ACC Tourney

[8meterPA]

To clarify, I'm not blaming GG for the ACL injuries. You can do all the prevention in the world and they can and will still happen.

I am simply noting that a part of the role of a coach is managing and reducing injury risk and impact. If I were a coach and suffered multiple ACL tears to my players in the same season, I would evaluate the strength and conditioning program and see if we might add in intentional stabilization work, look at the lifts we're doing and the balance of work on different muscle groups etc. and see if moving forward we might do anything differently. You will always have bad luck with injuries and some years you have more than others but great coaches are always doing what they can to reduce that risk. See: every NU player wore 2 ankle braces for a while during their streak. KAH may have had players get injuries and miss games but it wasn't because of a sprained ankle.

Who's to say that Gait hasn't already been doing this? I don't know either way. Who knows if he recommends following a certain workout plan and not all of his players are on board? It's awfully difficult to know for certain what goes on internally.

Suggesting that Coaches are responsible for ACL injuries is a bit naive. Yes the coaches and training staff can contribute if they don’t think about the combination of activities (like lift days and strenuous running or scrimmaging) that can fatigue muscles and create certain conditions where injuries can be more likely. Most coaches are now running their plans by professionals to ensure maximum performance and injury reduction. Before I offer my opinion next, I am not a scientist or medical professional, but have watched about 10 years of a lot of games. I actually believe the surfaces have a lot to do with a rash of injuries for certain teams, particularly when they are changed out. Believe SU had a new field installed as per of the renovation of the Dome. Wonder if other teams had a bunch of knee injuries as well? Would be good to study.

Female athletes age 15 - 19 are at least 5 times more prone to ACL injuries than their male counterparts with 70% of them being non-contact. Has nothing to do with the coach, etc but physiology of the female athlete vs. the male.

[Dr. Tact]

The fastest I have ever seen was Franscesca Whitehurst from Roland Park and Georgetown. She also had a season ending injury one year...cant remember if it was a knee.

[Dr. Tact]

Female athletes age 15 - 19 are at least 5 times more prone to ACL injuries than their male counterparts with 70% of them being non-contact. Has nothing to do with the coach, etc but physiology of the female athlete vs. the male.

I thought it was most (non-contact), but wasnt going to say that...glad you had the data.

[hsllax]

I'd like to apologize if it seemed that I was implying that GG is responsible for the ACL tears. Not so and not the point I was (clearly poorly) trying to make. I know and respect the guy and want to be clear that I think that he is great coach who cares about his athletes and their wellbeing.

[DMac]

You did get a little spankin' there, hsl, but it's all good.
Nice of you to come on and clear that up.

[wlaxphan20]

Does the research include what kind of surfaces they're playing on too?
Maybe Gary should ask for a new turf? You watched Carney go down,
what could have been done to prevent that injury? Better preparation?
I'm going with the bad luck.

there is alot to that....many (I wont say most) are non-contact. Look at Loyola's middie who is out with lower body injury for the season...no contact at all, Bad Luck.

Very true. There are a lot of moving parts: playing surface, Q-angle (measurement of lateral line of pull of the quadriceps relative to the patella), strength imbalances between groups fo muscles that perform opposing actions (like quadriceps and hamstrings), fatigue, injury history not just the knee but hip or ankle, it goes on and on. And even under perfect conditions where every precaution is taken to minimize risks - it can still happen. One that I'll always remember is Molly Hendrick tearing her ACL as she celebrated scoring a goal against Louisville in, I think, 2015. The movement wasn't even that violent - she just took a large step forward - almost a lunge - while pumping her fist in celebration and it happened.

[DMac]

Am at the Cornell-Army mlax game some years back, Cornell scores, Rob Pannell is walking back to get in position for the face off and goes down writhing in pain on the ground. Broke a bone in his foot, somehow just stepped wrong (artificial surface too) and out for the year. Freaky accident, 100% bad luck. That stuff does happen indeed.

[Dr. Tact]

I had a similar thing happen, nope was not even close.

Didn't get checked, fell into the boards full speed with skates up - broke the ankle and obliterated the deltoid ligament....so it qualifies as no human contact....boards, not so much

[DMac]

That's not good, damn near a head to toe injury.

[laxagainsthumanity]

You're good hsl, nobody thought it was personal. I get the argument that part of a coach's job, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, is to keep his players healthy. I just don't really think it applies in this case. JMO.

The surface is hugely important. Surfaces that require more force for a planted foot to slip or rotate, are much more likely to cause injury. Once turf gets old and packed down, it becomes unsafe for athletes. I haven't heard of new turf being connected to injury but who knows.

The fastest I have ever seen was Franscesca Whitehurst from Roland Park and Georgetown. She also had a season ending injury one year...cant remember if it was a knee.

I believe that was ACL. Great player, did a lot for that program.

[Dr. Tact]

You're good hsl, nobody thought it was personal. I get the argument that part of a coach's job, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, is to keep his players healthy. I just don't really think it applies in this case. JMO.

The surface is hugely important. Surfaces that require more force for a planted foot to slip or rotate, are much more likely to cause injury. Once turf gets old and packed down, it becomes unsafe for athletes. I haven't heard of new turf being connected to injury but who knows.

The fastest I have ever seen was Franscesca Whitehurst from Roland Park and Georgetown. She also had a season ending injury one year...cant remember if it was a knee.

I believe that was ACL. Great player, did a lot for that program.

Unfortunately, Ricky didnt use her to the best of her abilities. JMO

[Laxfan500]

You're good hsl, nobody thought it was personal. I get the argument that part of a coach's job, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, is to keep his players healthy. I just don't really think it applies in this case. JMO.

The surface is hugely important. Surfaces that require more force for a planted foot to slip or rotate, are much more likely to cause injury. Once turf gets old and packed down, it becomes unsafe for athletes. I haven't heard of new turf being connected to injury but who knows.

The fastest I have ever seen was Franscesca Whitehurst from Roland Park and Georgetown. She also had a season ending injury one year...cant remember if it was a knee.

I believe that was ACL. Great player, did a lot for that program.

Unfortunately, Ricky didnt use her to the best of her abilities. JMO

Lax Magazine with last bracket out before tonight’s reveal. Gotta say if this was how it actually goes through #2-4 seeds have easiest path which doesn’t make sense . #1 seed has a tough route to final 4

https://www.uslaxmagazine.com/college/w ... prediction

[Cletus]

What gives me pause is North Carolina’s history of choking at times in the postseason. You could look it up.

Add another one to the list.

[Can Opener]

Rachel Hall and Larry are the two happiest humans in America right now.

[watcherinthewoods]

Just checking in and see Katie Bourque (misspelled
in the box score ) is playing. Great to see. The rich get richer.

How is that possible? Awesome for her but didn't she tear her ACL?

Same reaction; same question. NJBill, please explain.

I know that some people are actually able to play without an ACL/with a torn ACL. Didn't UNC's Brittany Coppa play an entire NCAA tournament with a torn ACL back in 2015-ish? You're right though, Bourque is as tough as they come. Amazing player. Would have had a major impact on UNC could she have played the whole season

Bourque had surgery last fall and was cleared to play ... glad she got in a few final minutes. Tremendous athlete and could have made an impact for unc this season in the midfield ... specifically helping in the defensive end.