It is 32 outside and our coach is running a scrimmage. Can someone give me websites or any information on why kids should not be playing in this type of weather. I know that metal bats can get ruined but what about injuries. Are pitchers more likely to get hurt, are more muscles pulled. I know that the players can not field balls because they can not feel their fingers. I need help!!!!! I would like to be able to give the coach and AD some "expert" opinions about why baseball should not be played in this weather. By the, way the wind is blowing, we are not far from Lake Erie, I wonder what the wind chill factor is?

I posted this under general but I would like the opinion of people on this site since many of you are living this weather today. Did you have outdoor practices or scrimmages today or have you ever in 32 degree weather?

bags,

I can't see how this can be avoided in the north. Wear long sleeves, underwear, etc. and make sure you keep yourself warm between innings or workouts.

I remember three years ago it snowed profusely with huge snow flakes in Bay Village. The wind chill was zero degrees and they played the full seven innings without either team or the umpires showing any inclination to cancel the game due to inclement weather. It was the coldest game I have ever been at and I had to run to my car between every inning.

bagsbaseball:

You might try your post on the Strength & Conditioning Site. They, at least might help with injuries most likely to develop in cold weather, etc. Do they have an indoor facility where they can at least throw and hit? Anyway, just make sure that your child wears appropriate clothing.

TW344

Bags,

I know I am not really answering your question, but this past weekend, I watched (2) college doubleheaders looking at some players. The DH on Saturday....it was 35 at game time for the 1st game with 15 mph winds. At the end of the 2nd game it was about 31. On Sunday (DH) a little better....39 at game time with 10mph winds for both games.

Weather like that is not fit for man nor beast as it relates to playing baseball. As you stated it was a scrimmage and maybe some common sense should have been used. I know all of the players strecthed and ran for a considerable amount of time prior to game time, and all of them were wearing under-armour gear. You certainly may want to ask what precautions the experts in strength and conditioning recommend.

O42

Suggest using wooden bats because the metal bats can break. They are typically not supposed to be used in temperatures lower than 50 degrees...

Last year, in a very cold high school opening game, a batter exploded a metal bat. Jagged metal shards like shrapnel flew all over the field. Could have been deadly. I saved the bat as a souvenir.

Be careful.

Having sat through a scrimmage last night in about 35 degrees, I definitely sympathize. My son's coach handled the weather by not pitching anyone more than one inning (and they played 7) and many of the starters only played 3-4 innings.

As for the bat exploding thing, I have never seen that before, but that had to be quite scary.

My son's game last night was played with the temperature at the start of the game at 4:30 of 32 degrees. Cloudy and tremendously windy, winds coming from the east, off the Lake. (Oh, Lake Michigan). With the wind chill factor, it was 15 degrees. And they still played. And we watched! It was really ridiculous. Hardly anyone fielded a ball cleanly; their hands were red and raw, and didn't work like they do in warmer conditions.

Thankfully, the game was called after 4 innings, but then, what was the point, it was not a complete game. Both pitchers pitched four innings. Again, ridiculous.

The exploding bat was scary. No one had ever seen it happen before. That's why I scavenged for the pieces!

32 degrees! That's a heat wave!

We are in western Pa. and also played last night. This is the same for us every year, cold and misrable. They played 7 innings and we have 2 more games this week with temps in the 40's all week for high's. So far in the last 2 years we have not had any injuries.(Knocking on wood as I type). All of our players that are not on the feild run between innings. They all wear under aarmor and sweatshirts in the dugout. Iv'e seen and heard of allot more players getting injured during warm or hot temp games that the cold ones. It's all up to the trainers and coaches to get the players prepaired for the cold weather games. The whole team rotates through positions that the coaches need to see.The only way to get away is to move and we don't have that luxury. Iv'e always wondered how you can evaluate the players on there feilding or hitting but you got to play when you can, and time is limited. As for the bats, Iv'e never seen one break other than an older bat that was 3 yrs old. The team gets new bats yearly so that might be the reason.

Blame it on football...............

In NEO, and many Northern States, you would think there is a better way to set up HS sports.

The traditional Fall sports of football and golf start in August, and run though November with playoffs. Football is isolated to Friday and Saturday nights, mostly under the lights.

Spring brings baseball and track.

Why wouldn't this work. Start baseball in August, and let it run into October, it marries the MLB playoff season, daylight savings is yet in effect, and the weather is much better.

Football can be played in garbage weather, and as I said, the times are pretty much set, and lights are used. That season could run through December, even into January. You would move Hoops from December through March, to January through April, all indoors.

Golf and Track become/remain spring sports.

FALL SPORTS:
BASEBALL:August/September w/ half of October playoffs.
S****R:same

FOOTBALL: 2nd half October(10weeks)with playoffs in January.

WINTER SPORTS:
BASKETBALL: Starts January through half April

SPRING SPORTS:
GOLF: starts in April
Track: starts in April(current setup)

Multi-sport kids still can play others.

******I have to laugh, a certain sport listed doesn't spell out correctly.........any insight??

OS8 - I think your ideas are excellent. It would take some serious political power to make them happen but they make alot of sense to me.

They could even have short season spring ball if they so desired as well. Tough nut to change however.

I heard the word s-o-c-c-or was inhibited in order to limit discussions on these boards to baseball. I think that is the theory

Just a few weeks ago we played in North Carolina....temp was 36 at game time with a windchill of 27. Don't think it improved at all during the game temperature wise. On the other hand, our home opener vs. Bucknell was cancelled for tomorrow....temps expected in mid-thirties and windy. Playing in those temps always makes me nervous. During high school I would always go to the hunting department of the local sports store and buy them out of those little handwarmer packets and give them to the boys. It was always amazing WHERE they used those warmers on their bodies! It also seems that the cold weather bothers the spectators more than those playing.