Lighting strikes fast - is unpredictable - and dangerous!!
At the first strike, Piedmont Soccer Academy will follow the rules set forth by Georgia Soccer.
All playing areas of the pitch will be closed and remain closed until 20 minutes after the last strike, flash, or thunder.
All players, parents, guest, coaches must clear the fields (pitch) and go to a safe area inside a building or inside their car.
After the storm has passed, Piedmont Soccer Academy will make a determination if it is safe to resume play and if the pitch is safe for play.
Waiting in the area around the pitch, restrooms, or concession area is not safe during a thunderstorm. There is metal all around that can attract and carry a lighting current. Go relax in your car and listen to your favorite music or play your favorite game on your cell. Your car is grounded and is the safest place in the pitch area for you and your kids. Even safer - go to a local restaurant or shopping during the storm. Once the storm has passed - stop back by the pitch to see if play will resume.
Cold Weather Overview:
Many PSA Club teams continue to train outdoors during winter. The following guidelines are for the safety of both coaches and players and should help determine whether sessions should be modified or canceled.
Factors to Consider:
Barrow County prohibits using turf field whenever snow or ice is on the pitch. Users are not permitted to remove these, so any time there is snow or ice on a field, practices are canceled.
The Wind Chill Factor should be considered. Based on the temperature in combination with wind speed, amount of sun, and humidity, this figure is calculated to assist people in determining the relative discomfort to be reasonably expected by anyone planning prolonged time outdoors.
While coaches’ discretion is the determining factor, we suggest that practices for the youngest players be suspended if the wind chill is below 45 degrees. Older teams, such as high school age groups, should also consider this indicator when determining whether to conduct sessions.
Please note that PSA reserves the right to cancel all sessions for teams on evenings when the club determines that field or weather conditions suggest such a course of action is in the best interest of all players and coaches.
Cold Weather Attire:
PSA encourages all players and staff to dress appropriately. In cold weather, warm-up pants, jackets, sweatshirts, and thermals are recommended. Additionally, gloves or mittens and hats, or ear bands are suggested, as the head and outer extremities are among the first areas to lose body heat.
Coaches are encouraged to speak to any players who are not appropriately dressed and determine whether they should be dismissed for safety’s sake.
Hydration plays a role in preventing hypothermia, as dehydrated bodies cannot regulate the temperature in cold weather in the same sense that dehydration causes problems in extreme heat. Teams should take regular water breaks, no matter the temperature.
Practices may be shortened at the coach’s discretion. All warm-ups should be of appropriate length to fully prepare players for training, and sessions should include minimal periods when players are not moving.
Cold Weather Guidelines:
Cold Index | Guidelines |
46° and higher | No Change |
45° and lower | Allowable Additional Clothing: Layered beneath uniform (for example) long sleeves long pants additional socks
Gloves or mittens Stocking caps without straps Sweat pants or shirts - In the case of extremely cold weather, may be worn underneath the uniform, provided the entire team uses the same color sweats Jackets may be worn under the uniform so that referees can see the player's number in the event of a card being issued.
ClothingNOTAllowed: Hooded sweatshirts Ear muffs (headbands OK) Scarves
|
40° and lower | Shorten games by 5 min/half & practices to 45 min |
35° and lower | Suspend games and practices |
Step One - Determine Wind Chill Temperature
Our official website to determine wind chill can be found by clicking here
The effects of cold weather can impact health and safety during practices and games. The definition of “cold stress” varies across the United States, depending on how accustomed people are to cold weather. A player from Minnesota will have a much different threshold for cold than a player from Florida.
NOTE: This table was adapted from the NOAA and NWS. It is compiled from the following formula Wind Chill (ºF)= 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75(Vˆ0.16) + 0.4275T(Vˆ0.16) where, T= Air Temperature and V=Wind Speed (mph).
Step Two - Find Your Alert Level
Use this chart to determine the alert level at your location based on the wind chill temperature.
* In wet environments with colder conditions, the following situations are accelerated. Use additional caution to recognize potential cold injuries. (NOTE: These WCT guidelines were adapted from the NATA position statement: Environmental Cold Injuries by Cappaert et al. 2008.)
Piedmont Soccer Academy follows U.S. Soccer Recognize to Recover Program guidelines for playing in heat.
These guidelines use a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reading; for example, a WBGT reading of 92 degrees is somewhat comparable to a Heat Index reading of 104 to 105 degrees.
For practice in Georgia, when the WBGT is 92 degrees or above, training/practice should be suspended until it is cooler.
For games in Georgia, when the WBGT is 92 degrees or above, water breaks of 4 minutes should be provided for every 30 minutes of play. If the conditions are hotter, or if the game is on artificial turf, two water breaks per half may be necessary.
Why does cancellation apply to practices but not games?
There are enough built-in opportunities for players to get rest and hydration breaks during the course of a game; not everyone on the team is intensely-participating at one time. Officials and coaches are available to monitor 22 players or less in a game setting, while coaches may have 100 or more players to monitor during a practice setting. Club administrators and tournament officials are responsible for monitoring the WBGT and keeping the participating teams and game officials informed of the heat index. Coaches are encouraged to also monitor the conditions.
Who's in charge?
Typically, in the run-up to a game or practice, the club or organization makes the judgment call. Once players arrive and the game is underway, the officials on the field have the decision authority. This would be referees (who typically will consult with the coaches), or coaches if the event is a practice or other gathering.