments of the 70’s and early 80’s. They also rejected helmets stating players would become more aggressive… Purists are obviously not considering the following:
The goggles- Useless eye cover that causes injuries to nose and eyes. Many players have broken their nose as a result of this protective device.
Referees-The inconsistent identification of infractions that take place when it comes to the sphere and irregular calls associated with the violations in it.
The Players- Girls ARE aggressive. Girls lacrosse players have the highest concussion rate. This is higher than female soccer players who “head “the ball.
The Equipment- The ball is basically a hockey puck and causes injuries.Female players of yore used a wooden crosse not titanium shafts, those sticks did not have angled heads to increase shot velocity just a leather pocket, and they did not train or play all year.
Similar to the female baseball players of the World War II era we ask our players to play hard, wear a skirt, and have no protection because we are interested in preserving the game.
Remember like all things…. change comes.
Kimberly, I really appreciate your comment. Much of what you say, rings very true with me. My daughter suffered cuts and bruises to her nose and cheekbone, thanks (at least in part) to the “protective goggles”. I don’t think helmets will prevent most concussions in girls lacrosse, though they will cut down on the bumps and bruises caused by sticks. I agree, the girls ARE AGGRESSIVE! And I applaud that. With last summer’s inaugural season of the United Women’s Lacrosse League, change is surely coming! As long as change happens for the right reasons (the safety of the players) I am all for it. My concern is that this may be being driven by an industry looking for a new market. Regardless of the cause, I think the rules of women’s lacrosse like the equipment used to play it, will continue to evolve.