IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 267 

Expressing support for the designation of May as National Lacrosse Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2015 

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER (for himself, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. BROWN of 

Florida, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. HECK of Nevada, and Mr. DOLD) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 

and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of May as National 

Lacrosse Month. 

Whereas lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in the United 

States, with every segment of the game showing growth 

and more than half of the players competing at the youth 

level, for individuals who are 15 years of age or younger; 

Whereas, since 2010, the number of high schools sponsoring 

boys’ and girls’ lacrosse has increased by 34 percent and 

36 percent, respectively, and the number of colleges sponsoring men’s and women’s National Collegiate Athletic 

Association (NCAA) lacrosse has increased by 34 percent 

and 38 percent, respectively; 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 267 IH 

Whereas there are increasing opportunities to participate in 

professional lacrosse for men and for post-collegiate club 

and international play for both men and women; 

Whereas lacrosse is a unique team sport with physiological 

demands including endurance, speed, strength, agility, 

and sport-specific skills; 

Whereas US Lacrosse is the national governing body of 

men’s and women’s lacrosse; 

Whereas US Lacrosse is a nonprofit corporation and has 

more than 430,000 members in 67 regional chapters in 

45 States across the United States; 

Whereas, through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse provides programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the sport; 

Whereas US Lacrosse is actively engaged in numerous interventions focused on reducing the risk of injury in both 

men’s and women’s lacrosse, and has been recognized 

among the national sports medicine community for its 

collaboration and proactivity in this regard; 

Whereas the board of US Lacrosse established the Sports 

Science and Safety Committee in 1999 to serve as a 

source of lacrosse sport safety education for the entire lacrosse community; 

Whereas the Sports Science and Safety Committee, using existing sports medicine literature and new research initiatives, seeks to grow the body of lacrosse safety knowledge 

in order to objectively advise US Lacrosse and the lacrosse community on factors that may enhance the safety 

and quality of experience in the sport of lacrosse at all 

levels; 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 267 IH 

Whereas, led by the Sports Science and Safety Committee, 

US Lacrosse has committed significant resources toward 

the study, understanding, and analysis of injuries in 

men’s and women’s lacrosse throughout the 16-year history of the Committee; 

Whereas, from video analysis studies to head acceleration research, US Lacrosse has funded and sought greater understanding of concussion injury mechanisms; 

Whereas, given the incidence and importance of head injury 

in the sport of lacrosse, US Lacrosse has developed a 

Concussion Management Plan that contains guidelines 

for teams, clubs, and leagues to consider and requires all 

US Lacrosse Gold Stick organizations to have a concussion management plan; 

Whereas US Lacrosse and the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) have partnered to develop a number of educational resources regarding concussions that 

contain practical, easy-to-use information designed to 

help reduce the numbers of this type of injury; 

Whereas US Lacrosse believes that a safe and positive playing experience starts by knowing the rules and how to appropriately and effectively coach, officiate, and play the 

game; 

Whereas, through its certified training programs to ensure 

athlete safety, US Lacrosse commits significant resources 

to the proper training of officials and coaches for both 

men’s and women’s lacrosse; 

Whereas US Lacrosse, in concert with safety and medical experts, constantly evaluates its game rules and equipment 

requirements to ensure athlete safety, including through 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 267 IH 

actions such as revising its rules to increase the limitations on body contact in youth boys’ lacrosse; 

Whereas, in January 2012, US Lacrosse established a task 

force with ASTM International’s Committee F–8 on 

Sports Equipment and Facilities to create a standard for 

women’s lacrosse headgear that provides an appropriate 

level of protection, does not increase the risk of injuries 

to other players, and maintains the rules, culture, and 

traditions of this unique women’s sport; 

Whereas there have been no reported catastrophic or severe 

brain injuries in women’s lacrosse as of the end of April 

2015, and although stick and ball impacts are the most 

common mechanism of concussive injury in women’s lacrosse, head injuries and concussions in women’s lacrosse 

occur less frequently than in women’s soccer or ice hockey; 

Whereas, although body-to-body impacts are the most prevalent mechanism of head injury in men’s lacrosse, head injuries and concussions in men’s lacrosse occur less frequently than in football or ice hockey; and 

Whereas US Lacrosse continues to fund and lead research, 

develop programs, and work to educate its membership to 

ensure the safety of all participants in both men’s and 

women’s lacrosse: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports National Lacrosse Month; and 

3 (2) commends the leadership and programming 

4 efforts of US Lacrosse to raise awareness, prevent 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HRES 267 IH 

1 injuries, and increase overall safety across all levels 

2 of the game of lacrosse. 

Æ 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS