Recent crosse designs increase ball velocity: implications for injury in women's lacrosse

The aim of this preliminary investigation was to describe the kinematics of ball release from 24 different lacrosse stick models during the performance of an overhand pass. Multiple trials (N=120) of an overhand lacrosse pass, performed by an elite female lacrosse athlete, were captured in the sagittal plane using two-dimensional videography and analysed using motion analysis software. On average, there was a tendency for balls to release earlier from wood crosses (180.8+/-16.0 degrees ) than from synthetic crosses (183.6+/-6.0 degrees ) (p>0.15) and earlier from non-planar linear (179.7+/-6.7 degrees ) and non-planar curvilinear (182.5+/-9.5 degrees ) crosse heads than from traditional, planar-headed sticks (185.6+/-11.7 degrees ). Peak angular velocities of the stick shaft were lower for the wood as compared to the synthetic crosses (p<0.001) with mean values of 15.4+/-0.6rads(-1) and 16.6+/-0.7rads(-1), respectively. Similarly, the resultant velocity of the ball at release was significantly lower (p<0.001) for the wood crosses (13.9+/-0.8ms(-1)) as compared to the synthetic crosses (14.8+/-0.6ms(-1)). These results indicate that changes in the material composition and design of lacrosse sticks are changing the timing and rate at which balls release from the crosse pocket. Strict rule enforcement, good coaching, the mandatory use of protective equipment and continuous monitoring of changes in stick technology will be required if the frequency and severity of ocular, head and facial injuries are to be controlled.