Weather Feature

The fall season is here. Leaves are turning colors. A chilling breeze passes through the campus pond which forces the ducks and as well as their visitors to huddle together for warmth. However on the other side of the campus there are some who don’t look affected by the weather change. They are the members of Umass lacrosse team who practice every day in Garber’s field.

In a quick look it seems that that the lacrosse members practice don’t notice the weather change: players in shorts and t-shirts, their hands and cheeks are rosy red from the rush of blood in their veins.

In a closer look at the players in the field, their shouting coaches and extras who are sitting in benches alongside the field to either rest for a while or to be exchanged soon, it is obvious that some are feeling the chill in the air intimately. A few athletes are attending the practice in full suit. Some are using any minute to stay active and on a move. Moving from one leg to the other, with hands in pockets, Umass men’s lacrosse team athletic coach, Bob Kuzmeski, stands in the corner and watches his team. Cold, however, for him is no excuse. Not even for his team. Cold or hot every team member must attend the practices and games. He acknowledges that even though it is personal preference to like or dislike the older weather, but team members get no special advantages to get them out of practicing in the cold.

However, there are some who are not comfortable with doing sport and the weather getting cold. Patrick Kelly is an attack man for lacrosse club team. He, however, has a different opinion about playing and practicing in the cold. He “hates the cold” since it has affected his performance in the past. Though, liking or disliking the cold weather is a personal preference, he believes its biological effect or what he calls “survival tactic” on the body forces blood to rush to the colder organs and eventually reducing blood and oxygen to the muscles that are working hard through the game.

“You are a lot stiffer, everything hurts more” he says and rubs his hands together as a reminder that in the old weather to keep warm is all about the movement. To keep the blood going he says is why you see the players shaking their hands and rubbing down their arms.

Even though playing in the cold weather could get tough at times, for some athletes such as Kelly and Umass men lacrosse team members once the practices are over, being in the games pays off. “When you are in the moment, you just shake it off and don’t care what happens” Kelly says.

Whether you are an athlete or are just taking a walk around the campus pond, remember, this fall and this winter it’s all about the movement. Everything from jumping up and down to start a sport will do to keep you warm.