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Does Cold Matter? (1 Viewer)

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Bolebuns

Footballguy
I know the data on wind, rain, and snow.  But with at least two games projected to be in single digit temperatures this weekend, I am wondering about cold temperatures and, specifically, its effect on the passing game.  Leaving other weather factors out of the equation, does cold matter?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?  

 
I'm sure at some point it does (see the Ice Bowl), but with today's heated fields and sidelines blasted with warmers, I don't think it makes a huge difference.  I guess if I were breaking ties between two players I had ranked extremely similarly, I might go with the warmer weather/dome guy, but I wouldn't necessarily play a guy ranked lower just because he's playing in warmer weather unless there are other weather factors (wind/snow).

 
Ghoti said:
I'm sure at some point it does (see the Ice Bowl), but with today's heated fields and sidelines blasted with warmers, I don't think it makes a huge difference.  I guess if I were breaking ties between two players I had ranked extremely similarly, I might go with the warmer weather/dome guy, but I wouldn't necessarily play a guy ranked lower just because he's playing in warmer weather unless there are other weather factors (wind/snow).
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Agree with this, though I imagine data would show that a team that habitually plays in warm weather (MIA, TB, SD, etc.) struggle more when playing in extreme cold more than those that play and can practice habitually in that kind of climate. I don't have that data, so no proof, just seems like common sense.

I even think northern dome/indoor teams (MIN, DET, etc.) would fare a little better in an outdoor cold game as these guys live and breathe that weather on a daily basis, so have more exposure to it than a southern dome/indoor team (NO, etc.), who don't have that same level of exposure.

 
Yes

If you don't believe me, fly to Milwaukee area today. Stand outside in tights and a helmet and tell me how you feel. I believe it's currently 12 degrees at my location 

 
Cold matters for throwing a football.

http://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae469.cfm


Question


Does the temperature of a football (or baseball, soccer ball, etc) affect how far it will travel when kicked/hit? 


Answer


Temperature can affect a couple of different variables in a ball to alter the distance it will travel from an impact. For inflated balls, the temperature can change the air pressure inside the ball giving an over inflated effect if it was warmed, or and under inflated effect if it was cold. (Have you ever tried dribbling a basketball without enough air in it?) The amount of air pressure then is directly proportional to the temperature of the air inside. 

For solid core balls, like baseballs, golf balls etc� temperature has a similar effect on the ball but the mechanics are a bit different. Here the characteristics of the material inside the ball are responsible for the bounciness of the ball. A ball�s bounciness is dependent on the elasticity of its constructed materials. The property of elasticity allows the ball to retain kinetic energy during a collision by having the ability to flex without breaking and then return to its original shape. This measure of a material�s elasticity is called its coefficient of restitution. An object with a low coefficient of restitution will lose a great deal of its kinetic energy in a collision through breaking or deforming, or through the generation of sound or heat. Compare the kinetic energy transmission through steel balls suspended on strings as they bounce back and forth in an example of a high coefficient of restitution. Now consider a lump of clay or a piece of glass in a collision, both materials having very low restitutional values � they simply do not transfer energy well because they are not as elastic. How does all this tie back into the temperature of materials? Temperature can also affect elasticity � the colder a material gets, the less elastic it can be. Under cold conditions, the material can actually become more of an 'energy sink' � absorbing energy rather than transferring it. Both inflated and solid core balls rely on the principle of coefficient of restitution. A warmed, (over inflated) ball is more elastic than a cold, (under inflated) ball just as a solid core ball that is warm has more elasticity than an identical ball that is cold. Answered by: Stephen Portz, Technology Teacher, Space Coast Middle School, FL

 
This weekend will probably be the coldest game the Lions play all year (46 degrees) - I'm presuming nothing crazy hits Dallas the week after. The only other outdoor games they played were early in the year - 9/25 at GB and 10/2 at CHI. I've always felt like the cold weather in December was a tremendous asset to the Packers. Vikings have been in domes since 1982 (except the two previous seasons IIRC), the Lions since 1975. Seems like it was a mistake to give up that psychological advantage.  

Then again, I remember going to a cold, wet game in Tigers Stadium in the early 70s and being miserable. Some jerk opened up a huge golf umbrella in the row in front of us, obstructing everyone's view. He wouldn't close it so we bought a bag of peanuts and spent an entire quarter putting empty shells on it. I was about 9 and thought it was the greatest thing my dad and uncle had ever done.

Cold footballs are hard as rocks and hard to catch. Then again, it's not easy to have the same grip or velocity once it's below 28 or so, maybe it sort of evens out. Stafford has always had a ton of drops and I think part of the issue is he rifles everything. Those guys who have a big arm must be especially hard to catch in cold weather.

 
This should be easy to answer.  I remember people having the data about cold weather when discussing Peyton Manning playing in the cold a half dozen or so years ago.  Does anyone know where to find that data?

 
Generally the team from the colder climate does better.  That would be a tie for the Bears/Packers game.

The team that can run the ball better usually wins.

There are usually more turnovers so the team that can minimize turnovers has the advantage.  Pretty obvious here.

Special teams usually do not so as well in really cold games.  Don't expect may long FGs or punts.  Could be some muffed punts.

Really cold games are generally pretty close.

 
Would be interesting to see a chart showing fantasy scoring vs game time temperature over time

 
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Hawkeye21 said:
Generally the team from the colder climate does better.  That would be a tie for the Bears/Packers game.

The team that can run the ball better usually wins.

There are usually more turnovers so the team that can minimize turnovers has the advantage.  Pretty obvious here.

Special teams usually do not so as well in really cold games.  Don't expect may long FGs or punts.  Could be some muffed punts.

Really cold games are generally pretty close.
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While I wouldn't disagree with those generalities, have any data to support it?

 
I remember Kaepernick (who both grew up and played in CA) coming up to Green Bay in the playoffs, sleeveless, below zero... and absolutely roasted them.  No, I don't think it makes a difference. The better team will win.

 
Phenomena said:
I remember Kaepernick (who both grew up and played in CA) coming up to Green Bay in the playoffs, sleeveless, below zero... and absolutely roasted them.  No, I don't think it makes a difference. The better team will win.
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In that game Kaepernick set the QB rushing record.  181 yards and two TD's.  Do you think Rodgers or Alex Smith are going to do that this week?

 
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Dr. Brew said:
Yes

If you don't believe me, fly to Milwaukee area today. Stand outside in tights and a helmet and tell me how you feel. I believe it's currently 12 degrees at my location 
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Agreed.  Last week with temps in the 20's it really doesn't matter all that much.  This week with temps in the single digits and wind chills below zero...absolutely it does.

 
Bolebuns said:
In that game Kaepernick set the QB rushing record.  181 yards and two TD's.  Do you think Rogers or Alex Smith are going to do that this weekend?
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Wasn't that the game in San Fran the year before?  The playoff game in GB was close...23 to 20.  I though Kapp had a pretty good game but not nearly as good as the year before when he absolutely torched them in San Fran.

 
Pipes said:
Wasn't that the game in San Fran the year before?  The playoff game in GB was close...23 to 20.  I though Kapp had a pretty good game but not nearly as good as the year before when he absolutely torched them in San Fran.
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Ah...yes.  227 yards passing.  He ran for 98.

 
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Bolebuns said:
Ah...yes.  227 yards passing.  He ran for 98.
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Still a pretty solid game better than I remember.  You're right though I don't see any of the QB's doing that this weekend with temps the way they will be.  I'm not sure about the Chicago forecast but Madison WI high for Sunday is 1 below 0.  It's going to be absolutely miserable in Chicago.

 
It's a great question and I tried looking up this info yesterday but was to difficult to come by for a few reasons. First one was I could not look up games by temp but simply cold, and 35 is cold but it's not 5 but all seem lumped together. Second item is other conditions like wind/rain/snow. Would be awesome if something existed where you could input temp parameters and conditions and obtain exact game or average output but if it exists I can't find it.

So yea I got a few KC and Titans players and it's a good example of impact of pure cold because other than kickoff temp of 4 with a wind chill of -3 it's sunny and calm.

 
 
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Mariota is from Hawaii. I doubt he does well this weekend against KC since it's supposed to be incredibly cold.

Also, players have said the ball feels slick when it's cold, maybe due to a decrease in compression. 

And it might make WRs think twice about diving for a ball if the ground is frozen solid.  

 
steelers1080 said:
Mariota is from Hawaii. I doubt he does well this weekend against KC since it's supposed to be incredibly cold.

Also, players have said the ball feels slick when it's cold, maybe due to a decrease in compression. 

And it might make WRs think twice about diving for a ball if the ground is frozen solid.  
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The ball feels slick because the leather is harder and drier.  Really cold air holds less moisture.

 
Was just informed that Rodgers is the #1 ranked QB for this week.  How is that even possible?  He is hurt, not practicing, playing in zero degree weather with 11mph wind on the road,  against the BEars who are 6th in pass yards allowed. 

Now, I don't buy that the Bears are actually that good against the pass and that the Pack won't really run much, but that #1 ranking blows my mind. 

 
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