Winter break

[Sir David Gray]

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Who would buy the rights though!? How many people from other countries would be lapping up a Scottish football fix this summer when there is a world cup on?! Naebody!

Trying to promote the changing of when our league season starts and ends on the basis that more people will buy the TV rights to Scottish football just because no other league would be playing at that time of year probably isn't the best way to try and sell Scottish football.

[Haymaker]

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Trying to promote the changing of when our league season starts and ends on the basis that more people will buy the TV rights to Scottish football just because no other league would be playing at that time of year probably isn't the best way to try and sell Scottish football.

Correct.

[lamtarra]

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Trying to promote the changing of when our league season starts and ends on the basis that more people will buy the TV rights to Scottish football just because no other league would be playing at that time of year probably isn't the best way to try and sell Scottish football.

Yes that’s why, for me, it’s a secondary nonetheless relevant issue. The opportunity to watch a match when the weather is statistically most clement is the main attraction for me.

[Big_Franck]

This thread is full of the same old arguments against summer football. I've never heard anyone suggest that summer football would cure all of our problems, yet we always get people picking one issue with it as the reason not to change. Summer football is not without its issues but would it be better than the current set up of playing right throughout the winter in scotland? Absolutely.

[Haymaker]

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This thread is full of the same old arguments against summer football. I've never heard anyone suggest that summer football would cure all of our problems, yet we always get people picking one issue with it as the reason not to change. Summer football is not without its issues but would it be better than the current set up of playing right throughout the winter in scotland? Absolutely.

How would it be better?

[Sir David Gray]

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This thread is full of the same old arguments against summer football. I've never heard anyone suggest that summer football would cure all of our problems, yet we always get people picking one issue with it as the reason not to change. Summer football is not without its issues but would it be better than the current set up of playing right throughout the winter in scotland? Absolutely.

I'm not so sure it would be. You criticise people who hold the opposite point of view to yourself because apparently nobody has put forward any fresh arguments against summer football but then you don't offer any actual reasons for why you think summer football would be better apart from saying that it "absolutely" would be better than the current set up.

[One Day]

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Trying to promote the changing of when our league season starts and ends on the basis that more people will buy the TV rights to Scottish football just because no other league would be playing at that time of year probably isn't the best way to try and sell Scottish football.

That's true.

[hibsbollah]

Too much of this debate is around televised top flight football, and how summer football would or wouldn't work for scheduling or logistical reasons.

It makes more sense to examine it for schools and boys club level, when players are learning technical skills and benefit most from lack of call-offs and improved playing surfaces.

[Eyrie]

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How would it be better?

One reason? The weather wouldn't be as bad as it is just now. And if we did have heavy snow in March then there would be the rest of the year to catch up.

[Big_Franck]

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How would it be better?

Two main reasons for me. It would mean that on average the playing surfaces would be better and more conducive to actually playing football. It would also mean that on average it was a better experience for supporters both in the stadium and fans (both home and away fans) travelling to and from the game.

This is similar to the Hampden debate for me. The main reason to stick with the current set up seems to be tradition.

If we had never played football in this country before and were due to start our first league season in 2018, when would we have our season? Anyone that suggested that we don't play in the summer, but should instead play this outdoor sport in the coldest, harshest months of the year would need their head looked at IMO.

[Big_Franck]

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I'm not so sure it would be. You criticise people who hold the opposite point of view to yourself because apparently nobody has put forward any fresh arguments against summer football but then you don't offer any actual reasons for why you think summer football would be better apart from saying that it "absolutely" would be better than the current set up.

I don't. But it does baffle me when people suggest we shouldn't change because the alternative isn't perfect. The only question should be is it better than the current set up? And to me summer football clearly is.

Also, the World Cup/Euros being in the summer isn't a major obstacle to Scottish summer football. You're lucky if half a dozen Scottish based players ever play in these tournaments anyway.

[Sir David Gray]

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I don't. But it does baffle me when people suggest we shouldn't change because the alternative isn't perfect. The only question should be is it better than the current set up? And to me summer football clearly is.

Also, the World Cup/Euros being in the summer isn't a major obstacle to Scottish summer football. You're lucky if half a dozen Scottish based players ever play in these tournaments anyway.

That's a not a very positive outlook.

Surely if the aim of summer football is to improve the overall standard of our game then one of the direct consequences of that is that Scotland will hopefully get better at football and playing in major tournaments will become a regular occurrence again.

What would we do then?

[Big_Franck]

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That's a not a very positive outlook.

Surely if the aim of summer football is to improve the overall standard of our game then one of the direct consequences of that is that Scotland will hopefully get better at football and playing in major tournaments will become a regular occurrence again.

What would we do then?

It's the reality, unfortunately. I'm a big Scotland fan that goes to a lot of our home games, but I can't see us qualifying anytime soon.

If we do qualify for a tournament again in 2032 then we can surely do whatever the Scandinavian countries do. It'd probably involve bringing the season forward a month, or extending it by a month. Either way, having to do that once every 20 years is hardly a major obstacle.

[lamtarra]

Yeah the main attraction for me is utilising the best of the weather for the best possible experience at the ground primarily for climatic and pitch conditions. I’ll go and watch Hibs in the harshest of weather because that’s when the games are scheduled at the moment but I’d rather being doing it when the days are at their kindest.

As for the World Cup/Euros clubs the league could adjust in the same way as the upcoming winter World Cup in 2022. In fact now I think of it 2022 might be the ideal opportunity to see what league games in the current close season might be like.

[Sir David Gray]

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It's the reality, unfortunately. I'm a big Scotland fan that goes to a lot of our home games, but I can't see us qualifying anytime soon.

If we do qualify for a tournament again in 2032 then we can surely do whatever the Scandinavian countries do. It'd probably involve bringing the season forward a month, or extending it by a month. Either way, having to do that once every 20 years is hardly a major obstacle.

If one of the reasons of changing our season is to improve the fortunes of Scottish football and drive up standards, I would like to think we would qualify for a major tournament more than once every 20 years.

We managed it in the 70s, 80s and 90s when we qualified for 8 major tournaments in 24 years between 1974 and 1998 so why can't we aim for that again?

[jgl07]

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One reason? The weather wouldn't be as bad as it is just now. And if we did have heavy snow in March then there would be the rest of the year to catch up.

If Scotland played a Summer season it would have to start in March at the latest even if it ran through to December.

We are currently in March.

[lamtarra]

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If Scotland played a Summer season it would have to start in March at the latest even if it ran through to December.

We are currently in March.

Wanting to utilise the best days climate wise in the summer obviously doesn’t mean that all bad weather can be avoided. In Scotland that panacea is not possible for obvious reasons. However, playing during the current close season and having a new close season some time in winter minimises the number of miserable days and maximises the number of pleasant days (statistically).

[Haymaker]

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Two main reasons for me. It would mean that on average the playing surfaces would be better and more conducive to actually playing football. It would also mean that on average it was a better experience for supporters both in the stadium and fans (both home and away fans) travelling to and from the game.

We would have to play February to December meaning the pitches would get torn up at the end of the season yet be very difficult to get ready for the start of the season without big investment in the uv lights.

We'd still have to travel to games in October, November, December, February, March so the experience for the fan would be the same except for what? 8 game in June/July?

[lamtarra]

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We would have to play February to December meaning the pitches would get torn up at the end of the season yet be very difficult to get ready for the start of the season without big investment in the uv lights.

We'd still have to travel to games in October, November, December, February, March so the experience for the fan would be the same except for what? 8 game in June/July?

The close season this year is one day shy of eight weeks. I assume by your question you are accepting that the fan experience would be enhanced. That 2 month hiatus would/could cover more than 8 games but even if it was 8 games as you suggest I’d prefer them in the period referred to for the reasons already articulated.

[jgl07]

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We would have to play February to December meaning the pitches would get torn up at the end of the season yet be very difficult to get ready for the start of the season without big investment in the uv lights.

We'd still have to travel to games in October, November, December, February, March so the experience for the fan would be the same except for what? 8 game in June/July?

Apart from when there was a World Cup or European Championship on! Live football being beamed on free to air television for a month or more two years out of four. Many matches would have to be cancelled and those that went ahead would have poor attendances.

That is before you factor in those who go on holiday over this period and would not buy a season ticket as a consequence.

Thank goodness those who run the game have more sense than to fall for this stupid idea.

Even Russia have abandoned a Summer season. Who else runs with it apart from the League of Ireland? I can think of Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland. Maybe the Baltic States and the Faroes?

[PatHead]

Does anyone know how attendances have changed since Rugby League moved to summer or how much the tv deal is worth?

[lamtarra]

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Apart from when there was a World Cup or European Championship on! Live football being beamed on free to air television for a month or more two years out of four. Many matches would have to be cancelled and those that went ahead would have poor attendances.

That is before you factor in those who go on holiday over this period and would not buy a season ticket as a consequence.

Thank goodness those who run the game have more sense than to fall for this stupid idea.

Even Russia have abandoned a Summer season. Who else runs with it apart from the League of Ireland? I can think of Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland. Maybe the Baltic States and the Faroes?

From a cursory glance at that font of all knowledge Wikipedia it looks like South American countries may do summer football but not sure if it’s ever cold and miserable in any parts of Brazil, for example so different considearations may apply. Most of the countries you mention that have adopted it are on roughly similar latitudes to us and I think Ukraine may also have a break. Pretty sure the Russians have a long winter break still.... they were going on about it when Zenit played Celtic. It’s been a while since I’ve encountered anyone who holds those who run our game in such high esteem.

[ian cruise]

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I remember an Intertoto Cup Tie in July played in atrocious conditions. I am sure if it had been a local fixture it would have been called off.

Extended summer break anyone?

Elfsborg?

[Smartie]

Our teams would do much better in Europe.

That would make us feel a lot better about ourselves.

Competing on a level playing field with nations of a similar climate would help us.

The 2 things I think we need to change most in Scotland are to get more kids playing more regularly, and to have more of our top players playing regularly in Europe.

Summer football delivers on both these fronts. I'm open to the idea, if not completely sold. The main argument against it is that winters would be especially pish without football.

[Sir David Gray]

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From a cursory glance at that font of all knowledge Wikipedia it looks like South American countries may do summer football but not sure if it’s ever cold and miserable in any parts of Brazil, for example so different considearations may apply. Most of the countries you mention that have adopted it are on roughly similar latitudes to us and I think Ukraine may also have a break. Pretty sure the Russians have a long winter break still.... they were going on about it when Zenit played Celtic. It’s been a while since I’ve encountered anyone who holds those who run our game in such high esteem.

Brazil's football season runs from May to December which, due to Brazil being almost entirely in the southern hemisphere, means that their off-season is during their summer months.

[Clarence]

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Most of the Scandinavian countries don't start till late March, early April when the worst of the weather is gone, January/February is notorious for bad weather.

I think this would help reinvigorate Scottish football. Let the players play on decent surfaces and in temperatures that are more likely to encourage new fans to attend.

[ancient hibee]

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Does anyone know how attendances have changed since Rugby League moved to summer or how much the tv deal is worth?

People used to have an interest in Rugby League which was often on the TV of course,do they now?Don’t think so.Their teams were well known,couldn’t even tell you who the leading teams are now.Maybe this has been caused by the change from a winter sport .Don’t know if you had an interest but if so the fact that you have to ask the question gives you the answer.

[Haymaker]

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I think this would help reinvigorate Scottish football. Let the players play on decent surfaces and in temperatures that are more likely to encourage new fans to attend.

The off season being over Jan/Feb would mean we would have to invest heavily on hybrid pitches and lighting rigs to help the grass grow and repair the surface. The fact that we'd start and end the season at a time when the grass doesn't grow. Not 100% sold that it would improve surfaces more than they are already.

[PatHead]

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People used to have an interest in Rugby League which was often on the TV of course,do they now?Don’t think so.Their teams were well known,couldn’t even tell you who the leading teams are now.Maybe this has been caused by the change from a winter sport .Don’t know if you had an interest but if so the fact that you have to ask the question gives you the answer.

I don't have an interest and have never really followed it. Just wondered if clubs had benefited from the change to summer football. It was the only real comparison I could think of.