The North Carolina FC Youth Girl’s College Showcase returns to Raleigh on Friday, and players will have to endure the bitter cold.

Based on hotel and visitor spending, the three-day showcase at WRAL Soccer Park in north Raleigh has been deemed Wake County’s largest sporting event of the year, welcoming 72,000 visitors last year.

Nearly 600 teams from
across the country will be in Raleigh for the showcase, which gives young athletes the chance to meet more than 300 college coaches and compete against teams
from across the nation.

The players will struggle to stay warm, though, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s for the first two days of the outdoor event.

Katharine Eberhardt, NCFC Youth’s marketing officer, told WRAL News trainers will be on standby to protect the athletes.

“I think for most athletes here, sometimes cold weather can result in more injuries,” Eberhardt said. “So we’re just going to make sure that they know it’s going to be cold and that they’re going to be warming up.”

The players will need to make sure they have properly stretched and warmed up to prevent injuries. 

Athlete Sophie Vitellaro said she’s willing to brave the weather for this event.

“I do want to play in college soccer,” Vitellaro said. “So I think it’s just really fun, and I want to get to be able to see more places and see where I want to go when I’m older.”

On Friday, the first day of the showcase, it will feel like the 30s due to the wind chill. 

Eberhardt said the start of games will likely be delayed for some fields due to the cold. 

“We may not start until 8 a.m.,” she said. “We may push that time so the fields can clear up from the frost.”

“I put on so many layers,” Vitellaro said. “There are so many things you need to bring and be prepared for. It’s better to be overprepared than underprepared.” 

Source: wral.com