New Mexico Lobos soccer player Elizabeth Lambert's actions led to her suspension.
The media’s attention has been captured by recent incidents of violence in girls’ and women’s sports, including a bench clearing brawl during a high school soccer game in Providence, and the suspension of New Mexico Lobos soccer player Elizabeth Lambert for unsportsmanlike conduct. David Mooney, MD, MPH, director of the Trauma Program at Children’s Hospital Boston and girls soccer coach, addresses issues raised by this recent media coverage.
Passion for the game is one of the central tenets of sports. Without passion, you might as well just watch the highlight tape.
Soccer is one of many physical contact sports. Having played organized soccer for more than 30 years and coached for a dozen, I have seen, and been involved with, lots of physical contact on the field. I have coached kids who have shown no passion and those who have shown too much. I’ve seen players suffer minor injuries from opposing teams’ “dirty players” and there have been times I’ve had to remove one of my players from the match to allow their passion to fall back into control.
Many athletes think they’ll never make it to the big league unless they’re willing to play hard and take a few knocks on the field. But does playing hard mean that they should play hurt—especially if they’ve had a blow to the head?
