US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Maryland House to Legislate Girls Protective Headgear

Maryland might find itself on the cutting edge of the girls headgear issue. BOTC finds it intriguing that the response from US Lacrosse is not focused in their opening comments about the core issue at stake. Instead, the opening comment was related to the Maryland House acting "out of place" without first contacting US Lacrosse.

Quite frankly, BOTC sees this issue as once and for all pressing the headgear issue in the girls game. If Maryland approves this legislation, you can expect this decision to spread like wildfire throughout the region.

Your Views?

US Lacrosse Comments on Md. House of Delegates Bill 1123

BALTIMORE, Feb. 13, 2013 - US Lacrosse President and CEO Steve Stenersen today issued comments on the proposed Maryland House of Delegates Bill 1123, which, if passed by the Maryland General Assembly, would legislate that girls' lacrosse players in the state wear protective headgear as per specifications set forth by a state task force.

Steve Stenersen's comments: "US Lacrosse appreciates the Delegates' concern about athlete safety, but we don't understand why they chose not to contact the sport's Maryland-based national governing body, and the respected physicians and researchers who comprise our Sports Science and Safety Committee, to learn what is being done to address this important player safety issue before introducing short-sighted and confusing legislation.

"Prevention of head injuries in both men's and women's lacrosse continues to be a priority of US Lacrosse. We are actively engaged in numerous interventions focused on reducing the risk of head injury in both men's and women's lacrosse, and we have been recognized among the national sports medicine community for our collaboration and proactivity in this regard. Additionally, US Lacrosse continues to fund and lead research to better understand the frequency and severity of head injury specific to both men's and women's lacrosse, and we have been working with ASTM International for more than a year to develop a consensus headgear standard for women's lacrosse based on the results of that research and the importance of appropriately balancing player safety with game integrity.

"It is simply irresponsible to enact legislation requiring head protection in women's lacrosse without a clear understanding of the mechanism of head injury in a version of the sport that is entirely different from its male counterpart, and without head protection designed and manufactured specifically to mitigate that injury mechanism. In both cases, US Lacrosse is providing prudent, focused leadership based on well-founded medical and research protocols."

Additional details and background on the issue follow.

A bill was introduced on February 8 in Maryland that would "require a girls' lacrosse youth sports program operated by a county board or public school in the state to require each athlete to wear protective head gear during practices and games ... A recreational athletic organization that operates a girls' lacrosse youth sports program shall require each athlete to wear protective head gear during practices and games." (excerpt from House Bill 1123)

The bill, which was assigned to the Ways and Means Committee, sites the risks of facial and head injuries, including concussions, as reasons for the legislation. It states that protective head gear "means a helmet that complies with the design and protective standards set forth by the concussion task force."

Full Bill : http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2013RS/bills/hb/hb1123f.pdf

I love the women's game and the last thing I would want to see is for it to be forever changed by putting helmets on the girls.

These politicians need to do their research first and find out that women's/girls lacrosse has fewer head injuries than soccer does. Are mandating helmets for soccer too?

Take a look at what happened when helmets were required in Massachusetts over 10 years ago. The game got more dangerous!

The solution is better education, better coaching and having refs enforce the rules as they are written. Stop calling every little push, however please call every single swing and dangerous check.

About time. Wonder how it effects MD tournaments with non helmet wearing out of state teams come to play?

I would imagine everyone on the field would have to wear regardless of where you came from so they have essentially killed MD girls tournaments as we know it

After being bombarded by calls and emails," this bill is effectively being pulled."

http://www.laxmagazine.com/high_sch...nd_to_require_headgear_in_girls_lacrosse

US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen has confirmed that Maryland General Assembly Delegates Jon Cardin (D) and Dana Stein (D) have agreed to major modifications to the language on House Bill 1123, which they co-sponsored.

Stenersen noted that the delegates agreed to allow US Lacrosse to provide updated language for the bill that will drastically modify its original intent. Instead of mandating headgear use by youth and high school players, the focus of the bill will change to requiring mandatory sport-specific education, training and certification for youth and high school coaches, consistent with US Lacrosse education curricula.

"They are effectively pulling the bill, which is wonderful news," Stenersen said. "We are thrilled that the delegates are willing to work with us and are supportive of this change."