If you have ever turned on the television and watched a professional football game, you may have noticed that football can sometimes be played in conditions that are not ideal for sports..
Football is one of the greatest sports to both play and watch, and many people follow football during the fall season. The fall season, however, can be a challenge with the weather, as there are rain, thunderstorms, and late in the fall, possible snow that can impact games.
Can Football Games Get Rained Out?
Football games do not typically get canceled due to rain. Unlike other sports like baseball, football is almost an all-weather sport. There are some situations where football games can be postponed or canceled.
In this article we will address different weather types and discuss whether these conditions can cancel games. We will also discuss the different parts of the country where weather becomes an issue more than others.
Rain During a Football Game
Football games are played in the rain. Unlike some other sports, football typically will play during the rain.
If there is torrential downfall with rain, there is a chance that games can be postponed until the rain clears out. In the NFL, there have been some very memorable games that have been played in pretty bad weather conditions.
NFL stadiums that have grass fields can run into some issues with heavy rain during games. The rain combined with a game can really affect the playing surface, as many times the grass turns into mud. This does have a lasting effect on the playing surface in the long run.
What if there are Thunderstorms?
Rain may not stop a football game from happening, but thunderstorms can and will. The general rule for lightning or thunder is a safety feature and at all levels of play, this rule is strictly enforced.
The rule states that if thunder is heard or lightning is seen at all, players should be removed from the playing field and sent to safety, which is usually the locker room area.
No matter how far away the storm is, this rule is in effect. This is to keep players safe from being struck by lightning.
There is a 30 minute rule that comes into effect if lightning or thunder occurs. Each time there is thunder or lightning, the game is delayed for an additional 30 minutes. There has to be a clear 30-minute break in storms before players can take the field again.
After a Thunderstorm Do the Players Start Playing Right Away?
Following a thunderstorm causing a delay in play, players will take the field, but have an allotted time for them to warm up.
Allowing players to warm up and get ready to play is extremely important to allow the athletes to get their muscles back to gae ready. After sitting out for the amount of delayed time it is imperative that the athletes have an adequate amount of time to get loose again to avoid injuries.
Is Turf or Grass Better if it Rains?
If you watch NFL games from the 1980’s you might see a lot of games that were played in mud and sloppy conditions. These may be some of the best games to watch, as players seem to thrive in these conditions because it is different than they are used to playing in.
Grass fields, after a great deal of rain, can cause a mess on the playing surface. This does change the game drastically, as it is more difficult to move, change directions, and ultimately make plays.
Turf playing fields have become very common, mostly at the college and high school levels of football. College football is almost all turf fields nowadays, but the NFL still has several grass football fields.
Turf playing fields are much better during rain, as they drain very well. It is rare that it rains so much that there would be puddles on the field, as they are designed to drain very well. If a game is being played on turf during rain, it definitely is less impacted than playing on a grass surface.
Many high schools are transitioning to turf fields because of this. The maintenance is much lower on turf infields and practices and games can be played in rain or following rain without much inconvenience.
How Many NFL Fields are Turf?
There are 14 turf fields in the NFL and 17 grass fields. This might be surprising as many would think that there are more turf fields than grass, but these NFL organizations have great grounds crews that can take care of the grass surface very well.
Rain will definitely impact these 17 NFL teams as the surface can quickly become difficult to play on.
The grass fields do have tarps, large covers that can help keep rain off of the surface. This is really important for longevity of these fields as these tarps can be placed on the field all week in case of rain.
How many Division 1 College Stadiums have Turf?
There are currently 82 college stadiums that have synthetic turf fields and 44 college stadiums with natural grass.
This number continues to change as each year colleges are transitioning to turf fields.
As stated above, the maintenance on a turf field is so much lower than natural grass. This allows for games to be played during rain, or following rain, without any worries at all.
Do Football Games Get Canceled Because of Snow?
Football games can be played in snow, and this is fun for spectators and players. The snow adds a new element that is difficult to deal with, but also impacts the players and the plays.
Some of the best games in the NFL have been played in the snow. Typically the outcome in these games are very close. These games end up being close games because they are usually low scoring.
Unless there is a substantial amount of snow, games typically will go on as scheduled.
Would it be Easier if Every Stadium was a Dome?
The answer is yes, but there are many football purists that believe football should be played outside. Many of the cold-weather locations in the USA, who have NFL teams are stadiums that are not domes.
The tradition of playing in whatever weather occurs is something that football purists love. There is an element to the game that changes based on rain, snow, and even wind, that does not occur in a dome stadium.
Final Thoughts
Football is played in many different weather conditions. Rain is common, and has become a part of the game of football.
Rain will not cancel football games, but only lightning or thunder can.
Some of the best NFL games in the history of football have been played in bad weather conditions. For many, this is a great part o the game.
Teams need to be prepared to play in extreme weather conditions, and practicing in these conditions can be beneficial as well.
Football is interesting in that one week a team can play in 90 degree weather, and the next week, that same team can be playing in rain or snow. Adjusting and adapting to the elements is an important part of the success of a team.
