Assessing Concussion Risk in High School Girls' Lacrosse: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study on Ohio's Readiness for a Headgear Mandate

Abstract

Also published as: Recker, R., Myers, A., Desai, N., Caccese, J., Boucher, L., Onate, J., & Yang, J. (2024). Headgear use in girls' lacrosse—stakeholders not ready for change. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1363007This study contains both a qualitative study, which aimed to identify the need for and barriers to the implementation of mandated headgear in girls’ lacrosse in Ohio, and a quantitative study, which examined headgear use and concussions in high school girls’ lacrosse in Ohio. The purpose of both studies is to act as a guide for the state of Ohio and provide necessary data, should they implement a mandatory headgear policy in the future. For the qualitative study, we conducted six focus groups, three with concussion experts and three with stakeholders (players, coaches, parents, and officials). A focus group guide was developed to explore study participants’ perceptions and opinions on concussions in girls’ lacrosse, headgear use, and policy development related to headgear or a headgear mandate. While concussion experts and stakeholders understood the potential consequences of concussions, they did not perceive them as a problem in girls’ lacrosse. However, stakeholders expressed that the myriads of arguments discussed opposing mandated headgear use including increased aggressive play and/or targeting, concerns over changes in the game, and cost strongly outweighed the benefits. For the quantitative study, high school athletic trainers (ATs) completed a baseline as well as weekly surveys, collecting data on the concussions and if the injured athlete was wearing headgear at time of injury. There were 1 JV (0.2%) and 6 varsity (1.3%) athletes who voluntarily wore headgear (i.e., they were not goalies who are required to wear headgear). There were 31 reported concussions (injury proportion = 3.8%, 95% CI = 2.5-5.2%); 7 (22.5%) of which the athlete wore headgear at the time of injury. Of these 7, 6 were goalies at the time of injury and 1 was a defense player who voluntarily wore headgear. Therefore, the proportion for athletes voluntarily wearing headgear was 14.3% (95% CI = 0-40%). The proportion of concussions was higher in the athletes that voluntarily wore headgear.The Ohio State University Chronic Brain Injury ProgramNo embargoAcademic Major: Neuroscienc