While the topic of girls helmets has been discussed on BOTC previously, the Sunday, July 8th Newsday article (Pages A10-A11) by Bob Herzog has again put the topic front and center in the mainstream media.
Reports are that Brown University will be staging research using crash test dummies to determine the extent to which helmets will protect girls from concussions resulting from stick-to-head contact. If there is a chance to curtail these injuries, what type of helmet will be the resulting recommendation? Hard shell, soft shell? Face masks, eye guards?
US Lacrosse is listening to this debate. Ann Carpenetti commented that there has been little or no research on the subject to date. Many can argue that the girls side of lacrosse is a finesse game, but reports here on BOTC and the Newsday article indicate that the game is now pressing the physical aspects over the former finesse approach. Certainly, the college game does not lend itself to the finesse over athletic form of play.
Quotes in the article cite that some female players are more confident with the soft shell helmet as a minimum yet still feel that a hard shell will encourage even more physical play.
As always BOTC asks, "What's Your View?"
| 
