AYSO Region 418 Weather and Game Cancellation Policy

LIGHTNING OR THUNDER DURING PRACTICES OR GAMES

If lightning is seen or thunder is heard, games or practices must immediately be suspended until 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder.  Everyone present must immediately leave the field and seek shelter.

During practices, a team’s coach is responsible for clearing the field and then deciding if and when to resume practice after the 30 minute period.

At games, the coaches are responsible for making sure their teams leave the field. The referee (both teams’ coaches if there is no referee) will decide if and when a game will resume after the 30 minute period.

However, since all games must end no later than 5 minutes before the starting time of the next game, if there is less than 35 minutes until the starting time of the next game, the game will not resume.

If there is enough time to resume play, coaches must adjust playing time so that every player still plays at least ½ of the total playing time. Referees and coaches must work together regarding a substitution stoppage to allow this to happen. The game must still end 5 minutes before the starting time of the next game.

GAME CANCELLATIONS

Games cannot be cancelled by coaches, but might be cancelled by the Region in advance if it is determined that weather and/or field conditions are unsafe.

AYSO Region 418 will communicate any advance game cancellations as quickly as possible. Please check email, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ayso418 , Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ayso418/, Twitter @AYSORegion418  and the Region’s website for information. Coaches will be quickly informed about these cancellations and are responsible for communicating that to their teams’ families.

Games can be played when it is raining without any lightning or thunder and under other weather conditions, particularly on the artificial turf fields, but a referee who determines that the field condition is unsafe or that the field is unplayable has the discretion to cancel or end the game early. The Region might also determine this even though play has started.

GOAL DUTIES IN EVENT OF CANCELLATIONS

If game cancellations occur, the Division Administrators will advise their coaches about goal and corner flag responsibilities.