NEDERLAND — Muddy field conditions at Bulldog Stadium forced Nederland High School’s football team to practice at Beaumont ISD Memorial Stadium last week. Things haven’t gotten better at the home field this week.

The Bulldogs host Dayton for homecoming Friday, and Nederland head coach Monte Barrow said conditions on the team’s practice field and the home field at Bulldog Stadium are unchanged.

“We practiced in the gym (Tuesday),” he said.

Barrow said despite the slop, four games have already been played on the field this week.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Laird said the junior high games were muddy Tuesday.

“They were sloppy field conditions,” he said Wednesday. “They were in the mud and they played the games. The field is a little better today.”

Laird said he would like to move some of the middle school games in order to allow the field to heal, but doesn’t believe logistics will allow that.

“The problem with moving the middle school games is that they are early in the week,” Laird said. “The high school is already using the practice field. If we are playing other teams, they also have other middle schools. There could be a scheduling issue where they are already playing at home. We’re kind of stuck to where if we want the kids to play, they have to play the game.”

Coaches and officials are ultimately responsible for making sure conditions are safe for players, Laird said.

“Wet doesn’t mean unsafe,” Laird said. “Muddy doesn’t mean unsafe.

“In football and soccer, they are outdoor sports that are played in inclement weather. Most of the time, they are only canceled or delayed because of lightning.”

The district’s grounds crew placed hay on the sidelines for the middle school games to help absorb some of the water and give the players a stable surface to stand on.

“After the game, they’ll vacuum it back up so the grass can get sun and wind,” Laird said. What hurt us a bit on Monday and Tuesday was the additional rain. If we didn’t have the additional rain, we’d be in better shape.”

During the week, the grounds crew “rolls the field,” which involves a small tractor equipped with turf tires to even out the field and get rid of footprints.

Barrow said he does not foresee a scenario where the Bulldogs have to move a home game because of the field.

“Don’t plan on it,” Barrow said. “This is who we are. That is our field.”

Laird said the decision of where the homecoming court will be announced would be a gametime decision by the school and that they can use the track rather than the field if necessary.

The forecast calls for dry weather for the rest of the week.

Kick off for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.