TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 2/16/13
From US Lacrosse Release
US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen said Friday that Maryland General Assembly Delegates Jon Cardin (D) and Dana Stein (D) have agreed to pull back their quest to mandate that girls’ lacrosse players 19 and under wear protective headgear in House Bill 1123. The agreement by the delegates came after telephone conversations between them and Stenersen during the past few days in response to the proposed legislation.
“They are effectively pulling the bill, which is wonderful news,” Stenersen said.
Stenersen said that the delegates agreed to allow US Lacrosse to update the language for the bill, which originally caused much controversy in the women’s lacrosse world. Instead of mandating headgear use by youth and high school players, the bill’s focus will require mandatory training and certification for youth and high school coaches based on US Lacrosse curricula.
“We are thrilled that the delegates are willing to work with us and are supportive of this change,” Stenersen said. “We have long advocated sport-specific education for lacrosse coaches and officials according to our standardized curricula as the most important intervention to providing a safer, more enjoyable youth sports experience, and this looks to be a wonderful opportunity to advance that goal.”
The issue of safety has continued to draw attention. Last year Bullis School (MD) mandate that all players wear protective headgear.