Where is the spring in spring sports?

Easter is over.

Spring break is finished.

Now it's time for Leelanau County athletes to charge into spring sports.

There’s only one problem – a blanket of snow that still covers our region in April and even more expected this week.

So here’s Plan B until the snow goes away – hopefully by June 1.

1. Snowshoe races: This can combine track, soccer, baseball and softball athletes in a four-person relay. We’ll start and finish at Sugar Loaf. It seems only fitting that with snow on the ground, we get some winter-like action at the Loaf.

2. Snowball fights: This one is a natural for baseball and softball pitchers. It will keep their arms in shape as they await warmer weather.

3. Sled dog races: Here’s the catch. Long distance runners will serve as the “dogs.” We’ll hitch eight of them up as a team and then let the lightest sprinter be the musher. Good coaches, of course, will make their shot put and discus people the mushers during practice. It’s kind of like baseball players being in the on-deck circle and swinging a 20-pound lead pipe before grabbing their 36-ounce bat and heading to the plate to face live pitching.

4. Snow angel competition: Instead of doing jumping jacks as a warm up, teams will begin their exercise routine by lying on the ground and making snow angels. The key to winning is spelling out your school name or nickname in the snow. It will be a combination of sport and art – always politically correct.

5. Snow fort and snowman building: In keeping with our sport and art theme, we use athletes from all of our spring sports to make up these teams. The snow forts and snowmen will be built outside of each school. That way, teachers and students can see first-hand that these spring athletes are working hard – and can still earn their letters.

Now, these may be extreme cases of keeping our spring athletes busy and interested.

But it proves the point that spring sports are played at the whim of Mother Nature – more so than any other time of year.

Some Leelanau County coaches will tell you that they aren’t bothered by the weather.

Those are the coaches that have three layers of clothing on as they send their athletes out in shorts and a tee-shirt to play in freezing temperatures.

The truth is, the weather does play a big part in spring sports. The best coaches have fun with it – they find innovative ways to keep their athletes interested and motivated.

But snow drifts in April?

I’m a silver-lining kind of guy – but I’m feeling sorry for our Leelanau County spring sports athletes and coaches this week.