While Omaha’s winter weather has made preparation for the University of Nebraska at Omaha softball and baseball teams tough, they know it could be worse.

Both teams practice in the Chili Greens dome at 68th and Spring streets. While the dome isn’t the same as practicing outside, they know it’s the next best thing.

“We can do everything we need to do when we are inside,” baseball coach Bob Herold said.

Katelyn Hinton, a senior softball player, even said the softball team is “spoiled” to have an indoor facility and not have to practice in a gym.

But the dome remains strictly a secondary option for practice because it can not “fool the team” into thinking it is the same as being outside, Herold said.

“Every aspect of the game is effected when we practice indoors,” Herold said. “It’s an outdoor sport we are trying to play indoors. It’s a whole different game.”

Another major challenge of practicing inside is keeping the athletes focused. Herold uses more structure in practice when being inside starts to become tedious.

“We use more increments to get them moving around more and keep thinking,” he said.

Maintaining focus is especially a problem at the start of season.

“It can get crazy at the beginning of the season because we are excited to play and want to get outside,” Hinton said.

The softball team has an advantage because it can scrimmage while indoors, something the baseball team can not do because the dome is too small.

“Our home field fence is 340 feet down the line,” Herold said. “We can’t emulate that inside.”

The softball team usually scrimmages at least two times a week, Hinton said, which helps keep the team in the right mindset.

Despite the negatives that come with indoor practice, Hinton said she knows it is important for the team.

“We can get all the aspects of the game covered when we are inside,” she said. “We can sharpen our game without worrying about the environment.”

Both UNO teams were tested over the weekend when they played their first games outside.

The baseball team went 1-3 in its four games with Texas A&M Corpus Christ, and Herold said before the start of the season he was concerned the team’s one practice before its games may not be enough to get ready.

“We’re a bit concerned about how well we will play but the experience will be important,” Herold said. “We’re not weeks behind this team, we’re months behind them (because of the weather).”

The softball team was equally concerned about its trip to Montgomery, Ala., despite already playing four games at an indoor tournament in Ames, Iowa. The Mavs won two of their three games, splitting two with Alabama State and beating Savannah State 3-1.

“The first game (outside) could be a little rocky, but we should get past it quickly,” Hinton said. “The turf we are used to is a lot different than dirt. And all dirt is different. It will take some adjustments.”

Being cramped up inside isn’t the first choice of any of the coaches or players. But Hinton said she knows it is important to stay focused and stay optimistic.

“We may complain about practicing in the dome, but we are really lucky to have it.”