Weather Creates Havoc For ADs

By Leroy Bridges
Sports Editor

Wet and cold weather has prevented this year’s spring sports season from gaining momentum.
Tuesday was no different after six more varsity events were canceled.
Out of this month’s 21 days, 11 have seen rain and temperatures have dropped below 30 degrees. The result has been constant cancelations, postponements and indoor practices, which complicates the job of all four of the area’s athletic directors.
“It’s usually not as bad as this year,” North White athletic director Mark Woodcock said. “It’s raining every three or four days. We’re running out of days to reschedule games on.”
Each Monday and Tuesday of the month has been rainy and it’s caused cancelations to pile up, especially with North White baseball. Woodcock has seen six canceled games and has been able to reschedule only two of them. Because playing the games is valuable it has forced the team to play five games in five days to start the month of May.
“It’s important. That’s why they give you a certain number of games to play,” Twin Lakes
For coaches, the weather is supremely frustrating because practices are indoors and the games that are played are outdoors.
“We’re optimistic that this weekend will bring better weather,” Twin Lakes softball coach Desiree Swaim said. “We are definitely ready for that kind of weather.”
The 10-day forecast does show relief for teams this weekend but that soon disappears next week. Rain is expected from Monday-Thursday, which will bring another host of problems for athletic directors.
“I would say after (Tuesday) it’s going to be difficult to find dates,” Tri-County athletic director Denny Stitz said about rescheduling games. “We have had enough dates to fill up the voids in the calendar so far. The best hope is that the bad weather is behind us.”
If poor weather continues to cause cancelations as the calendar moves along the only option will be to eliminate games from the schedule and save room for conference clashes. But that’s an option the ADs don’t want to use.
“It puts a damper on what everyone is trying to accomplish,” Woodcock said of the weather. “You can’t accomplish and achieve your goals as a player or coach.” athletic director Kent Adams said about playing an entire schedule. “You want to be careful you don’t over burden the athletes but that experience is important.”

Published in the Herald Journal in April 2009.