Inclement Weather
Our first priority in any weather-related decisions is our players’ safety. Our goal is always to play through any weather conditions; however, if weather forecasts, field & driving conditions jeopardize our players’ safety, we will cancel. The referees make the final decision on whether the conditions are safe or not for play at the game.
Inclement Weather Policy
Inter Atlanta FC reserves the right to cancel training sessions or games when our players’ safety is at risk. Reasons for cancellation include:
freezing temperatures (wind chill below 32 degrees) severe weather warnings, tornado warnings, high wind warnings, high temperatures (above 92 degrees based on the wet bulb thermometer reading), and unsafe field conditions.
Inclement Weather Communication
Our goal is to communicate cancellations as soon as a decision is made, and we strive to make a decision by 4:00 pm during the week and 7:00 am on the weekend. This affects carpool schedules and long commutes so we will do our best to stick to this schedule.
We often wait until these times to make a decision in hopes conditions will improve and allow us to play. Most of our rented fields are governed by other entities (e.g., City of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools) who determine whether fields are open or closed and these entities often do not inform us of field decisions until after 3:30pm.
Fields Status and Cancellation Policy
We rely primarily on updating the website during the day to communicate cancellations or any weather-related information. Fields are marked “closed” if weather conditions are not safe for players, and we cancel soccer-related activities. No one is allowed to play on a “closed” field.
All families are encouraged to check the website every day before heading out to any practice or game. This is your first stop to find out whether practices are "on" or "off" for the day. Find the Field Status by hovering over the Fields tab on interatlantafc.com and clicking on the first option labeled “Field Status.” We work very hard to ensure practices and games get played. Sometimes we do close fields and move games to other venues.
When to look for an email, in addition to, checking the website
If we need to make a cancellation, change, or delay after 4 PM during the week or 7:00 AM on the weekend, we will not only update the online field status, but also email those who are affected. We strongly encourage everyone to be near our website and your email, because the weather changes quickly, and decisions are often made close to scheduled training or game times.
In many cases, we are able to hold some practices or games even when other practices or games are cancelled. Atlanta's weather is such that, storms could cancel the early sessions but be fine for later sessions or vice-versa. In the event that weather allows us to open some fields at particular times, but close others, we will send out an email to affected families (i.e., all 5:30-6:30 pm practices are on as scheduled, but 6:30 pm and beyond practices are cancelled for the night). The club is in charge of relaying the information to the appropriate families, typically in one mass email that outlines each program's updates or changes.
Please do not anticipate an email every time a field is closed and do not unsubscribe from club emails. If you unsubscribe from one email, you unsubscribe from all important club communication including weather-related emails.
Lightning Policy
Our Arizona Avenue facility is equipped with an Earth Networks lightning detection and siren system. The system will sound the siren if lightning is detected within 10 miles of the facility. When the siren sounds, all activities must stop, and everyone must move to a safe structure. The system will start a countdown clock and will sound 3 pulses to indicate it is safe to return to play when no lightning has been detected within a 10 mile radius for 30 minutes.
At all other locations: If thunder/lightning strikes, even if it "sounds far away," all players, coaches, parents, and refs should evacuate the field immediately and stay off the field until 30 minutes has elapsed from the most recent thunder/lightning strike.
A safe structure at IAFC is defined as the inside of a school or building. Everyone who is not inside a building should be sent to their vehicle. A vehicle is considered safe if it is fully enclosed with a hard metal roof, rubber tires, and completely closed windows. Persons should not touch the sides of the vehicle! Convertibles or “soft-top” vehicles, and golf carts do not provide a high level of protection and cannot be considered safe from lightning.
Lightning Safety Rules
- Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or increasing wind, which may be signs of an approaching thunderstorm.
- Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, go to a safe shelter immediately.
- Postpone activities immediately. Quickly go inside a completely enclosed building, not a carport, open garage or covered patio. If no enclosed building is convenient, get inside a hard-topped vehicle.
- Be the lowest point. Lightning hits the tallest object. Crouch down if you are in an exposed area.
- Stay away from trees.
- Avoid leaning against vehicles.
- Avoid metal! Drop metal backpacks, stay away from clothes lines, fences, exposed sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects
What if someone is struck by lightning
1. Call for help. Call 9-1-1 or your local ambulance service.
2. Give first aid. If the victim has stopped breathing, begin rescue breathing.
3. Give CPR. If the heart has stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR.
4. Check for burns. Being struck by lightning can cause burns, nervous system damage, broken bones, and loss of hearing or eyesight. People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge, you can examine them without risk of getting shocked.