Rain, wind, snow, ice, heat. The only thing athletes have no control over: the weather.
Every year is different; every season has its own challenges for athletes to overcome. There are times where weather can beat even the most skilled athletes.
Just look at the NFL and how the weather affects the players and the game. Drew Brees has proven that he plays much better in a domed stadium where the conditions are controlled than out in the elements. Likewise Peyton Manning loses a ton of the accuracy that makes him a great quarterback when he plays in strong winds.
High school athletes are no different, and are exposed to those same elements every season.
“Playing lacrosse in the cold and rain is really difficult. The rain messes with your strings and it makes it hard to pass and shoot,” said sophomore Matt Ayres.
It seems that however hard it’s raining or however windy it is, the cold makes everything worse. No matter what sport you play, the cold has a certain effect on people. It tires athletes out and beats them down. It’s hard to concentrate on positions when it’s below freezing outside.
“The worst weather conditions to play soccer in are the wind and the cold. When you take a shot from far away the wind can knock the ball completely off its course. And the cold is bad because…Well playing any sport in the cold stinks,” said sophomore Sayed Abbasi.
Heat is also difficult to play in, but most athletes would take heat over cold any day. Yes, heat tires you out faster, but athletes can combat it with lots and lots of water and sports drinks. Plus, when it’s cold athletes have to bundle up and dress warm, which it could affect their playing, while in the heat they can wear whatever they want, giving them greater freedom of movement.
“I prefer playing in the heat [as opposed to the cold] because I don’t need to wear all the extra clothes that slow me down,” said sophomore soccer player Begad Elharazi.
Indoor sports are one way to avoid the power of the weather while still competing in athletic activities. Whether that is basketball, indoor track, professional darts, or foosball, there are many athletes who enjoy the comfort of focusing entirely on their game and not on the conditions that game is being played in.
So in conclusion, the two most efficient ways to stay out of the rough weather are to play indoor sports, or do as sophomore Ryan Mahoney does.
“I play Xbox,” he said.