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The Nevada Union softball team was supposed to play at home against Bear River Thursday afternoon.
Wednesday, the field was a lake, said Miners Softball Coach Kelly Borne. A day of sun did little to improve conditions, and standing water remained on the field up until what would have been game time — but the game was canceled.
It was the Miners' 10th game this season to be canceled due to weather or field conditions.
With some forecasts predicting snow and most predicting rain, it looks like there are more rainouts in the future for high school sports.
However, while it may rain in Nevada County it does not mean that it rains in Placer County.
The Bear River Bruins baseball team traveled down to Foothill to get the game in Thursday.
Bear River has played just two games this season. Foothill has played 10.
“You can tell a team that's been playing a lot more,” said Bruins Baseball Coach Dahrol Ennis. “They're more comfortable out there.”
That is the problem facing most high school sports teams in the area: how do you get ready and stay prepared to play against teams who have had five times as much practice as you?
It's a question Steve Robinson, tennis coach at Forest Lake Christian, has had to ask a lot this year.
“This is a unique winter,” he said, referring to the amount of rainfall Nevada County has gotten. “You start looking for the windows toward the end of the school day.”
Because of the weather, players may not know from one day to the next where they will play or even if they will play.
“We operate on a keep-your-eyes-and-ears-open basis,” said Robinson. “If it doesn't work out, we do the best things we can.”
Many coaches have had to develop alternative drills and workouts for their practices.
The Nevada Union softball team practices in the school's wrestling room when the field is unplayable.
“You can hit Whiffle balls and do basic stuff,” said Borne. “Swinging the bat is better than not swinging the bat.”
For the Falcon tennis players, there are a few exercises they can do at home, said Robinson, but he says many of the Falcons use the time off from sports to catch up in other areas of their lives.
“If they get extra time, most of them go home and do their homework,” he said. “Once they're caught up on other work, their heads are clear, and they can focus on the game they love playing.”
But, catching up on homework and clearing your head can only do so much. Time on the court spent practicing is invaluable, said Nevada Union tennis coach Nick Bodley.
With the rain, he said, it's been impossible to get on the court. “That's what the kids need.”
The Miners' tennis team have been able to practice on the court just four times in the last month, and without being able to get out there, the game play starts to suffer. You start to lose your timing on the ball and your confidence in shot making, said Bodley.
“Unless you're hitting balls in a competitive atmosphere, you can't get that timing back.”
The sentiment is similar among most coaches: there is no substitute for the real thing.
Borne is confident in his team's ability and desire to play. It's a matter of getting the chance to play, he said.
“If it's not raining,” said Borne, “we have to take advantage of that. Hit balls into the net, do drills, do anything you can do.”
One problem coaches face when substituting off-field drills with on-field practice is boredom, said Ennis.
“Kids get bored because they want to be out there,” he said. “Throwing balls on the blacktop, doing basic drills inside, it does get boring. You try to do things to keep it fun.”
Wet weather is not a new phenomenon in Nevada County, and it doesn't look to be going away any time soon, so the coaches and players try to make do with what they have and look to the future with optimism.
The Miners tennis team was able to get in its first league match Thursday. Though the team lost, Bodley said, “We're going to be late bloomers if we ever get sunny weather.”
As they press forward, the teams will receive no special points for what they have been through. But, the players and coaches at Nevada Union, Bear River and Forest Lake Christian will know what they have had to contend with and overcome.
“It all works,” said Robinson. “Somehow, it just works.”
To contact Sports Writer Anthony Barstow, e-mail abarstow@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4232.
Wednesday, the field was a lake, said Miners Softball Coach Kelly Borne. A day of sun did little to improve conditions, and standing water remained on the field up until what would have been game time — but the game was canceled.
It was the Miners' 10th game this season to be canceled due to weather or field conditions.
With some forecasts predicting snow and most predicting rain, it looks like there are more rainouts in the future for high school sports.
However, while it may rain in Nevada County it does not mean that it rains in Placer County.
The Bear River Bruins baseball team traveled down to Foothill to get the game in Thursday.
Bear River has played just two games this season. Foothill has played 10.
“You can tell a team that's been playing a lot more,” said Bruins Baseball Coach Dahrol Ennis. “They're more comfortable out there.”
That is the problem facing most high school sports teams in the area: how do you get ready and stay prepared to play against teams who have had five times as much practice as you?
It's a question Steve Robinson, tennis coach at Forest Lake Christian, has had to ask a lot this year.
“This is a unique winter,” he said, referring to the amount of rainfall Nevada County has gotten. “You start looking for the windows toward the end of the school day.”
Because of the weather, players may not know from one day to the next where they will play or even if they will play.
“We operate on a keep-your-eyes-and-ears-open basis,” said Robinson. “If it doesn't work out, we do the best things we can.”
Many coaches have had to develop alternative drills and workouts for their practices.
The Nevada Union softball team practices in the school's wrestling room when the field is unplayable.
“You can hit Whiffle balls and do basic stuff,” said Borne. “Swinging the bat is better than not swinging the bat.”
For the Falcon tennis players, there are a few exercises they can do at home, said Robinson, but he says many of the Falcons use the time off from sports to catch up in other areas of their lives.
“If they get extra time, most of them go home and do their homework,” he said. “Once they're caught up on other work, their heads are clear, and they can focus on the game they love playing.”
But, catching up on homework and clearing your head can only do so much. Time on the court spent practicing is invaluable, said Nevada Union tennis coach Nick Bodley.
With the rain, he said, it's been impossible to get on the court. “That's what the kids need.”
The Miners' tennis team have been able to practice on the court just four times in the last month, and without being able to get out there, the game play starts to suffer. You start to lose your timing on the ball and your confidence in shot making, said Bodley.
“Unless you're hitting balls in a competitive atmosphere, you can't get that timing back.”
The sentiment is similar among most coaches: there is no substitute for the real thing.
Borne is confident in his team's ability and desire to play. It's a matter of getting the chance to play, he said.
“If it's not raining,” said Borne, “we have to take advantage of that. Hit balls into the net, do drills, do anything you can do.”
One problem coaches face when substituting off-field drills with on-field practice is boredom, said Ennis.
“Kids get bored because they want to be out there,” he said. “Throwing balls on the blacktop, doing basic drills inside, it does get boring. You try to do things to keep it fun.”
Wet weather is not a new phenomenon in Nevada County, and it doesn't look to be going away any time soon, so the coaches and players try to make do with what they have and look to the future with optimism.
The Miners tennis team was able to get in its first league match Thursday. Though the team lost, Bodley said, “We're going to be late bloomers if we ever get sunny weather.”
As they press forward, the teams will receive no special points for what they have been through. But, the players and coaches at Nevada Union, Bear River and Forest Lake Christian will know what they have had to contend with and overcome.
“It all works,” said Robinson. “Somehow, it just works.”
To contact Sports Writer Anthony Barstow, e-mail abarstow@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4232.
