WEATHER GUIDELINES

Weather Guidelines

 Air Quality Protocol

UYSA is committed to providing a safe environment for all of our players, coaches, spectators, referees at games and practices.  There are so many different news and reporting sites that report on our Air Quality.  After further review, UYSA has found 2 reliable sites that we will be using to monitor the air quality.

The primary monitor is Air Now.  Air Now reports directly from the Environmental Protection Agency.  To reschedule your game due to air quality you must use the Air Now reporting.

If you are unable to find the city your game is taking place in on the Air Now database, please use the Purple Air monitoring platform in order to process your reschedule.

 

Reschedule Process Due to Air Quality

  • Games may be cancelled up to 3 hours prior to kick off time based on the air quality reporting. 

    • Games will not be cancelled if the air quality reporting is not reflecting RED.

  • If the air quality index is reflecting RED take a screen shot of the air quality report from Air Now and submit that via email to UYSA Scheduler with the game number.  scheduler@utahyouthsoccer.net 

    • If the game location is listed as Not Available on the Air Now website, please include a screen shot of the error message and use the Purple Air website as your reference.

 

Ex: The air quality screen shot must include the location of the game and show the time stamp from your computer or phone.

Computer Example

Phone Example

  • The home team is responsible for contacting the opposing team, the field assignor and the referee assignor to notify them that the game has been cancelled due to the air quality.

    • If the referee assignor is not notified of this game cancellation, the home team will be charged a referee payment fee.

  • The home team is responsible for rescheduling the game (following the weather related reschedule process).

  • Game reschedules due to air quality must be rescheduled no more than 15 days from the original scheduled time.

Severe Weather Best Practices

Below you will find 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 in the late afternoon and early evening. Before taking any of the actions outlined in sections 1 (Lightning) or 2 (Other types of severe weather), take a look at the details about the WeatherBug app.

Phone apps can provide early and frequent warnings about severe weather situations.   The WeatherBug app available for download on both Google Play and the iTunes App store for free and is great for severe weather tracking.  Additionally some stadium operators, park districts, and school districts have acquired and installed advanced technology that can aid the in making decisions about weather conditions. If there is any indication that severe weather may occur, check with the appropriate authorities (field or park manager, athletic director, stadium operations personnel, city or county parks or education departments, etc.) for the latest information before making any decisions. Utilize WeatherBug during any weather-related interruption, as the latest technology may allow you to restart earlier than indicated after a stoppage.  Experts agree that people should wait at least 30 minutes after the last event before resuming activities.

Lightning | Recognizing the threat - Lightning can travel 10 miles

Powered by the world’s largest lightning network, WeatherBug’s exclusive Spark tool delivers personalized minute-by-minute, mile-by-mile lightning strike information so players can stay safer. Spark uses real-time lightning strike information from WeatherBug and your device’s GPS location to provide warnings for lightning danger near you at that moment.If lightning is within 10 miles, seek appropriate shelter.

  • If not app is available, 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.

  • 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.

  • Minimize the risk of being struck.

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.

  • Seeking proper shelter.

    • No place outside is safe near thunderstorms.

    • The best shelter is a large, fully enclosed, substantially constructed building. A vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides is a reasonable second choice.

  • If there is no proper shelter, avoid the most dangerous locations: Higher elevations; wide open areas, including fields; tall isolated objects, such as trees, poles, or light posts; unprotected open buildings; rain shelters; bus stops; metal fences and metal bleachers.

    • 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.

If someone is hit, remember that all deaths from lightning result from cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, respectively, are the recommended first aid. Referees should become involved in such assistance only if they have proper training.

  • Remain calm.  A calm official will often be able to prevent panic by young players.

  • Other types of severe weather.

For all other types of severe storms, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and hail, obey local rules and heed warnings. 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."

NO SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY GUIDELINES WILL GIVE 100% GUARANTEED TOTAL SAFETY, BUT THESE STEPS WILL HELP YOU AVOID THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASUALTIES.

If there is a possibility of severe weather, the referee and assistant referees should discuss these guidelines in their pregame meeting and ensure that all team 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.

Please send in all weather related reschedules to scheduler@utahyouthsoccer.net.

Additional Resources