Some footballers don’t mind being wet, and the match can continue despite muddy and slippery surroundings. Excessive rainfall, however, can completely change the playing surface. So, can you really play football in the rain?
Yes, you can. However, in most football matches, rainy weather is considered one of the most common bad weather conditions. The rain makes the surface more slippery, and it usually causes the ball to slide and move faster. The ball can simply skip on the damp grass, but it can also get trapped in the mud.
Nonetheless, it creates circumstances for teams that prefer quick moves with plenty of short passes. Continue reading to learn more about playing football in the rain!
How Do You Play Football On A Rainy Day?
As mentioned earlier, the ball becomes slippery whenever it rains. This might result in more turnovers and incomplete passes.
Players can compensate by donning gloves that strengthen their grip on the ball. Rain may also result in a muddy grass pitch. Some wear shoes with specialized soles, keeping the player grounded even in slippery settings.
To maintain a “dry” ball during play, officials will exchange footballs, and players will endeavor to keep their hands dry between plays. Learn more about the use of gloves during the game below.
Do Football Gloves Really Help?
Rain may drastically alter the pace of a football game. Do gloves play a vital role during the game, or are they for mere vanity?
The fundamental advantage of using football gloves is that they increase a player’s catching abilities, with most gloves having thin material and providing an accurate feel for the ball but as much grip as possible to enable even the most difficult catches.
It is imperative to note that gloves allow you the opportunity to grip the ball during the rain that you might let through otherwise due to wet hands.
Is Rain Good For A Soccer Match?
Rain is beneficial to some and detrimental to other players. For the players, it actually depends on their position.
It is advantageous to play as a striker because you may aim low and hard, and your shots will skip off the grass, making them difficult to stop as a keeper. Defenders, on the contrary, struggle in the rain because it is difficult to predict how a shot will bounce. It will bounce normally at times, but will skip low and quickly at others.
Furthermore, rain benefits observers because a wet field may make the game more entertaining by allowing for more goals. Footballers, especially strikers, have an edge when they play in the rain. It allows them to aim low and hard and secure more goals than defenders.
Conclusion
Even though playing in the rain might be difficult, it is extremely unusual for a soccer game to be canceled due to it. With rain, the field goal percentage rises to roughly 85 percent, although this is because the average distance is substantially shorter (as with wind).
