Severe Weather Protocol

This protocol applies to severe and potentially dangerous weather conditions. These guidelines are for both practice and contests.

Severe Weather Alerts

When a National Weather Service Alert is issued (i.e. Severe Thunderstorm warning or Tornado warning) coaches, referees and/or RARYS directors shall immediately suspend all activities.

To the extent possible, all players and participants shall be directed to seek shelter at home. All parents and/or guardians should be contacted immediately. Any persons unable to safely get home shall be directed to seek shelter in the park – either under the bridge or in a shelter.

Under no circumstances shall player participants be left alone in the park in severe weather without appropriate supervision by the adult volunteers.

Thunder and Lightning

Whenever lightning is observed or thunder is heard, coaches, referees and/or RARYS directors shall immediately suspend all activities. All players and adults shall be directed to seek shelter.

No activities shall resume until at least 30 minutes have elapsed since the last observed lightning or heard thunder. (If a subsequent lightning flash is observed or a subsequent thunder clap is heard, the waiting period gets reset.)

When the occurrences are during practice times, the coaches of each team will decide for that team whether or not to cancel the rest of the session.

Under no circumstances shall player participants be left alone in the park in severe weather without appropriate supervision by the adult volunteers.

When the occurrences are during games, the RARYS Board will determine if and when to resume play, or to discontinue play for the day. Due consideration will be give to the length of the weather delay, the time of day, the distances travelled and other pertinent factors.

Logically, it seems most practical to resume play on the same day if the delay is not unreasonably long. The advent of weather radar on remote devices has made it easier to make a reasonable assessment of the chances of being able to resume in an acceptable time frame. Resuming play often preserves the best opportunity for the most kids to play with the least inconvenience due to travel, referee scheduling, field scheduling and/or makeup game scheduling conflicts.