WINTER WEATHER CREATES PROBLEMS FOR ATHLETICS AT BEINNING OF SEASON
Recent snow days have caused problems in athletic schedules since mid-February, Roberson winter sports finished their seasons, and spring sports started up once again.
Since the beginning of the January, Buncombe County has been closed 10 days for extremely cold temperatures, snow or ice. The system has had an additional five days of delays and early releases. The days out of school extended the winter sports season and forced spring sports to push back their first practices.
Tryouts for the girls’ soccer team were moved back three days, but coach Rob Wilcher is not sure how this will effect the team over the course of the season.
“Since Christmas time, we’ve not had many days to do many out-of-season workouts, so coming into the season we might not be in the shape that we need to be in,” Wilcher said.
Winter weather is not an unusual problem for the soccer team is used to practicing in rain and extremely cold temperatures.
“Luckily, we have turf. Many of the other schools with regular fields probably won’t be able to play on them for a week after the snow is gone,” Wilcher said.
The baseball and track teams also make it a point to hold practice regardless of weather, with indoor practices on days when they cannot be outside.
This year’s snow also caused the basketball conference tournament to be cancelled in order to ensure playoff games would begin as scheduled. The boys’ varsity coach, Adam Ballard, believes that the cancellation was not too big of a deal.
“Since there are only two 4A schools in our conference, our tournament only consisted of one game against McDowell. That doesn’t make a huge difference, as there was no way for us to move up more in rank,” Ballard said.
However, for 3A schools, the tournament cancellation had more severe effects. Historically, the 3A team that won the MAC tournament would gain at least second seed in the playoffs, giving that school a potential advantage in the playoff games beginning the week of Feb. 23.
Overlap between winter and spring sports is not an uncommon occurrence. Students playing winter sports are not allowed to begin practice for a spring sport while their winter season is still in progress.
While some athletes disagree with this policy, Ballard thinks that it is fair.
“By not allowing students to play two sports at once, it gives them a chance to be more dedicated, focused, and motivated on what they’ve committed to. It keeps other sports practices from getting in the way,” Ballard said.
Several basketball players experienced the strict enforcement of this policy as their regular season ended on Feb. 20, with the playoffs beginning the following week. This meant that they were unable to tryout for spring sports with the rest of their current teammates.
Sophomore Jake Morgan plays both basketball and baseball. He believes that his late start to baseball due to basketball affected his readiness for the upcoming season.
“”It puts me behind on everything and kind of affects my spot, what team I’m on. Because I started late, I’m on JV, not varsity,” Morgan said.
Morgan feels that the cold temperatures seen throughout the earlier part of the season will not have a negative effect on his performance throughout the season. Instead, he finds it beneficial.
“In a way, the cold makes it easier by helping us get better conditioned. We are in better shape for the rest of the season,” Morgan said.
Since the beginning of the January, Buncombe County has been closed 10 days for extremely cold temperatures, snow or ice. The system has had an additional five days of delays and early releases. The days out of school extended the winter sports season and forced spring sports to push back their first practices.
Tryouts for the girls’ soccer team were moved back three days, but coach Rob Wilcher is not sure how this will effect the team over the course of the season.
“Since Christmas time, we’ve not had many days to do many out-of-season workouts, so coming into the season we might not be in the shape that we need to be in,” Wilcher said.
Winter weather is not an unusual problem for the soccer team is used to practicing in rain and extremely cold temperatures.
“Luckily, we have turf. Many of the other schools with regular fields probably won’t be able to play on them for a week after the snow is gone,” Wilcher said.
The baseball and track teams also make it a point to hold practice regardless of weather, with indoor practices on days when they cannot be outside.
This year’s snow also caused the basketball conference tournament to be cancelled in order to ensure playoff games would begin as scheduled. The boys’ varsity coach, Adam Ballard, believes that the cancellation was not too big of a deal.
“Since there are only two 4A schools in our conference, our tournament only consisted of one game against McDowell. That doesn’t make a huge difference, as there was no way for us to move up more in rank,” Ballard said.
However, for 3A schools, the tournament cancellation had more severe effects. Historically, the 3A team that won the MAC tournament would gain at least second seed in the playoffs, giving that school a potential advantage in the playoff games beginning the week of Feb. 23.
Overlap between winter and spring sports is not an uncommon occurrence. Students playing winter sports are not allowed to begin practice for a spring sport while their winter season is still in progress.
While some athletes disagree with this policy, Ballard thinks that it is fair.
“By not allowing students to play two sports at once, it gives them a chance to be more dedicated, focused, and motivated on what they’ve committed to. It keeps other sports practices from getting in the way,” Ballard said.
Several basketball players experienced the strict enforcement of this policy as their regular season ended on Feb. 20, with the playoffs beginning the following week. This meant that they were unable to tryout for spring sports with the rest of their current teammates.
Sophomore Jake Morgan plays both basketball and baseball. He believes that his late start to baseball due to basketball affected his readiness for the upcoming season.
“”It puts me behind on everything and kind of affects my spot, what team I’m on. Because I started late, I’m on JV, not varsity,” Morgan said.
Morgan feels that the cold temperatures seen throughout the earlier part of the season will not have a negative effect on his performance throughout the season. Instead, he finds it beneficial.
“In a way, the cold makes it easier by helping us get better conditioned. We are in better shape for the rest of the season,” Morgan said.