Protective Headgear In Lacrosse Players

A more prominent fear incite by this debate calls attention to the possibility that increased protective headgear could promote more aggressive actions among players. This fear is not new in any means, as it has existed for years in relation to sports like football and hockey. This question even arose when protective eyewear was integrated into women’s lacrosse. According to Schwarz’s “A Case Against Helmets in Lacrosse,” “[Columbia] Senior attacker Olivia Mann, said that after the move to make eyewear mandatory for the 2005 season, ‘It’s subconscious, but you see harder checking, and rougher play.’” Other in the lacrosse community continue to share Mann’s perspective. Ellen Elizabeth Yard’s “"Injuries Sustained by Pediatric Ice
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The inability to see an opponent's face dehumanizes them and turns them into an object to be beat instead of a person to be protected. The use of face concealing protective gear could also lead to a sense of deindividualization, in which team members lose their sense of identity in favor of a group mentality. In the event that this occurs, players would be more susceptible to committing violent actions or breaking rules. The so-called “mob mentality” alters one's sense of responsibility, since their face is hidden, they are no longer afraid of embarrassment or reprimand. Olivia Mann shared in “A Case Against Helmets in Lacrosse,” “‘I would be more likely to take risky checks, which would change the nature of defense completely,’ Mann said. ‘Now, trying not to foul her, it’s very much about where I get my hands and body. If she’s wearing a helmet, I don’t have to worry about physically injuring her. I’m more likely to sacrifice my body positioning to get at her stick.’”(Schwarz). The presence of more protective gear also allows for players to utilize more aggressive tactics without fear of harming others or themselves. According to Schwarz, Dr. Margot Putukian of Princeton claims, “It’s hard to absolutely prove, but what we’ve seen is that behavior can change when athletes feel more protected, especially when it comes to the head and helmets. They tend to put their bodies and heads in danger that they wouldn’t without the protection. And they are not as protected as they might think.” Bill Pennington even describes this as the “gladiator effect” in "Not Everyone Says Headgear Is Right Fit for Girls' Lacrosse.” Ultimately, the psychological effect of headgear, faceshields or not, is worrisome at

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