See this story from Lacrosse Magazine :
New York Considers Men's Helmets for Women's LacrosseAn upcoming vote by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) to require men's lacrosse helmets to be worn in women's lacrosse as soon as 2012 has advocates of the sport concerned.
"I think the idea of making girls wear helmets that were specifically designed for a different game is irresponsible," said Ann Carpenetti, managing director for game administration for US Lacrosse.
The vote by the NYSPHSAA's Safety & Research Committee is scheduled for Dec. 2 and, if it passes there, would be sent to the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee for a vote on Dec. 5 or 6. Leaders from US Lacrosse, including Carpenetti and Steve Stenersen (president and chief executive officer) spoke against the proposal at a Section 8 (Nassau County) meeting on Tuesday.
The proposal came about due to the desire to reduce the number of concussions in girls' lacrosse. The topic was discussed in New York last year as well, but it was not brought up for a vote, as it has been this year.
US Lacrosse has been at the leading edge of addressing the concern over concussions, but does not support this particular approach.
"There's no data in any sport that tells us that helmets prevent concussions," said Margot Putukian, M.D., the director of athletic medicine services at Princeton University and the chair of the US Lacrosse Sports Science & Safety Committee. "They weren't designed to do that. They were designed to prevent skull fractures and intracranial bleeds."
