High school spring sports have begun, but you’d be hard-pressed to know it by looking at the weather forecast.

The incredible amount of rain the area has received finally let up earlier this week, but with the sunshine came bitterly cold temperatures. That didn’t make it any more pleasurable for athletes, parents or fans of local high school baseball, softball and soccer players as they try to play some games.

At least games can be played in cold weather, however uncomfortable they may be. It’s the amount of rainy days the area has had over the past several weeks that is wreaking havoc with local coaches and players.

Nothing frustrates a coach more than a rainy day during the season. Coaches have to spend just about as much time looking at the weather report as they do preparing for a practice or game. High school sports scheduling is stressful enough as it is, with coaches contacting each other and trying to find dates to play games.

When you have to cancel games due to weather, it becomes even more of a headache to reschedule. Coaches have to juggle the games already on their schedule and try to find holes to place makeup games. And then they must hope it doesn’t rain any other games out or the rescheduling headache will get even bigger.

Softball and baseball season began the last few days of February, with soccer season beginning two weeks before that. Numerous games have already had to be postponed or canceled. Many local teams have only been able to play half their games or even less at this point of the season.

That’s the problem with spring sports. While it hardly rains during the summer and even rainy fall days are not too common, the winter and early spring are when the rain pours.

There has been even more rain than usual this winter, which leaves athletic fields soft and muddy, making them unplayable in many cases. So even on days where the rain isn’t falling from the sky, games may still need to be canceled due to the field being too wet and muddy to play on safely.

With more rain in the forecast today and Saturday, the headaches for local spring sports coaches might only get more pronounced.

However, eventually the sun will shine, the temperatures will warm up and the rain will go away. Sitting outside watching a baseball or softball game in sunny, warm temperatures is a pleasurable experience.

I know I’m looking forward to seeing some games in pleasant weather, and I know coaches and players are as well. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and we will finally be able to enjoy our local athletes performing in comfortable conditions.

— Edwards can be reached at jeff@athensnews-courier.com.