Continuing debate about helmets in girls’ lacrosse

By Ming Shen. This article was initially published in our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.

As described in an article by Tom Dart in The Guardian, the use of helmets in women’s lacrosse continues to be a topic of significant debate, as helmets are not mandatory in women’s lacrosse but are required in men’s lacrosse. A 2015 study found that women’s lacrosse had the second-highest rate of concussions among a variety of high school and college sports, including soccer, football, and hockey.

Concussions have long-term effects that impact many women in lacrosse. Becca Losch, for example, suffered a concussion after a blow in the back of her head during a pre-game warmup drill. After her injury, her health diminished greatly; she was unable to complete daily tasks and attend school due to migraines and an inability to focus, among other symptoms. Ten years later, she still receives botox injections to treat her migraines.

Unfortunately, over 72% of concussions in women’s lacrosse are attributed to stick or ball contact head injuries, many of which could have been prevented by wearing the same helmets worn in men’s lacrosse, as shown in a study published in 2020. Concussion Alliance would like to note that while helmets help reduce the risk of concussion through padding and distribution of force, they do not prevent all concussions. 

Florida began requiring helmets for all women’s high school lacrosse teams in 2015. Still, seven years later, Florida remains the only state that has mandated helmets for women’s lacrosse, even though a 2021 study demonstrated the reduced incidence of concussions in lacrosse in Florida relative to other states without a helmet mandate.

The resistance to the helmet requirement in women’s lacrosse is also evident in USA Lacrosse, the governing organization of lacrosse in the United States. Ann Kitt Carpenetti, the Vice President of the organization, has yet to support the widespread mandating of helmets in women’s lacrosse. She notes that there is insufficient evidence to require helmets for all women in the sport.

Concussion Alliance recommends checking out the Brain Safety Alliance, which advocates for headgear for Women’s Lacrosse.