What It Is

High school lacrosse injuries for boys and girls usually involve strains and sprains, abrasions and contusions. Actually, a 2005 study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, concluded that lacrosse at the high school level was a relatively safe sport.

Injury data has not demonstrated the need for female lacrosse players to wear helmets though eye protection and mouth guards are necessary. However, male lacrosse players are required to wear helmets, elbow pads, padded gloves, groin cups, chest and shoulder pads. While lacrosse is categorized as a “collision sport” by the NCAA in the same league as football and ice hockey, it has reduced injury rates.

The Potential Injuries

Injuries to the wrist and hand almost always occur from a direct blow. Although the gloves are padded, they are softer and more flexible than hockey gloves to allow for greater dexterity of the fingers. Fractures are relatively common from the entrapment of the grasped fingers against the metal shaft of the player’s own stick.

Fracture to the clavicle and shoulder separations usually occur from collision with another player or by falling onto the shoulder point. The high rate of shoulder injuries as compared to hockey or football is common. Actually, the shoulder is the most frequently injured body part during game play.

Since pads are not worn on the lower body, the areas most frequently injured were the knee, ankle and thigh, all of which in total tallied nearly half of all lacrosse injuries. Knee injuries are the most common in the sport of lacrosse. Rapid dodging to avoid an opponent strains the knees.

Proper Equipment

Both US Lacrosse and the NCAA have set regulations that require the use of protective equipment designed mainly for the head and upper extremities. Men’s lacrosse is sometimes perceived to be a violent sport, but NCAA injury statistics do not support this claim. Approximately 40% of lacrosse injuries are non-contact.

United States Lacrosse insurance data showed that 42% of all claims dollars were paid for knee injuries and 50% of the claims were paid out to high school players. Statistics show that the use of Lacrosse helmets deters catastrophic brain injuries though concussions do occur.

It isn’t necessary for women’s lacrosse athletes to wear extensive protective gear. The occasional contact in women’s lacrosse makes equipment like helmets and chest padding unnecessary. Protection of the face, eyes and mouth, are a necessity while some female players like to wear nose guards and a non-padded style glove.

It’s important for parents and coaches of lacrosse players to understand the common injuries of the sport. Understanding which injuries are the most probable will lead to better immediate treatment and a shorter recovery period for the lacrosse athlete.