General Policy
Practices should be held unless conditions simply are not healthy or safe for players. Coaches should notify the club before they choose to cancel a practice. Ultimately, we rely on coaches to use their best judgment in determining if a practice should take place given the particular weather conditions.
Hot Weather
Keep track of the heat index at http://www.osaa.org/heatindex. Enter Sherwood’s Zip Code to find out the heat index and use the guidelines provided below:
90 – 100 degrees
· Teams should still practice
· Take regular breaks and use shade if available
· Keep players hydrated
· High intensity activities are OK, but should not be back to back and longer breaks should be provided after higher intensity activities
100 – 105 degrees
· Teams may choose to cancel practice
· Practice should only include light activities
· Take regular breaks and use shade if available (use a canopy if available)
· Keep players hydrated
· Consider throwing in some water related fun if possible
105+ degrees
· All practices are cancelled
Cold Weather
40 - 50 degrees
· Teams may choose to cancel practice
· Fields may not be playable
· Parents should be reminded to properly cloth all players for cold conditions
< 40 degrees
· All practices are cancelled
Air Quality
There may be days when the air quality may be unhealthy. Please refer to the EPA’s website at https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main and enter Sherwood’s Zip Code to get current air quality conditions and use the guidelines provided below:
USG (Unsafe for Sensitive Groups) – Consider cancelling practice or reduce the intensity of practice
Unhealthy or worse – Cancel practice
Lightning
· Teams must leave the field immediately upon seeing lightning. A team should not return to the field until 30 minutes after the LAST lightning strike.
Rain
· We practice in rain!
· Expect to practice unless field conditions are unsafe
· The club will notify teams if fields are closed for use