Is it possible to have school sports at night?

Students seeking shelter from an impending storm. (Photo © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

We should have school sports at night, especially for outdoor sports like football, rugby, track and field, and water polo.

The A Division boys water polo final and various track and field finals were called off on the afternoon of April 7, 2015, because of the lightning alert. It’s good to be safe. However, students and teachers spend hours sitting around doing nothing, then have to come back another day if the game or race is postponed. Last year, one final was postponed twice because of lightning.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA) website, “the number of thunder days shows a peak in April/May and November, with an average of 20 thunder days and a low of 4 to 6 days in the months of January and February respectively”.

Furthermore, school sports always happens in the afternoons. And according to the NEA website again, “the preferred time of the day for thunderstorm to occur is between 2 pm and 6 pm in the afternoon for all months of the year”.

An A Division football team in the 2015 championship has had to stop or postpone five of its round one games because of the lightning alert.

Heat is the other significant factor. On Monday, April 13, 2015, the temperature hit a high of 35 degrees celsius. For the next few days, it hit a high of 34 (April 14), 33 (April 15), 34 (April 16), 34 (April 17), 34 (April 20) degrees Celsius.

We should think seriously about playing school sports at night under floodlights. Parents and extended family can go watch and support their child. Alumni can show up. The atmosphere will be special.