Lacrosse: Should girls use the same helmets as boys?

Shoreham-Wading River midfielder Alex Fehmel on the field against Hauppauge in the Suffolk Class B final girls lacrosse game at Dowling Sports Complex. (June 2, 2011)

Alex Fehmel during practice. Shoreham-Wading River girls lacrosse players Alex Fehmel and Clare Blomberg have had concussions. Fehmel has had two concussions, and her father designed the foam helmet to protect her. Blomberg, who came back recently from a third concussion, had them design one for her and started wearing it this week. (April 27, 2011)

Alex Fehmel wears her headgear during practice. Shoreham-Wading River girls lacrosse players Alex Fehmel and Clare Blomberg have had concussions. Fehmel has had two concussions, so her father designed the foam helmet to protect her. Blomberg, who came back recently from a third concussion, had one designed for her. (April 27, 2011)

Alex Fehmel puts on her helmet before practice, carefully pulling her ponytail through a hole in the back. Shoreham-Wading River girls lacrosse players Alex Fehmel and Clare Blomberg have both had concussions and subsequently wear helmets made for them. (April 27, 2011)

A chin strap secures Alex Fehmel's helmet in place. Shoreham-Wading River girls lacrosse players Fehmel and Clare Blomberg have had concussions, so they now wear foam helmets specially made for them. (April 27, 2011)

Alex Fehmel, wearing a foam helmet, stands with a teammate during practice for the Shoreham-Wading River girls lacrosse team. Fehmel began wearing a helmet after having suffered concussions. (April 27, 2011)

Chris Fehmel helps his daughter, Alexandra, put on the helmet. The Shoreham-Wading River sophomore girls lacrosse player has had two concussions, so she wears a soft helmet designed by her father and a friend. (April 27, 2011)

Over the years, Gary Hanson, shown here in the basement workshop of his Rocky Point home, has designed face masks and helmets for many NHL players. Lately, he's turned his attention to developing a soft foam helmet for use by girls lacrosse teams. Here, he holds the prototype for one of those lacrosse helmets. (May 12, 2011)

Gary Hanson of Rocky Point, who has designed face masks and helmets for many NHL players, holds a prototype for a girls lacrosse helmet. (May 12, 2011)

Gary Hanson, shown here in the basement workshop of his Rocky Point home, has designed face masks and helmets for many NHL players, including the one he's holding here, that he made for hockey player Wade Flaherty. Lately, Hanson has turned his attention to developing a soft foam helmet for use by girls lacrosse teams. The blue helmet at far right is a prototype of one of those. (May 12, 2011)

The blue helmet, left, is a prototype of a helmet for girls lacross players made by Gary Hanson, who has designed face masks and helmets for many NHL players. The helmet on the right was made for former New York Islander Wade Flaherty. (May 12, 2011)

Eastport's Dene DiMartino (15) drives to the goal while defended by Shoreham's Alex Fehmel (13) in their game against Eastport-South Manor held at Eastport-South Manor High School on April 6, 2011. Shoreham won 8-7 in double overtime. (April 6, 2011)

Shoreham-Wading River's Alex Fehmel falls to the ground fighting for a ground ball with Hauppauge players in the Suffolk Class B final girls lacrosse game at Dowling Sports Complex. Although the sport should be noncontact, players have suffered concussions, leading to a discussion about whether they should wear helmets. (June 2, 2011)

Shoreham-Wading River's Alex Fehmel defends Hauppauge's Lindsey Alfano in the Suffolk Class B final girls lacrosse game at Dowling Sports Complex. Fehmel has suffered concussions during play and now wears a helmet. (June 2, 2011)

Shoreham-Wading River's Alex Fehmel, seen here wearing a helmet designed for her after she suffered concussions, moves the ball ahead of Hauppauge's Taylor Ranftle in the Suffolk Class B final girls lacrosse game at Dowling Sports Complex. (June 2, 2011)

Casey Condon, a lacrosse player from Port Washington who suffered a concussion while playing in March, is being home schooled because constant headaches, sensitivity to light and overall sluggishness have been debilitating. (May 12, 2011)

Portrait of Casey Condon, a lacrosse player from Port Washington, who suffered a concussion in March and is being home schooled as she still can't go back to school. (May 12, 2011)

Casey Condon, a lacrosse player from Port Washington who suffered a concussion in March, is being home schooled because of the last effects of the injury. Here her mother, Carol-Anne, goes over her schedule. Carol-Anne Condon said that a medical examination a week after the collision showed that her daughter's brain had been "shaken like a snow globe." (May 12, 2011)