When cloudy weather appears out of nowhere on the day of an important game, it is only logical for fear to creep up on everyone. Not only can the game lose its vibe but you may wonder how long until the referee is forced to delay or call it off completely.

This article answers the question “can soccer be played in the rain?” by outlining what happens when it rains before or in the middle of a game. We also reveal other weather elements that may affect soccer games.

Can Soccer Be Played in The Rain?

Soccer games typically go ahead during rainfall with both players and officials eager unless the ball gets stuck from excessive field wetness and players are unable to move without considerable risks of slipping and falling. Thunder and lightning storms may also get soccer games paused or postponed for another day.

Soccer players are used to hitting the field during harsh weather conditions like rain and even snow. Referees are hesitant to stop soccer games unless there’s a high risk of injuries or death from the prevailing weather conditions.

No soccer game is worth risking the lives of humans and if the conditions on the ground become unbearable for players to continue without risking their wellbeing, the referee may decide to stop the game.

Officials typically allow the players to take shelter until the rain ceases after which the pitch conditions are assessed to figure out whether to resume play or not.

When Rainfall Forces Stoppage of Soccer Games

Here are the few conditions under which officials may decide stopping the game is in the best interest of everyone.

Excessive Rain

Heavy rainfall can force even the most enthusiastic officials to call off soccer games regardless of their importance. When the ball keeps getting stuck in the mud due to the heavy rainfall, referees begin to take notice.

Playing on wet surfaces is no mean feat for soccer players because it forces them to focus more on maintaining their balance than playing the actual game. Tripping and sliding could become more common exposing players to the risk of suffering serious injury.

Besides, hitting balls across natural grass fields and astroturfs soaked in water can become almost impossible. Dribbling may be extremely difficult which limits coherent play among teammates and players with fresh tattoos could get exposed to a high risk of infections due to contact with the wet playing surfaces.

Flooding

While floods are caused by excessive rainfall, the conditions on the field could be a different story. Sure, many stadiums around the world have powerful underground drainage systems to eliminate the risk of flooded soccer fields.

However, flooding can still occur when there’s a mishap like blockages in the draining system. Playing soccer is out of the question when the pitch gets flooded. After all, no referee will be interested in standing neck-deep in water to officiate a game regardless of the stakes at hand.

Thunder & Lightning

While officials may be hesitant to call off games during light rainfall, lightning typically cranks the stakes up a notch. Lightning storms can expose soccer players and officials on the field to serious dangers including death.

While lightning becomes more probable during or after rainfall, it is not impossible to experience them even when the skies look clear with no immediate signs of impending rainfall.

How Do You Play Soccer In The Rain?

Here are the best techniques to play soccer in the rain and still maintain control to increase the chances of winning.

Minimize Aerial Balls

Keeping the ball on the ground may sound like a no-brainer during rainy soccer games but many players miss the simple trick. Not only do the chances of making the right aerial passes decline but your teammates could also have a hard time latching onto balls.

Focusing on aerial balls on a rainy day can ruin your team’s chances of success and must be avoided at all costs.

No Dribbling

You might be as good as Eden Hazard or Lionel Messi but dribbling on a rain-soaked soccer field may increase the risk of losing possession. Not only does the pitch interfere with your ball control but movements could also be seriously curtailed.

A good tip is to stick to the passing game and save the dribbles and nutmegs for another day when the pitch is dry.

Slide Accordingly

Sliding may seem more attractive during rainy games but lots of care will have to go into every single tackle to minimize the risk of drawing fouls in dangerous areas.

Reckless slide tackles during rainy matches can also increase the risk of injury to yourself and the targeted opposing players. Many career-ending injuries have occurred on such days and you don’t want to be a culprit or a victim.

Low, Hard Shots

The wet nature of the soccer field can interfere with ball movements which explains why nothing less than low, hard shots will suffice on such days. Since shooting accuracy may be seriously affected, we recommended shooting closer to the opponent’s goal to increase the chances of hitting the target.

Get the Ball Out of Dangerous Areas Quickly

No point in trying to dribble and control the ball in your own half and especially, close to your penalty area during rainy days. With an increased risk of slipping or making wrong passes, the probability of conceding cheap goals can be high.

Always move the ball quickly from your penalty area to save your team the heartache of silly goals.

Dominate Set Pieces

Scoring from regular gameplay can be hard during rainy days and set pieces could be an easy way out. Attack setpieces with all your might because you never know where goals may pop up from during games on such unfavorable days.

Wear The Right Studs

The right studs can offer some stability during rainy soccer games and this is why soft ground cleats are the best for such situations. Always wear soft ground cleats or at least keep a pair close by in the event of rain.

Soft ground cleats allow better traction on wet pitches which enables enhanced control during the game. Sprinting and movement on those slippery soccer fields become much easier with these types of cleats.

Other Weather Conditions That Can Force Officials To Stop Soccer Games

Snowstorms

Soccer games may be played in snow but officials could be forced to call them off during huge snowstorms that cover the whole pitch. Not only can players suffer health complications from the harsh conditions but the ball can have a hard time bouncing and moving on several inches of snow.

Having personally witnessed a pitch with 2 inches of snow after the end of a soccer game, snowfall does not automatically influence referees to call off games. It can take a lot of snow for a game to be stopped during winter.

Can you imagine playing on a soccer pitch with 22 inches of snow as Moscow residents experienced some time in 2018? (Source)

Heat & Humidity

Extreme heat may also cause problems for soccer players and it is not uncommon for games to be postponed as a result. The women’s Olympic gold soccer match between Canada and Sweden was postponed in Japan due to unbearable heat (Source).

Dehydration and overheating are the main risks of playing soccer or any sport in the heat. Players could get hydrated on the field but the harsh weather can increase the risks of heat stress.

Games postponed due to excessive heat and humidity are typically rescheduled for later in the day when the sun goes down and temperatures typically decline.

Conclusion: Can Soccer Be Played in The Rain?

Soccer may be played in the rain without problems as long as the pitch is not flooded or experiencing lightning storms. Excessive wetness on the playing field can interfere with ball movements and make playing almost impossible.

Referees are more likely to call off games when play is unable to flow due to the ball getting stuck in the mud. Lightning storms can also force players and officials off the field to safeguard their lives and prevent the risk of serious injuries and death.

Postponed games may be resumed after numerous tests on the field when the rain ends. Sometimes the game could be rescheduled to another date.