The recent freezing temperatures have seen fixtures across all levels of sports fall victim to the weather, with games postponed for frozen surfaces…though some were called off earlier than others.
If you are a player or fan of an outdoor sport, there is a strong chance that your fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch/surface. Outside of professional sport (which also saw plenty of cancellations), few fixtures survived the touch of Jack Frost with pitch inspections carried out up and down the country.
Most were called in a timely fashion, while some were postponed less than a couple of hours before kick-off…and some were abandoned minutes into the game.
Pitch Inspection Guidance
As per The FA, in most cases, the decision to postpone a fixture rests on the shoulders of the appointed referee, though some competitions do allow for the home club/venue to make the decision. The official guidance also states that an inspection should be carried out in good time, taking into consideration the time it takes for the visiting club to arrive at the venue.
This means that a pitch inspection should take place and be completed with a decision communicated to both clubs before the away side is due to begin their journey. The referee should, if possible, speak with the home club’s groundsman, using their knowledge of the pitch and facility to make a better-informed decision. Prevailing weather conditions are also considered.
Frozen Pitches at Grassroots Level
At the professional level, referees are appointed to one fixture and can arrive in good time to conduct a pitch inspection. At grassroots level, when referees either have a shift at work before the fixture or, which is commonplace, are refereeing an earlier fixture, it is harder for a pitch inspection to take place before the away side begins their journey.
As already mentioned, some competitions will allow for the home club/venue to postpone a match and, particularly during freezing temperatures, some level of discretion tends to be allowed. This is to avoid officials and players (especially junior players) from having a wasted journey in potentially unsafe conditions to travel.
This past weekend, some fixtures were called off citing a frozen pitch as early as Thursday. These decisions will have been made taking prevailing weather conditions and the groundsman’s knowledge of the pitch into consideration. If forecasts had shown warmer temperatures, in which surfaces could adequately thaw out, pitches will likely have been given more opportunity to become playable.
Spectators
As well as those actively taking part, some thought also needs to be given to those who are spectating. This is especially true when operating at a level where fixtures do attract spectators that go beyond the friends and families of those playing.
Supporters won’t be happy at having set off on their journey, especially if it is a long one, only to be informed of a postponement when they arrive or are almost there. This is especially true during a cost-of-living crisis, with fans paying for fuel and/or public transport costs.
The Case for 3G/4G Pitches
One of the main arguments for the use of 3G/4G pitches is to reduce the need for postponements. They are designed to provide an all-weather alternative for training and fixtures when grass surfaces are unusable, allowing for greater drainage of rainwater.
During the colder months, the main advantage that artificial pitches have over grass surfaces is the presence of a shockpad layer that sits underneath the outer layer. This delivers a cushioning effect that reduces the chance of injury, though it does not automatically guarantee that the surface will be playable in freezing temperatures.
Clubs and event organisers will always try and give every opportunity for fixtures to take place, so long as there is reason to believe that surfaces will be playable.
