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.
