Sports are a two-sided coin that relies on both controllable and uncontrollable variables. Some controllable variables include an athlete’s preparation and game-day strategies. However, uncontrollable factors can get in the way of a team’s pursuit of victory, such as referee calls, and more importantly, weather. Every team must put up with the weather, and be able to adapt to the elements.
Soccer requires more adaptation than most other sports. Games in the European Leagues are played in winter. Some are played in especially cold locations, like Russia.
New technology has allowed soccer to be played in variable weather conditions much easier than in the past. Soccer clubs have been able to adapt to the weather patterns and better regulate the pitch to keep the field at a high standard for the clubs.
Luzhniki Stadium, a soccer stadium in Moscow, hosts Torpedo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. This stadium has recently made headlines due to it’s expanded seating in preparation for hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But not only is it a massive stadium, it also has an artificial pitch. That’s right, FieldTech, a company that designs artificial grass, installed an artificial pitch into the stadium back in 2002, as regular grass cannot typically survive the bitter Russian winters.
Although, in the past artificial pitches were met with harsh opposition by clubs, this field is quite the opposite. Luzhniki Stadium has been tested time and time again by FIFA in a line of stringent tests. In fact, the field was recently ranked a FIFA Recommended 2-star for artificial turf, which is a very high standard for soccer fields. The stadium was tested in 2008, 2009, and 2010, each time passing with flying colors. FieldTech has constantly put an emphasis on making their artificial turf as similar to real grass as possible, trying to mimic the ball roll, rotational resistance, and shock absorption of a natural pitch.
Although installing an artificial pitch is extremely pricey, the cost and labor for replacing and maintaining grass every year is too steep for such a cold climate. However, clubs in more pleasant climates do not typically install such a high-tech pitch.
Clubs that are not as fortunate to have a high-quality artificial pitches must use various forms of technology to maintain the field. For instance, more affluent teams can afford to use under-soil heating or ultraviolet grow lights. Some teams struggle even more, and can only use frost covers due to how expensive grow lights cost, which are around 50,000 euro each.
Not only does technology play a crucial role in maintaining a pitch, but so does knowledge on how to keep the grass in tip-top shape. Clubs must hire a groundsman that knows all of the small intricacies to growing and maintaining grass. According to The Guardian, maintaining the pitch is more than just mowing the lawn. It requires “knowing about when and what fertilizer to use, aeration, microbial activity, turf tonics, grass seeds, nylon fibers and field capacity (when a pitch has absorbed so much water it is almost saturated)”. This knowledge typically comes from someone that must have a college degree in turfgrass science, which adds another level of complexity. This college degree teaches students the science behind grass management. With this major, students go on to be in charge of golf courses, parks services, and groundskeepers for major sports teams. Not only do clubs need sufficient funds for the most efficient technology, but also someone that can operate the technology and have collegiate knowledge on how to properly maintain the field.
An equally important aspect of player success is keeping warm during the cold winter games in Russia. It is essential for players to layer properly with clothing that will keep the players warm, while still allowing them to move effectively during play. For this, most players use clothing that wicks away sweat, and fits tight to the skin, so it insulates the body heat that the player is giving off.
The idea of wicking away sweat has created a huge new industry for athletic companies such as Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas. The shirts, according to Slate.com, are “polyester-blended fabrics and chemical treatments, [that] pull perspiration away from the skin and push it through the clothing’s surface, where it evaporates. The result: a comfortable, dry athlete.” For more information on sports shirts and different brands, look here.
When on the sideline, players put as many layers on as possible to stay warm while not being active on the pitch. Doing so, allows the player’s muscles to stay active and warm while on the sidelines, so they have less of a chance to injure themselves if they go back into the game.
Although soccer faces some severe difficulties with weather, technology has allowed clubs to adapt more easily than in the past. The recent technology with maintaining the pitch has allowed for the game to be more consistent across boundaries and climates, creating a more equal playing field for clubs across Europe.