Decisions Decisions Decisions

Athletic directors at all area high schools are faced with decisions in terms of home sporting events as to whether to play games or not in inclement weather.
That is what happened Friday when most events were postponed due to the heavy rain all day.
The big Pottsgrove at Phoenixville football game at Washington Field was switched to Saturday at noon, and two more PAC-10 games were moved to Saturday night at 7 p.m. between Spring-Ford and host Perkiomen Valley and Methacton and host Boyertown.
Two other games went on as scheduled with Upper Perkiomen at Owen J. Roberts and St. Pius X at Pottstown in the Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10). That is because those fields have turf and there is no damage to the field and what are considered safer weather conditions.
More and more high schools are switching to turf fields because after the big expense at the beginning, the maintenance costs are minimal. That means we will be seeing more and more events played in spite of rain, except in the case of lightning. With turf on the field there is no mud to worry about.
It is still unpleasant for fans to sit out in the rain and watch events that are still being played. However, with rain geat such as umbrellas and raincoats, spectators can still see their games and the teams they cheer for.
For some teams, it is a home-field advantage to play or not play the game in rain since it slows down all runners, including the exceptionally fast ones. It is also difficult for teams that like to pass to throw the football in rainy weather.
Until the start of games, the decision to play rests in the hands of the home school. Once a game is started, it lies in the hands of the officials.
Other sports that had to be postponed Friday included field hockey, golf, boys soccer, girls soccer, and girls tennis.

Posted by
Barry Sankey