Sanding fields at halftime

Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

Do you think the LHGCL official was purposely trying to create an unfair advantage against your team?

Our team played on a field with a sanded goal box. The goal box was pretty torn-up and could have used more sand. In one instance a forward sent a grass-burner toward the goal. Our GK bent over to scoop up up, a few feet before she could pick it up, the ball hit a clump of mud and bounced up, luckily our GK reacted and jumped up to save the ghost play!

In this instance was there an advantage? No, but would the goal have counted if the ball had changed course due to the condition of the field and our GK had not reacted quickly enough, of course.

Sometimes wind, rain, sun glare, attitudes, or clumps of mud change the fortunes of the day. See you on the pitch!

midfieldersdad wrote:Our team played on a field with a sanded goal box. The goal box was pretty torn-up and could have used more sand. In one instance a forward sent a grass-burner toward the goal. Our GK bent over to scoop up up, a few feet before she could pick it up, the ball hit a clump of mud and bounced up, luckily our GK reacted and jumped up to save the ghost play!

In this instance was there an advantage? No, but would the goal have counted if the ball had changed course due to the condition of the field and our GK had not reacted quickly enough, of course.

Sometimes wind, rain, sun glare, attitudes, or clumps of mud change the fortunes of the day. See you on the pitch!

What if the clump of mud had pushed the ball wide! What if the clump of mud stop the ball dead! Their are a lot of what ifs that could change a game.

Not saying he did it to create the advantage on purpose, but it happened. Should not change the game in the middle is what I'm saying.

totalsoccer wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

Do you think the LHGCL official was purposely trying to create an unfair advantage against your team?

TS, what a stupid question/accusation.

OP has a great point. Should have done it before or waited until after the game.

[quote="02Dad"]

totalsoccer wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

Do you think the LHGCL official was purposely trying to create an unfair advantage against your team?

TS, what a stupid question/accusation.

OP has a great point. Should have done it before or waited until after

[quote="totalsoccer"]

02Dad wrote:

totalsoccer wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

Do you think the LHGCL official was purposely trying to create an unfair advantage against your team?

TS, what a stupid question/accusation.

OP has a great point. Should have done it before or waited until after

TS question is valid and OP is unobservant. This was occuring at fields at Chinn Chapel on Saturday. Had games there yesterday and saw sand being spread on the south end of #1 & #2 immediately after games and at 1/2 time on both fields. Because someone arrived late or was not paying attention does not mean it was not done. Ref quality seems to be declining acrross all age groups, but a conspiracy by the ground crew? Give me a break.

I wish someone would have come a sanded Moss Park #4 yesterday. I have no idea how dd was able to move around in the box to make saves. Her cleats have an inch thick of mud on the bottom I now have to clean off.

Thank goodness our manager changed our uniform colors from white to red for the game because we would have some ruin uniforms other wise.

jen_nah wrote:I wish someone would have come a sanded Moss Park #4 yesterday. I have no idea how dd was able to move around in the box to make saves. Her cleats have an inch thick of mud on the bottom I now have to clean off.

Thank goodness our manager changed our uniform colors from white to red for the game because we would have some ruin uniforms other wise.

Why do you have to clean your daughter's shoes? Isn't paying for the "Club Privelege" and being transport driver enough?
Rm

Yes unfair advantage, but it may have prevented an injury to either side during the second half.

TNT wrote:Yes unfair advantage, but it may have prevented an injury to either side during the second half.

+1. Please look at the bigger picture for a moment.

It's unfortunate that the field issues weren't corrected before the game but getting the issue corrected as soon as possible, even if it was a halftime, makes the most sense. Safety for the children comes before anything else.

What if they'd stood by watching as a girl tore an ACL while losing her footing in the mud? If they hadn't done it we might be reading a string from the OP griping about how his DD may never play soccer again.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't, right? I hope the parents and coaches thanked the people that sanded the field for the kids' safety, not chastised them. At least the people that sanded the field have the sense to realize that the kids' safety is a higher priority in life then the team's goal differential.

totalsoccer wrote:

midfieldersdad wrote:Our team played on a field with a sanded goal box. The goal box was pretty torn-up and could have used more sand. In one instance a forward sent a grass-burner toward the goal. Our GK bent over to scoop up up, a few feet before she could pick it up, the ball hit a clump of mud and bounced up, luckily our GK reacted and jumped up to save the ghost play!

In this instance was there an advantage? No, but would the goal have counted if the ball had changed course due to the condition of the field and our GK had not reacted quickly enough, of course.

Sometimes wind, rain, sun glare, attitudes, or clumps of mud change the fortunes of the day. See you on the pitch!

What if the clump of mud had pushed the ball wide! What if the clump of mud stop the ball dead! Their are a lot of what ifs that could change a game.

yeah! I know! It's crazy!

A lot of good points. It would be nice for officials to wait to sand between games, but the post about safety of a child is the most important. We all know that the sanding was done to protect our children!

How did the goal boxes get to be so torn up? The fields seemed to be in great shape except for the boxes.

02Dad wrote:

totalsoccer wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

Do you think the LHGCL official was purposely trying to create an unfair advantage against your team?

TS, what a stupid question/accusation.

OP has a great point. Should have done it before or waited until after the game.

Looks like Flanny may need to invite TS over for a spot of tea, and discussion about not posting on txsoccer anymore.

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

All your games have now been rescheduled to Moss. No one tampers with the fields there.

totalsoccer wrote:A lot of good points. It would be nice for officials to wait to sand between games, but the post about safety of a child is the most important. We all know that the sanding was done to protect our children!

I heard that LHGCL recently hired this guy to handle field maintenance:



http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2010/01/03/brush_with_immortality/

JeffM wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

All your games have now been rescheduled to Moss. No one tampers with the fields there.

Most Excellent!!! Much easier to get to and much better fields than most! Love the tall grass, slows the game down to where we don't have to chase those quick girls constantly! I just hit the liqour store on the way in and no worries no matter what happens in the game!

bevowhoopin wrote:

JeffM wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

All your games have now been rescheduled to Moss. No one tampers with the fields there.

Most Excellent!!! Much easier to get to and much better fields than most! Love the tall grass, slows the game down to where we don't have to chase those quick girls constantly! I just hit the liqour store on the way in and no worries no matter what happens in the game!

Just hope you don't get the widely known mud pit/lake that is field #4 at Moss. You will be wishing you were back at Chinn Chapel.

jen_nah wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:

JeffM wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

All your games have now been rescheduled to Moss. No one tampers with the fields there.

Most Excellent!!! Much easier to get to and much better fields than most! Love the tall grass, slows the game down to where we don't have to chase those quick girls constantly! I just hit the liqour store on the way in and no worries no matter what happens in the game!

Just hope you don't get the widely known mud pit/lake that is field #4 at Moss. You will be wishing you were back at Chinn Chapel.

Is it true that this MUD pit is at Moss#4?? Would really love to have that one documented. Bevowhoopin can you please confirm the location of this great field.

Hook It wrote:

jen_nah wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:

JeffM wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

All your games have now been rescheduled to Moss. No one tampers with the fields there.

Most Excellent!!! Much easier to get to and much better fields than most! Love the tall grass, slows the game down to where we don't have to chase those quick girls constantly! I just hit the liqour store on the way in and no worries no matter what happens in the game!

Just hope you don't get the widely known mud pit/lake that is field #4 at Moss. You will be wishing you were back at Chinn Chapel.

Is it true that this MUD pit is at Moss#4?? Would really love to have that one documented. Bevowhoopin can you please confirm the location of this great field.

I have pictures of Moss #4 and big bare spots that are nothing but mud.

Hook It wrote:

jen_nah wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:

JeffM wrote:

bevowhoopin wrote:Had a situation yesterday when a LHGCL official came out with sand at halftime and sanded down a very muddy goal area. Only one goalbox was muddy as the other end of the field was higher and grassy so no mud. My thinking is that gave the second half team an unfair advantage that didn't have to play in the same conditions as the first half. I'm sure it was still a mess, but maybe the mud didn't cling to the keepers feet as it did in the first half or maybe she had just a little better traction, any which way it would be an advantage. It may have been a little different if it was a city official that came out and sanded to keep the box from getting tore up as bad, but it was a LHGCL official that did it? Why not either do it before the game or wait until that game was over and do it for the next game???

All your games have now been rescheduled to Moss. No one tampers with the fields there.

Most Excellent!!! Much easier to get to and much better fields than most! Love the tall grass, slows the game down to where we don't have to chase those quick girls constantly! I just hit the liqour store on the way in and no worries no matter what happens in the game!

Just hope you don't get the widely known mud pit/lake that is field #4 at Moss. You will be wishing you were back at Chinn Chapel.

Is it true that this MUD pit is at Moss#4?? Would really love to have that one documented. Bevowhoopin can you please confirm the location of this great field.

Moss Park #4 from the past:


Moss Park #4 present:


Moss Park #4 future:


Its a Moss Park Carol. I don't know if sanding this would've helped?

I know current field conditions aren't always perfect, but overall, they have greatly improved. Used to work for a guy whose dd was an 89 keep who went on to play D1 college. He used to walk the pitch pre-game picking up any potential hazards from the field, packing down divots, looking for holes. He always carried a few sacks of sand in his car to sand in front of both goals when necessary (which was often) and to fill in any holes he thought were large enough to cause injury. Crazy ... maybe, but he did this before all of their games.