Question About Impact Of Snow During A Game

[Ben E Lou]

I don't think I've ever watched a game where it snowed hard from start to finish, as some forecast models have it doing during the Falcons' game on Sunday. Now, from what I read in the paper today, the field will be "covered and heated" up until time for the players to warm up. So, if that is true, would I be correct in assuming that with a relatively warm and dry ground with a bunch of football players running all over it, that the field is likely to be more wet than snowy, or am I reading this wrong? My other question is this: does falling snow cause visibility problems for receivers, or is it less of a factor than falling rain? Also, if there is snow on the field, rather than mud, does it cause a traction problem for players in cleats? It almost seems like it would be less of a traction issue than rain. The few times I've wlkaed on snow, it seems to have been crunchy, not slick.

[Lathum]

Alot of the visibility issues will depend on the wind. The field will definantly be more wet then smow covered however the traction would be about the same either way.

[General Mike]

It really depends on how hard the snow is falling and really how cold it is outside. If the ground is heated tho, it shouldn't be too much of a problem tho because the cleats will be able to grip in the ground. This game is going to come down to who can run the ball the best tho.

[Swaggs]

Too bad you are from GA. Whenever we got out of school early (in WV), we would almost always run home and get as many clothes on as possible, and then play snow football. :)

I would think the biggest problems would be with the skill players holding on to the ball and the QBs throwing the ball. I'm not too sure about the intricacies of the heated field, but the snow can get really slick if it gets packed down.

[JimboJ]

I heard an interview with the head of the grounds crew for the Eagles. He said the field is heated and will be covered until game day. Once the field is uncovered, the snow should melt as it falls, unless the snow is very heavy. So it should be mostly wet if it is still snowing on Sunday.

Now the forecast is for the snow to start early Saturday, and possibly be over in time for the game.

[Ben E Lou]

The article I read implied that the heating of the field would stop when the field was uncovered, so I don't know if that plays into it or not. The specific line....The Eagles will keep the natural grass field covered and heated until just before it's time to play.So, what I'm reading into what you gleaned from the interview with the groundskeeper is that it will be heated throughout the game. Correct?

[Ryan S]

I don't know about this case, but I think that most soccer teams switch off the heating before they play the game.

[sabotai]

If the ground is heated, that's going to cause a lot of traction problems because the snow will melt when it hit the ground, the ground will get wet and it'll be just as if it was rain. I'm sure Swaggs knows as well as I do, when you play snow football at the local park in freezing temperatures, that ground is hard and there's no traction problems at all (as long as the ground isn't covered in 5 or more inches of snow). But if the ground is heated, and then uncovered, and the snow hits the warm ground...you're going to get mud.

[stevew]

The article I read implied that the heating of the field would stop when the field was uncovered, so I don't know if that plays into it or not. The specific line....So, what I'm reading into what you gleaned from the interview with the groundskeeper is that it will be heated throughout the game. Correct?


Not likely, tho perhaps they will turn it on during halftime.

[General Mike]

mmm..... mud bowl :)

[stevew]

Too bad you are from GA. Whenever we got out of school early (in WV), we would almost always run home and get as many clothes on as possible, and then play snow football. :)

I would think the biggest problems would be with the skill players holding on to the ball and the QBs throwing the ball. I'm not too sure about the intricacies of the heated field, but the snow can get really slick if it gets packed down.
Snow football rocks!

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm not sure how bad the weather is going to be, but I got a friend at work to cover my normal weekend work responsibilities.. Nothing to interrupt football this weekend :)

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Snow football rocks!

Especially when you are a DT!

[cthomer5000]

I don't think I've ever watched a game where it snowed hard from start to finish, as some forecast models have it doing during the Falcons' game on Sunday. Now, from what I read in the paper today, the field will be "covered and heated" up until time for the players to warm up. So, if that is true, would I be correct in assuming that with a relatively warm and dry ground with a bunch of football players running all over it, that the field is likely to be more wet than snowy, or am I reading this wrong? My other question is this: does falling snow cause visibility problems for receivers, or is it less of a factor than falling rain? Also, if there is snow on the field, rather than mud, does it cause a traction problem for players in cleats? It almost seems like it would be less of a traction issue than rain. The few times I've wlkaed on snow, it seems to have been crunchy, not slick.
I would say slight footing issues, and perhaps serious footing issues if it's extremely heavy. The heaviest snow I ever recall seeing was the New England-Oakland 'tuck' game. If it's snowing really hard, that stuff will really start accumulating as the game progresses (although they should be able to clear it up decently at halftime).

Also, there are a lot of serious differences in snow consistency. If it's big and heavy it'll stick. If it's real powedery the wind will just be blowing it all over the place. I imagine the visibility issues are worst with the big, thick flakes.

I'm hoping for 2 big-time snow games this weekend.

[Desnudo]

I would say slight footing issues, and perhaps serious footing issues if it's extremely heavy. The heaviest snow I ever recall seeing was the New England-Oakland 'tuck' game. If it's snowing really hard, that stuff will really start accumulating as the game progresses (although they should be able to clear it up decently at halftime).

Also, there are a lot of serious differences in snow consistency. If it's big and heavy it'll stick. If it's real powedery the wind will just be blowing it all over the place. I imagine the visibility issues are worst with the big, thick flakes.

I'm hoping for 2 big-time snow games this weekend.

If it's the predicted 20 degrees then it should be powder. There's nothing better than watching football played in a heavy snowstorm. I wish it happened more.

[CraigSca]

The latest I heard (like others said) is that the snow will be arriving here on Saturday as opposed to Sunday - the game probably will not be effected much.

[pbot]

I wouldn't worry too much about traction. Battery laced snowballs being fired at the Falcon bench, however.....

[Castlerock]

The Patriots/Raiders snowbowl was played in Foxboro Stadium. Foxboro did not have a heated field. The new Gillette Stadium does have a heated field but snow will still accumulate don't expect miracles.

[Dutch]

I would imagine that a lack of traction on the field (being mud or heavy snow) would be a big disadvantage to Vick and Dunn. They might have to dust off T.J. for this one.

[CamEdwards]

anybody else thinks it sucks that they're covering the field? They never did that in the old days.

Of course, they didn't really wear helmets back then either...

[Airhog]

I love playing with snow turned on in NCAA football and madden.

[Swaggs]

Kicking will probably be a bitch, too.

I'm more excited about these two games this weekend than I have been for two games in a long time.