Frozen pitches
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Under 60 degress for US in youth soccer. Don't know about y'all's in UK but it should be similar. We also suspend icy matches with snow and ice. Check with local FA or the rules on the FA's site or the IFAB Laws of the Game. You should be able to find what you are looking for there.
If the pitch is frozen it is unsafe.
A good test is to use a key, if you can't easily penetrate the ground then it is likely too hard/icy to play football on.
It's also important to not just consider the temperature now but what will the temperature be later. More important if you are starting in the afternoon and playing until after dark as temps can drop considerably and a playable pitch can become unplayable.
A good test is to use a key, if you can't easily penetrate the ground then it is likely too hard/icy to play football on.
It's also important to not just consider the temperature now but what will the temperature be later. More important if you are starting in the afternoon and playing until after dark as temps can drop considerably and a playable pitch can become unplayable.
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Thanks - will try the key method.
Wouldn’t get a key in many pitches in the summer either but we seem to accept in football that frozen hard and summer dry hard are different levels of dangerous which I have always found hard to understand!
We definitely don’t have temperature rules here, but having been involved in youth football here for many years I’ve seen clubs call games off when temps are below 0c for the youngest (below 9/10) age groups only.
Other than that it’s always about the conditions of the pitch and whether that means conditions are unsafe.
You’re right about the surface being hard in the summer too, but that’s not he whole story.
Here’s a helpful analogy. A pavement is hard all year round. But more injuries resulting in fractures, bumps and bruises occur in winter. It’s no harder at this time of year but there’s less traction, less grip, and more chance of going over. It’s the slipping and falling that’s the cause of these injuries.
Now apply that to the field. Mud and grass have less traction and grip normally than an impermeable surface like tarmac or concrete so the risk is increased. You also the added issue of ruts forming and freezing which add to the trip and fall hazards.
I do not recommend a key. Ever since the DC incident.
Took me a minute. Good one
Fair point. One of the reasons for the difference is that during the summer, the pitches are hard all over the FoP, whereby players should be able to wear one type of boot be it moulded, Astro or even a very short stud. However, with frost, there can also be areas of both normal, frozen and even soft ground, depending if there has been any sun on some areas and none on others etc - in which case, not only is it difficult to play in one type of footwear, but at grassroots level, many players only have 1 type of footwear.
Hi,
I had my first match this Saturday and I called the match off due to a frozen pitch. One coach was ok about it, other wasn't too happy. Told him my duty is the welfare of the players (i10) so no game. Just after I called it off the league called me to cancel all remaining games.
Liked the analogy about summer pitch as that's what the other coach kept saying, I'll be using that.
I had my first match this Saturday and I called the match off due to a frozen pitch. One coach was ok about it, other wasn't too happy. Told him my duty is the welfare of the players (i10) so no game. Just after I called it off the league called me to cancel all remaining games.
Liked the analogy about summer pitch as that's what the other coach kept saying, I'll be using that.
