Soccer is so exciting that many folks are ready to play it regardless of prevailing weather conditions. After all, professional matches are rarely called off due to weather conditions, they would say.
Regardless, the round leather game is one sport where the weather conditions can affect the final result. We’ve seen soccer games being played in the rain, under a scorching sun, and now the question here is if playing soccer in the snow is advisable.
Well, we will be throwing more light on what playing soccer in the snow entails, as well as measures that can be put in place to ensure that the experience is an enjoyable and safe one that could be relived.
Is it possible to play soccer in the snow?
It is not at all frowned upon to engage in a game of soccer in the snow.
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Although the weather makes the game more difficult, you should still be able to have a fantastic time playing as long as the pitch has been sufficiently cleaned. Remember, this applies to a soccer pitch that is already in good condition.
Is it advisable to play soccer on a snowy field?
When compared to playing the sport in other types of weather, soccer in the snow can present additional risks in some situations.
This is because ice on the field can make it more likely that you will get an injury.
Also, you may not see clearly during a particularly heavy snowstorm, which makes it more likely that you’ll hit something or miss your tackle. This increases the risk of injury.
You may play soccer in the snow without any issues at all if you follow the correct procedures and have the appropriate equipment.
The latter applies because there are many countries where soccer games take place amid snowy conditions. This is common in Europe such as in England and Russia.
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Are soccer games postponed at the professional level during snowy conditions?
We’ve seen cases where the kickoff time was extended to allow for clean-up work to be done on the snow on the pitch. This is a likely scenario in most games in the English Premier League season during the winter period.
Regardless, It’s very rare for professional soccer games to be played in the snow because the fields are equipped with such efficient heating equipment that the snow melts away rather quickly.
Meanwhile, games at the professional level of soccer are occasionally postponed because the weather is too hazardous to play in.
This is an important fact to keep in mind. The reason for this is that the clubs do not want to jeopardize the well-being of their players on the pitch as well as their supporters.
After consultation with the groundsman and the police, the referee will often make the call regarding whether or not the game will be postponed.
This is also applicable at the amateur level and in friendly games. The goal is for everyone to be entertained and not to be injured.
Therefore, if the now continually rages on matchday and shows no sign of subsiding, the match will be postponed to ensure the safety of all parties involved. Here are some risks involved with playing in the snow.
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- Possible Muscle strains
- High possibility of slipping and falling
- Chances of getting hit with a cold or flu
- Hypothermia, amongst others.
Regardless, some measures can be put in place to ensure that playing soccer in the snow is exciting and less dangerous. Find some of them below:
Safety Tips For Playing Soccer In The Snow
1. Make sure that you are warm
When you’re out playing in the cold weather, you must keep yourself warm.
While you are warming up on the sidelines of the field, it is important to keep your body temperature up by standing there in thick long training clothes, and gloves.
Taking these precautions against the snowy weather should be adhered to before you go into the field to participate in the action.
2. Do Not Use A White Ball
This is a no-brainer though. The standard color for soccer balls is mostly white and snow is white. This means that there will be challenges in identifying the ball in the thick of the action and this is not ideal.
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Just imagine playing a green ball on a green pitch. How awkward! The same applies to using a white ball to play in snowy conditions, especially at the professional level resulting mistakes will tell on the final result.
If you want to play soccer in the snow, the best decision is to buy a yellow or orange ball because snow makes the ball less visible.
3. Clear The Field Before the Commencement Of Action
As pointed out earlier, a clear field is a requirement for the game to progress smoothly. Therefore, you are going to need to remove all of the snow from the field.
If there is more than an inch of snow on the ground, it will be difficult to play soccer, even though the presence of a little amount of snow on the ground is not particularly hazardous.
If it is at the amateur level, everyone would have to be involved to push as much snow as possible away from the field to enhance the playing experience.
4. Avoid Making Sliding Tackles
Launching into tackles and slipping into challenges when playing in the snow is risky, and if you do it, you have a greater chance of receiving a yellow or red card. Worse still, you could injure an opponent or get yourself badly injured in the process.
5. Play Safe
It is a no-brainer that you have to tread with caution when playing soccer in the snow and therefore you must avoid risky situations.
Make adjustments to your tactics so that you take as few risks as you can, and do your best to maintain as spotless a track record as you can.
You should persuade your teammates to play in a style that prioritizes safety and keeps things as straightforward as possible.
Playing Soccer In The Snow – Should It Be Done?
It is no more news that playing in the snow has its share of challenges. However, if you have the appropriate equipment and take the necessary precautions as outlined in this article to keep yourself safe, there should be no problems.
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Playing soccer in the snow is an experience that could be worthwhile as we’ve also seen it happen at the professional level across Europe with measures put in place.
Therefore, in your quest for fun at the amateur level, going about the game of soccer in snowy conditions should be preceded by precautions and measures to enhance the safety of everyone on the pitch.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.