St. Lawrence athletes encounter several disadvantages during late winter and early spring because of weather permitting factors. Many other sports teams have no option other than to practice in indoor facilities. These indoor facilities are funded through multiple factors. The softball and golf teams are especially at a disadvantage because they are restricted to the indoors for a lengthy period of time, and the facilities fall short of accommodating their needs.
Both teams face their own challenges while having to play in the indoor facilities. The softball facility has limited space, resulting in no right field. Not only is the field size a limitation, but also the players cannot slide on the indoor turf and the surface does not simulate the same ball bounce as on a dirt field. Lauryn Best ’22, a softball player, stated, “coach can’t hit balls as high up as if we were outside.” This additionally shows that the indoor facility does not simulate a game-like situation.
The differences between the indoor and outdoor facilities make it difficult for the softball team to conduct a fully functioning practice. However, Softball Coach Van Kirk does the best she can to simulate a real game.
“The point of practice is to make it as game-like as possible really, regardless of space. That’s the goal,” said Coach Elisa Van Kirk. Since the weather is a limiting factor in the North Country, the best option is to make-do with the facilities we have and run the most productive practices possible.
Softball is not the only team who faces challenges with indoor facilities. The golf team is also stuck practicing inside. Members of the golf team have different views about the indoor facility. One member, Max Hagan, sees the disadvantages of only being able to practice inside. Practicing indoors has limited players’ abilities to see ball flight. “It’s pretty tough to predict your swing, so it’s tough to make swing changes in an indoor facility,” stated Hagan. Hagan’s view of the indoor facility is similar to that of a softball player, Elle Gray ’19.
Gray knows there are disadvantages to playing indoors, yet she realizes the quick transition between indoors and outdoors does not affect their game. Everyone has several years of experience playing softball, so they are more adept at making that transition with few speedbumps.
The issue from her perspective is that playing inside does not tell you how prepared the team is before a game. Being restricted indoors for a few months does not show “a real representation of what a real fly ball would be like,” said Gray. This issue does not help the team improve with every aspect involved in a softball game.
Gray’s view is different from another golf member’s, Will Wilson ’22, who sees the indoor facilities as a bonus. He realizes it is difficult for some of the aforementioned reasons, but sees no disadvantages with the facility, only that it needs improvements. Overall, Wilson sees the access to an indoor facility as more opportunity to practice, stating, “it’s better than not practicing anywhere,” he said. Wilson has similar views to his golf coach, Mary Lawrence.
To Coach Lawrence, the indoor facility is a huge benefit to her players. It improves their play so much, even compared to the fall season. “When they come out of here in the spring, despite the weather, they are playing a lot better. It’s a big positive,” said Lawrence.
She views the indoor facility as a place for golf team members to practice on their own and is a necessity because of the early spring weather in Canton, N.Y. As proven by Coach Lawrence’s positive view of the facility, it’s vital to St. Lawrence Athletics. However, this necessary facility is funded, making it all possible.
The funding for the golf team comes from the school and provides the team with a course that is well taken care of. The St. Lawrence Golf Course is also open to the public, which benefits the team because if the field gets torn up, the golf team will have it taken care of in a timely manner. “They take pretty good care of the golf course because it’s open to the public and it’s open to everyone,” said Coach Lawrence. Coach Van Kirk also had a similar perspective on everything getting taken care of for each team.
The funding is evenly distributed and “everyone gets what they need for their program,” said Coach Van Kirk. St. Lawrence, as a university, makes sure everyone has what they need to play their sport. It’s difficult to compare two sports on campus because each sport needs different funding for the equipment it needs. Money donated can also come from alumni and some alumni specifically donate to a certain program. Funding is well taken care of by the university and the alumni.