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Inclement weather policy for the Fort Wayne Soccer Invitational
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY FOR THE
FORT WAYNE INVITATIONAL
This paper provides basic guidelines for dealing with lightning, windstorms and other severe weather conditions. The peak season for severe weather occurs in the United States between May and August, typically late afternoon and early evening.
1. Lightning
a. Recognizing the threat
(1) Apply the 30-30 rule. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or less, seek proper shelter. If you can’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule. Wait 30 minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before leaving shelter.
(2) Know and heed warning systems and community rules. Many communities or park systems have lightning detection and warning systems. Use this information and obey the rules established by the community or park system.
(3) Know and apply the rules or procedures established by the competition authority.
(4) Minimize the risk of being struck. Referees must protect the safety of all participants by stopping game activities quickly, so that participants and spectators may retire to a safer place before the lightning threat becomes significant. Remember, if you can hear the thunder, you are within reach of lightning.
b. Seeking proper shelter
(1) No place outside is safe near thunderstorms
(2) The best shelter is a large, fully enclosed, substantially constructed building. A vehicle with solid metal roof and metal sides is a reasonable second choice.
c. If there is no proper shelter, avoid the most dangerous locations:
(1) Higher elevations
(2) Wide open areas, including fields
(3) Tall isolated objects, such as tress, poles, or light posts
(4) Unprotected open building
(5) Rain shelters
(6) Bus stops
(7) Metal fences and metal bleachers
d. If you cannot avoid these locations, crouch down on the balls of your feet, with your head tucked into your chest and your hands over your ears.
2. Other types of severe weather
(a) Severe storms or tornadoes. Obey local rules and heed warnings (meaning that a severe storm or tornado has been sighted). Clear the field and seek proper shelter immediately – see above. Remember, according to standard weather warning terminology a “warning” represents a more immediately likely occurrence than a “watch.”
(b) Hurricanes – There is usually plenty of advance notice, so games will probably have been cancelled. Look for warning signs.
(c) Hail – Stop the game, clear the field, and seek proper shelter – see above.
If there is a possibility of severe weather, the referee and assistant referees should discuss these guidelines in their program meeting and ensure that all officials have a clear understanding of their respective duties. Referees in particular should clearly identify what assistance they expect in detecting and bringing to their immediate attention any dangerous weather conditions, which may not be directly visible to them. If such conditions develop only after a match has begun, the referee should take the first stoppage opportunity to quickly review these matters with the assistant referees. A brief word to the coaches regarding steps the referee will take to ensure player safety in threatening weather conditions would be useful.
In the event that a game needs to be stopped due to inclement weather, lightning, etc., one or all of the following methods will instruct you:
(a) Notified by tournament official
(b) Referees
(c) Air Horns/Police sirens
Everyone should then go to his or her cars or a place of safety. DO NOT LEAVE THE SITE. In the event of lightning Citadel FC will wait 30 minutes from each lighting strike before the games will be restarted.
The air horns/sirens will sound again or a tournament official will inform you when everything is “all clear.” You should then return to the field. If it is necessary for you to check with Tournament Headquarters regarding this situation, we ask that only one team official go to the headquarters tent.
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