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Canada Soccer Lightning Policy
Canada Soccer Lightning Policy
Canada Soccer's Lightning Policy (from pg 24 of the link provided below) is as follows:
"All coaches and parents should always err on the side of caution when dealing with situations involving lightning and inclement weather.
Referees have been instructed to enforce the CSA Lightning Policy.
The safety of participants and spectators is the primary concern in any weather event that occurs during all matches sanctioned by Canada Soccer. By understanding and following the Lightning Policy, the safety of everyone shall be greatly increased. Ultimately, the referee has the final say over delaying or restarting a match due to weather. Waiting to stop play or not waiting to start play may result in a serious injury or loss of life. Referees are expected to act responsibly when dealing with such events during matches they are controlling.
If you can hear thunder, you can get hit by lightning. As soon as you hear thunder, quickly get to a safe location. More people are struck before and after a thunderstorm than during one."
For the full PDF of the Canada Soccer Guide to Safety, click here - Canada Soccer Guide to Safety.
According to Canada Soccer's policy above, NorWest Soccer's practices and games cannot be restarted until "30 minutes after the last bolt of lightning has been seen in the vicinity of the soccer field."
However, NorWest's allocated field time slots are 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on weeknight evenings. This generally means cancelling the session/game. We cannot offer "make-up sessions" because we have optimistically scheduled the entirety of our season.
NorWest Soccer adds the following caution:
NorWest Soccer adds the following caution:
Due to the endangerment of NorWest staff and participants over the 2023 Outdoor season, brought on by parents refusing to leave fields when requested by staff following the above Canada Soccer Lightning Policy, NorWest Soccer feels the need to add the following caution:
In circumstances where lightning flashes are seen, or thunder is heard, a NorWest Soccer representative (coach/referee/staff member) is REQUIRED to suspend the practice/game/programming verbally and/or by way of a waving away hand motion, request all participants, players, coaches, referees, and spectators to leave the field and seek safe shelter.
As the principal contract holder for all club events, the NorWest Optimist Soccer Club permits no one to stay out in the open on the soccer field or leave and return to it or within 20m of its perimeter for "30 minutes after the last bolt of lightning has been seen in the vicinity of the soccer field". For an accepted understanding of Safe Shelter, please use this link to the Lightning Safety Overview by the Government of Canada.
NOTE:
ANYONE THAT DOES NOT LEAVE THE FIELD WHEN ASKED SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PERSONAL DECISION, as well as that of any minors in their charge - meaning participants they have brought to, agreed to supervise while at, and/or agreed to take from the location of NorWest Soccer events and programming, in question at the time in question.
We cannot and WILL NOT expect staff to remain on-site, at their own risk, for members who refuse to leave when requested.
Furthermore, anyone thought to be willfully ignoring club representatives' request to "leave the field and seek safe shelter" may be found in breach of the NorWest Soccer Club Code of Conduct. Agreed to at the time of registration within PowerUp, and consequently have their child's registration cancelled without any refund or recourse.
If you have thoughts or concerns about this, please resist addressing them with our coaches/staff/referees on the field. We request that you leave the field upon request and make an appointment to discuss things in person at the office via admin@norwestsoccer.com since club volunteers and staff are required to leave the field in accordance with the CSA Lightning Policy as well.
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