Bad Weather Crippling Ferndale Spring Sports Schedule

Snow, rain and temperatures under 40 degrees? Not exactly ideal playing conditions for spring sports.

Last week, bad weather forced Ferndale to cancel nearly all the spring games and meets it had scheduled from Monday through Thursday. Heavy rains and a tornado watch this week have already wiped out another two days worth of games.

“It has been a nightmare,” Athletic Director Shaun Butler said.

Almost all the games scheduled prior to the Eagles’ spring break at the beginning of April had to be cancelled as well. Butler called it the worst stretch of cancellations he’s ever seen.

“This spring has had the most cancellations in the eight years I have been (athletic director),” Butler said.  “And when I look back on the 21 years here, I cannot remember a spring where we have had such poor weather.”

The other athletic directors and coaches he’s talked to in the area have said the same thing.

Butler’s job now is to work with those schools and find a place on the schedule to make up the postponed games. Not an easy task when dealing with around 30 varsity and junior varsity games.

“I liken rescheduling to a pro-baseball general manager manipulating a ten player deal,” Butler said. “Rescheduling multiple days is extremely difficult when looking at facilities, middle school and high school events, league versus non league events.”

Most of the Ferndale spring teams – baseball, softball, tennis, soccer and golf – should be able to get all the missed league games in, but Butler is worried about the track team. The MHSAA has rules in place that prevent track teams from running on back-to-back days and that makes rescheduling their meets more difficult.

Also, coaches want to make sure runners get more rest before weekend invitational’s.

 “Right now we are in jeopardy of not getting all our league dual track meets in,” Butler said. “As time is winding down on the season and there have not been enough days to get the meets in when you consider adequate days rest, availability of both schools, facilities and officials.”

For parents and fans curious about the cancellation process, Butler said multiple factors are taken into account when making a decision. The weather conditions are discussed, but schools also monitor the radar to try and determine what the weather will be at game time.

Other important factors include the conditions of the field and the opinions of opposing school.

“I walk the fields throughout the day and determine if it is safe for our kids to play,” Butler said. “We also monitor the radar and weather as well as discussion with the opposing school. If we cancel I try to have several dates ready when we make the call to the other school to reschedule and that is again based on availability of facilities, refs, etc.”

One things for sure - those available open dates Ferndale teams have built in the schedule are disappearing quickly.