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SYRACUSE -- When it comes to women's lacrosse most players will tell you they love the intensity of the game, but as the game has become more aggressive some say it's time for helmets to become part of the rules because too many are suffering head injuries.
It's something West Genesee player Nicole Perkins knows all about. "I had my goggles on and there was a shot that was like into my face kind of--like I was running in the shot and it hit me right in the goggles...hard enough it gave me a minor concussion," Perkins said.
It's a similar story for others, but Dr. Cynthia Bright said one time is too much and the girls heads need to be protected. "Every time I watch a game I'm always worried that someone, if not my daughter, someone else is going to get hit in the head because although no one tries to hit another player and there's rules against that-- it happens. Accidents happen," Bright said.
Bright said her daughter had a concussion two months ago from playing lacrosse, but she also sees it frequently among her patients. That's why she wants Section III to make helmets part of the game.
Section III tells us the issue is on its Safety Committee's agenda. We also talked to US Lacrosse, the governing body of the sport. Steve Stenersen, President of US Lacrosse, says helmets will not prevent concussions. "The consideration of putting more equipment on a player is ignoring the more fundamental issue of making sure that officials and coaches are properly trained to teach the sport. It's a band-aid that won't solve the problem," Stenersen said.
Stenersen believes there needs to be a balance between the interest of the sport and safety of the players.
As for the players, they're most likely to tell you they'll pass on the helmet. Perkins said, "I wouldn't want to wear a helmet because the way we play, we don't play like the boys, so there's no real reason for it in my view. I think the gloves and goggles are fine with me."
But Bright says the eyewear does not prevent head injuries. She said, "Although the injuries to the face and lacerations are more common, they're not as serious. Really the serious thing is the injury to the brain and that can have long term effects and I don't think anybody wants to see that in a teenager."
Next season U.S. Lacrosse will begin looking into whether helmets are needed.
The study will help experts better understand how and why concussions occur.
