Weather Procedures

If Severe Weather Strikes

Stop play if:

  1. Severe weather detector alarm sounds, a long siren blast;
    2. OR
  2. Lightning is seen and thunder is heard within thirty seconds.
(As long as the alert is in effect, the detector will have an amber light flashing on top of the building at Campton Hills Park)

Once play is stopped.

Note the time of the game.
Have players and coaches move to a safe location. Probably the best available location is an automobile. You do the same.
The covered concession area is not a suitable shelter. Do not advise anyone to stay there.

Guidelines for resuming play.

The severe weather detector sounds an "all clear." That is three (3) short blasts. The amber light will also turn off.
If play was stopped because of a visual sighting of lightning, wait thirty (30) minutes from the last sight of lightning.

Terminating the game.

Don't delay the start of the next scheduled game more than fifteen (15) minutes.

If the game that was in progress cannot be completed by fifteen minutes after the next scheduled start time, terminate the interrupted game. You may need to explain this to coaches but do not let them determine whether the game will be resumed.
Do not shorten the time remaining to play.

Example: Your 1:30pm game is interrupted by lightning at 2:00pm.
There are thirty minutes left to play. The "All Clear" occurs at 2:50pm.
The next scheduled game is to start at 3:00pm.
Because the interrupted game cannot be completed by 3:15pm, (2:50pm plus 30 minutes = game ends at 3:20pm) the game is terminated.

If the game, once resumed, cannot be completed before darkness, terminate the game. A decision to terminate should be made as soon as possible and communicated to the teams.

Example: Your 1:30pm game is interrupted by lightning at 2:10pm.
There are thirty minutes left to play.
The next scheduled game start is at 3:00pm. At 2:45pm the "all clear" has NOT occurred.
Because you cannot now complete the interrupted game before 3:15pm, (2:45pm plus 30 minutes = game ends at 3:15pm) terminate the game at 2:45pm.

Start delayed.

If the weather has prevented the game from starting on time.

Once the "all clear" occurs, shorten the halves in order for the game to complete and not delay the next scheduled game start by more than fifteen (15) minutes.

Example: When you arrive for your game lightning as been spotted or the lightning detector is in alert mode.
Therefore, your 1:30pm game has not started because of severe weather.
The "all clear" occurs at 2:00pm. Your game is scheduled for 2 X 40 minutes. The next game on that field is scheduled to start at 3:00pm.
Because you cannot complete the game by 3:15pm you will shorten the halves to 30 minutes so that the game (with a halftime) is complete by 3:15pm. (3:15pm less 2:00pm = 75 minutes; two 30 min. halves plus 5 min halftime = 65 minutes)

Exception

You may resume play OR start play and continue for a complete game under the following circumstances:

  1. Each member of the referee crew is available. Meaning that you are not scheduled on another field and are physically available.

    2. AND
  2. The field is available. Meaning that no game is scheduled on the field following the interrupted game.
If there is a game following the interrupted game and another field is available, the next game may be moved to the available field.