Laura Stebbins
Kids who play contact sports, like lacrosse and hockey, may be at risk for more than just injuries on the field. 7's Ryan Schulteis found many young athletes are engaging in brutal brawls in the locker room...It's "Locker Boxing."
David Hanafin, lacrosse player
"There's helmet boxing in the locker room sometimes."
Matt Valley, lacrosse player
"Someone challenges you and you put on your helmet and gloves."
Don Casey, lacrosse player
"And then you just box it out, duke it out. "
Matt Valley, lacrosse player
"Usually till someone quits or someone gets knocked out."
These Burlington High School lacrosse players are describing what's called locker boxing. That's when a young hockey or lacrosse player, wearing his helmet and gloves will challenge a teammate to a fight. These often brutal brawls usually play out in locker rooms when adults aren't around.
Matt Valley, lacrosse player
"You just start throwing punches at each other:"
On the web, you can find hundreds of videos of young guys locker boxing and the players we spoke to say locker boxing usually starts in middle school.
Matt Marshall, hockey player
"You do it after every single practice when you're in youth hockey...You hear it from the older kids what locker boxing is, usually you'll see them do it and that's how it starts, and you'll think oh that's cool."
The players say it supposed to be all in good fun, but it can get brutal.
Matt Valley, lacrosse player
"You can get like a bloody lip once it awhile. You can get knocked out but it usually doesn't happen."
Matt Marshall, hockey player
"I think it can be dangerous but I've never seen it get out of control."
Pediatric specialist Dr. Brian Grottkau says it can be more than dangerous...these young kids are at risk for permanent damage.
Dr. Brian Grottkau, chief of pediatric orthopedic service, Massachusetts General Hospital
"It involves multiple strikes to the head, it's unregulated, its unsupervised, the equipment wasn't designed for this and the youthful brain is prone to injuries including concussion and other traumatic brain injuries."
Waltham High School coach John Maguire knows about locker boxing but he says he wont stand for it.
John Maguire, Waltham High School hockey coach
"It's certainly not going to be tolerated at any level because kids could get hurt. We ask our seniors and our captains to be respectful of all the players making sure if an instance does occur the coaches are made aware of it."
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association takes it one step further saying: "Before, during and after practices and games, the coach should be in attendance to monitor the behavior of the players. We also urge school officials to be alert to this type of conduct."
And even though these players know it's not allowed, they say this dangerous game isn't going to end anytime soon.
David Hanafin, lacrosse player
"If somebody challenges you, you feel safe [because] you have a helmet on and gloves."
Matt Marshall, hockey player
"The coaches, the league will always say you're not allowed to do it. There's really no way of controlling it."
