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Most high school football coaches probably don't enjoy losing two days of practice.
But it's something that York-Adams League coaches are dealing with this week. Thanks to school cancellations Monday and Tuesday from Hurricane Sandy, football programs are left with just Wednesday and Thursday to prepare for Friday's games.
"It depends on how you look at it," Dallastown coach Kevin Myers said by phone Tuesday night. "It can go both ways. You'd like to keep the routine the same. But it's out of our hands. And everyone is in the same position, so there's no advantage or disadvantage."
Plus, Myers admits that in the final week of the regular season, a couple days off from practice might help players rest their bodies. And he said he won't be throwing anything new at his team in preparation for rival Red Lion.
Field conditions: Since they don't play on turf, the Wildcats are one of the schools this week who must be concerned about field conditions when they host Red Lion on their grass field. Just two weeks ago, Dallastown pushed back a Friday game to Saturday against Central York because of rain. But Myers doesn't expect that to happen this week.
"Our field drains pretty well. If we continue to get some wind it should be OK by Friday," he said.
Districts: Local teams still competing in District 3 playoffs are also dealing with limited practice time this week.
District 3 playoff tournaments for field hockey and girls' volleyball will resume Wednesday while boys' and girls' soccer will get back underway Thursday.
The soccer semifinal matches were originally pushed back until Wednesday, but on Tuesday, tournament officials decided to again push back the semifinals until Thursday.
The following statement was posted on the District 3 website:
"Due to the uncertainty involving several District 3 schools that are still without power and to ensure the safety and participation of all of its remaining soccer championship schools, District 3 has moved all of its ... semifinal games to Thursday,"
That decision didn't bother York Catholic coach Ryan Luckman.
York Catholic practiced Saturday and Sunday in anticipation of having practice canceled on Monday and Tuesday. Luckman said an extra practice on Wednesday will only help his No. 5 seed Irish prepare for top-seeded Tulpehocken.
"Then again, at this point in the season kids are tired of practice and tired of sitting around and just want to play," Luckman said.
Girls' volleyball teams won't have the luxury of an extra practice day. Susquehannock and Eastern York, two of five York-Adams teams left in district play, haven't practiced at all since last playing Saturday. They will both be in action Wednesday night.
"It would've been nice to just to get a little extra (practice) time," Eastern coach Jennifer Reichard said. "It has been a couple days since the girls have been handling balls and stuff. But you can't really change the circumstances."
District schedule: The York Catholic girls and Biglerville boys will compete in Class AA soccer semifinal games in Lancaster County on Thursday. The Irish girls will take on Tulpehocken at 5 p.m. at Hempfield while the No. 5 seed Biglerville boys will face top-seeded Trinity at 7 p.m. at Penn Manor.
Five local girls' volleyball teams will compete in district quarterfinal matches Wednesday.
In Class AAA, Susquehannock is set to face Cumberland Valley at 6 p.m. at Central York. Meanwhile, Central York will take on Garden Spot at Hempfield at 6 p.m.
In a Class AA double-header at Dallastown, Eastern York will face Palmyra at 6 p.m. followed by Delone Catholic against West Perry at 7:30 p.m.
In Class A, Christian School of York will play Dayspring Academy at 7:30 p.m. at Wilson.
The District 3 girls' volleyball semifinals are now scheduled for Thursday.
-- Reach John Walk at jwalk@yorkdispatch.com.
