Position Regarding Eye Protection in Women's Lacrosse


In June 2000, the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports voted “To recommend mandating some form of eye protection in the sport (of women’s lacrosse) as soon as practicable.”

The recommendation was originally and continues to be based on the following information:

  1. Equipment.  The sport of women’s lacrosse is played with a ball that has the size, consistency and speed (40-60 MPH) to inflict significant damage to the eye.  The stick also has been shown to be a danger to the eye and head.

  2. Injury Data.  Based on data from the NCAA Injury Surveillance System (ISS), the overall injury rate in women’s lacrosse is relatively low; one injury every eight games for a team with 15 playing-time participants and one injury every six practices for a squad of 40.  However, as noted below, when injuries do occur, 17 percent involve the head or face.  Three percent of these reported time-loss injuries are to the eye.

    YearHead Eye 
    2001-0217%3%

    2000-01 

    		20% 3% 
    1999-00 15% 3% 
    1998-99 15% 3% 
    1997-98 17% 2% 


    A majority of both eye (86 percent), and head and face (57 percent) injuries were caused by contact with the ball.  The stick was involved in 14 percent of eye injuries and 35 percent of head /face injuries.  Despite the relative low rate of injury, catastrophic injury to the eye has occurred.  The potential for such an injury to a vital organ like the eye is a concern, especially when the primary injury mechanisms (balls and sticks) cannot be controlled strictly by rules (e.g., flight of the ball).  Rules changes in the college sport designed to reduce the number of people around the offensive goal does not appear to have changed the risk of head or eye injury.

  3. Literature and Organization Positions.  There are at least three scientific studies and several case reports published since 1999 that have suggested or recommended mandatory eyewear in the sport of women’s lacrosse.  The studies include:

    --Webster, DA Head and Facial injuries in interscholastic women’s lacrosse.  Med. Sci. Sports Exerc.  2, 31, 938-41, 1999.

    --Diamond, PT Head injuries in men’s and women’s lacrosse: a ten year analysis of the NEISS database.  Brain Injury 15, 6 537-44, 2001

    --Waicus KM and Smith BW.  Eye Injuries in Women’s Lacrosse Players.  Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.  12:24-29, 2002.

    These studies, produced by a variety of researchers, expand the level of concern beyond the ISS data.  Two national organizations have commented on eye protection in women’s lacrosse. 

    --The National Federation of State High School Associations has recommended mandating some form of eye protection in the high school sport as soon as practicable.

    --The American Academy of Opthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatrics have issued a Joint Statement of Protective Eyewear for Young Athletes.

  4. Success of Protective Eye and Face Equipment.  Equipment (goggles and helmet with face mask) exists that virtually eliminates face and eye injuries in sports such as men’s lacrosse, ice hockey and girl’s lacrosse when such equipment has been mandated.

          
  5. Eye Protection Specific to Women’s Lacrosse.  The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for eye protection in women’s lacrosse have recently been modified, partially in response to feedback from the women’s lacrosse community.  Equipment meeting these new standards, including withstanding the impact of a 60 mph lacrosse ball, is currently available.  Concern still exists about fogging and decreased peripheral vision with existing protective eyewear.

  6. Changes in the Game Resulting from Addition of Protective Equipment.  The Webster study concluded that the head/face game injury rate in high school girl’s lacrosse was 51 percent lower in teams wearing protective eyewear compared to those that did not wear protective eyewear.  It also reported no significant increases in injuries at other sites, possibly in response to the use of protective eyewear.

    A similar study in university ice hockey teams found that full shields significantly reduced the risk of facial injuries and dental injuries compared to half shields without an increase risk of cervical spine injuries, concussions or other injuries.  (Benson, BW:  Head and neck injuries among ice hockey players wearing full face shields vs. half face shields.  JAMA 282, 24, 2328-2332, 1999.)

The NCAA commends U.S. Lacrosse, its Sports Science and Safety Committee and its Women's Division Educational Initiative Task Force for their work to minimize risk in women's lacrosse while maintaining the integrity and nature of the game.  The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports is committed to similar ideals.

 


The contact for this page is dklossner@ncaa.org

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