Weather’s affect on sports can be measured in an assortment of areas, such as how and when a game is played. When the winds kick up, the rain clouds roll in and the snow begins to fall, coaches, managers, players and fans are forced to make adjustments. Bad weather also can make good teams and players look bad or bad teams and players look good by leveling the playing field.
Rain
Rain’s impact on sports is commonly felt and dealt with, especially in sports like baseball and golf. If the rain is hard enough, it will postpone or delay games and matches until the weather improves. Rain delays can have an impact on how coaches and players approach their strategies. For instance, an extensive rain delay during the middle of a baseball game can affect who the teams put on the mound when play resumes. The starting pitchers may need to be replaced because their arms became stiff during the delay. Rain also can saturate golf greens saturated, affecting the way players make approach shots and the way they putt once on the green.
Snow
While most outdoor sports reschedule games and matches when it snows, football does not. Snow and frigid conditions have a noticeable influence on how a football game is played. For instance, a team that relies on the passing aspect of its offensive game often will be forced to rely more on its running game in inclement weather. Quarterbacks have difficulty gripping the ball, receivers have problems gaining traction to run pass routes and running backs’ numb hands make catching even short passes more difficult in the rain, snow and cold.
Wind
Windy conditions affect outdoor sports by forcing players to adjust the way they play the game. A golfer, for example, is forced to change the direction in which she aims her shot by taking the wind’s direction and speed into consideration. Similarly, a football placekicker will judge where he should direct his kick based on the same conditions. Baseball players who swing for power will have more difficulty hitting a home run with a strong headwind. Windy conditions can affect the direction a ball is hit, kick or thrown in several outdoor sports, changing the manner in which players and coaches approach the game.
Weather's Aftermath
Weather affects sports even after the clouds have cleared and the winds have died down. For example, a soccer game played on a field drenched with rainwater presents players the increased challenge of maintaining their footing while pursuing the ball. Water-soaked football fields cause players slip and slide while trying to maintain their balance, increasing the chances of injury. Saturated greens affect the way a golf ball bounces and rolls toward the hole, causing players to use different clubs and approaches than they would in far better conditions.
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