WEATHER/MAKE-UP POLICIES
Rec/Select
This page exists to provide an abbreviated version of our "Weather Policy" as it relates to the most common form of event interruption, thunder/lightning. Our Weather Policy, in it's entirety, can be found in the Rec/Select Coaches Manual.
Thunder/Lightning Policy
There is a lightning detector at Covenant Park. If lightning is detected in the area, an active lightning alert will be sounded with a single long tone and the light on top of the club house, next to the main staircase will be flashing. If you are unsure if there is an active alert when you arrive, please check the light. When it is safe to resume activities, an “all-clear” alert will be sounded with three shorter sequential tones and the light will stop flashing.
If you are not at Covenant Park (offsite), our policy is to follow Howard County’s “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.” Audible thunder or visible lightning should suspend activities immediately. The referee will be in charge of making this decision for offsite games.
Game Cancellation Procedures
If the lightning detector goes off at Covenant Park, or thunder/lightning is observed offsite during your game, please go to your vehicle immediately. It is safe to go home, your game will not resume. Note: Covenant Park pavilions are not safe to be under during a storm.
If there is an active lightning alert when you arrive for a game, and you haven’t received a cancellation notification, you should wait in your vehicle for a maximum of 15 minutes beyond the scheduled start time. If the active alert clears up, the game or practice can start. If the active alert does not, you can go home, we will not delay any event longer than 15 minutes. Very often, as a storm is passing, we will wait with the intent to play.
All cancelled games are to be reported by one of the two opposing coaches, to their AGC, immediately following their game; including the minute of game play at the time of cancellation, the score at the time of cancellation, and the reason for cancellation. Any cancelled games not reported by the following Tuesday will be considered unreceived, and therefore recognized by the club as having been played; with either the score left as-is or recorded as a double forfeit.
Game Cancellation Notifications
All game cancellations made by the club, due to weather or otherwise, will be communicated through our registration platform PlayMetrics. We strongly encourage that you download the PlayMetrics app and turn on app notifications in your account, as this will provide the fastest delivery for these communications. When a game is cancelled by the club, the system will send an email to all team members, using the email addresses on the account, and an app notification to those who have it downloaded. The SAC website will only be updated for day-long field closures.
Game Make-up Policy
Only games that were cancelled (a) in accordance with SAC’s weather policy*, either on the field by the lightning detector at Covenant Park, a Referee or a SAC Complex Manager, or in the form of field closures, or (b) by the club in an official capacity for any other reason will be eligible for game rescheduling. Games that are either cancelled by coaches without club approval or that do not play due to a lack of player availability will not be eligible for game rescheduling.
If any game is cancelled in accordance with SAC’s weather policy*, all make-up games will be rescheduled in the following format:
- to another weekend of the existing season, sometimes as early as the following weekend
- on or offsite
- on a day different than the primary game day for the program (if you play on Saturday, your makeup game would be on a Sunday, etc.)
Game times will depend on the total number of cancelled games, starting as early as fields allow. Make-up games will not play on club-recognized holiday weekends.
Coaches/players/parents can expect that, pending extreme circumstances, any cancelled game will be rescheduled and updated online before the Wednesday following their cancelled game. Game change notifications will be sent out for every rescheduled game; however, coaches are still expected to check their online schedules for updates and communicate changes to their team. This will compensate for any possible error in the system (e.g., incorrect or changed email address, delays in notifications, etc.).
We will make every attempt to provide a full 8 game season in the fall and spring but make no guarantees. Game cancellations that occur for reasons out of our control may result in lost games due to field and/or time limitations. No refunds/credit will be given for any unplayed games.
*see “Weather Policy” in the “Rec/Select Coaches Manual”
