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While others doubted, I really did believe from the start there was no way they would play at Hinsdale Central on Saturday.
And they won't.
Hinsdale Central will battle Lyons part of a doubleheader at Naperville North.
Hinsdale Central vs. Lyons, 10 a.m.
Neuqua Valley vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South,12 p.m.
It was the right call, and everyone involved deserves all the credit.
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There is an issue I have with the trend to having as many games on turf as possible. This will become a huge home field advantage for teams that have turf. It beocmes a socio-economic advantage for teams. Libertyville, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Carmel and Stevenson all have turf while less economically well off communites like Round Lake and Wauconda do not. If a team with turf is hosting then there should be two hours of practice given to teams playing there.
While that's an interesting take, everyone has an opportunity to use turf. Every year, there are a few teams that go to certain places to practice on turf. Baseball fields that have turf are different, just as football fields are different. Some of the flooring on basketball courts are different.
Clearly you have never played soccer on a turf field, Joe. Comparing the playing surface of a soccer field to that of football and basketball is like comparing the sun-times to the new england journal of medicine. In no other sport does the ball have contact with the field as often as soccer. Baseball is a legitimate claim with groundballs, but football and basketball? Doubtful. It is a very distinct advantage to a soccer team who regularly plays on turf because they understand the bounces, skips and rolls of a turf field.
I actually have and still do. I wasn't saying that. What I was saying is that in sports - you are going to have different surfaces. You just want them to be playable. And in today's day and age, most teams have played on the surface more than enough by now. You don't lose a game because of playable surface. You lose a game because of an unplayable surface.
Really...comparing flooring of basketball courts and turf/grass??? Unless it is not hard-wood, then that is a difference...but on the soccer pitch, PK brings up a valid point...your response says they can go certain places to practice on turf...but again...what does that entail... MONEY... it is a no-win situation and I agree that more turf fields are needed by all throughout for the IHSA to host the sectionals/supers and state there because it goes into November is smart...but I just think PK's point is fairly valid. However, the best teams (geographically speaking of course...) will adjust to both conditions...rain, wind, grass, mud, or turf...that's why in the state tournament you need to get lucky a bit and be skilled... just having 1 isn't always enough sometimes...
That is not true. There are high schools who allow other high schools to come and practice on their turf as a favor. It's less common now, because many high schools have turf.
Most of the players on these state contending teams play club soccer all year round and play indoor on turf and travel to many out of state tournaments where they play on turf. It is ridiculous to think that these players aren't comfortable playing on turf fields!!!
As much as playing on turf fields could be an advantage for the economically advanced schools, it is a disadvantage. If you have to go play at schools with less than average playing surfaces that they are used to and you are not, your team feels it.
Granted, I'm grateful for having played on a turf field as it beats playing in a mud bath after a rainy Friday night football game. But it does work both ways in this situation.