Helmets for Girls?
November 2, 2016
1 min read
The New York Times Sports Sunday (October 30) section featured an article titled “New Headgear for Girls Comes on the Market and Reignites an Old Debate”, by Bill Pennington. I read this piece with great interest, as I have been coaching Girl’s Lacrosse for many years now and am familiar with the ongoing debate. With Cascade and now Hummingbird Sports (a start-up company out of New Jersey) launching helmets designed specifically for girls, it seems that at least a portion of the lacrosse industry, is willing to bet that the market will support their venture into this previously unclear area.
The very next day, Cascade’s parent Company, Performance Sports Group, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection. While it appears that the company will be “restructured” and business will go on, the timing of this seems odd, at least to me.
Like anyone else involved in Girls Lacrosse, for me, player safety, is priority number one. I have come to love the Girls game and its distinct differences from the Boys game. I would hate to see the game changed forever by the proliferation of Helmets. But, what parent is going to pass up putting their daughter in a Helmet, whether mandated or not? How do you preserve the unique and beautiful essence of the sport, while continuing to make it safer for its players? I am not sure if there is any clear cut answer.
