From the Guidelines
Football, particularly offensive football, is generally considered more dangerous than lacrosse in terms of injury risk. The nature of football, which involves frequent high-velocity collisions between players, contributes to higher rates of concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and serious musculoskeletal injuries. According to a study published in Pediatrics 1, the incidence of severe injuries, catastrophic injuries, and concussion is higher in football than most other team sports and appears to increase with age.
Key Injury Risks
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries due to high-velocity collisions
- Serious musculoskeletal injuries from frequent tackles and physical contact
- Repetitive subconcussive impacts leading to long-term brain damage, particularly in offensive linemen
In contrast, lacrosse does involve contact and carries injury risks, particularly to the head, knees, and ankles, but the overall intensity and frequency of collisions are lower than in football. The different rules governing contact in lacrosse also help mitigate some injury risks compared to the full-contact nature of football. A study by Levine et al. 2 highlights the importance of considering the cardiovascular load and impact risk in various sports, including lacrosse and football, to minimize injury risks.
Comparison of Injury Rates
- Football players experience approximately 4.9 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures
- Lacrosse players experience about 2.6 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures
- The risk of catastrophic injuries to the head and neck in football is low, but appears higher than in most other team sports, with yearly estimates between 0.19 and 1.78 for every 100,000 participants 3
Overall, while both sports carry injury risks, football, particularly offensive football, poses a greater danger to players due to its high-velocity collisions and repetitive subconcussive impacts.
From the Research
Injury Risk Comparison
- Lacrosse and offensive football are both contact sports with a risk of injury, but the available evidence does not provide a direct comparison of the two sports.
- Studies have focused on concussion incidence and management in various sports, including football 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- In football, concussion incidence has been found to be higher in certain positions, such as defensive secondary and offensive line, and in certain types of plays, such as kickoffs 4.
- However, there is no direct evidence to compare the injury risk of lacrosse and offensive football.
Concussion Incidence in Football
- A study on concussion incidence in the National Football League (NFL) found that the average annual incidence of in-season game concussions decreased by 23% from 2015-2017 to 2018-2019 4.
- The study also found that the majority of concussions occurred on running and passing plays, and that the highest average rate per play occurred on kickoffs 4.
- Another study found that concussion reduction strategies implemented before 2018 were associated with a sustained 2-year decrease in concussion incidence 4.
Lack of Direct Comparison
- There are no studies that directly compare the injury risk of lacrosse and offensive football.
- The available evidence focuses on concussion incidence and management in football, and does not provide a comprehensive comparison with lacrosse.
- Further research is needed to determine which sport is more dangerous in terms of injury risk 5, 4, 6, 7, 8.