On Sunday 23 April at 3pm, the government is going to test the Emergency Alert system. This will fall during game time and BAFA is asking those involved in games to keep disruption to a minimum by turning off phones beforehand.
The alert will involve a loud siren-like sound. But disruption can be minimised by asking players, coaches, sideline staff and officials to turn their phones off completely before the game, where they can. (Note that setting a phone to silent won’t be enough.)
However, there may still be distractions from phones belonging to spectators or left in bags in the team area. Referees are authorised to call a brief referee’s timeout when the alert goes off while people attend to their devices.
Hopefully the disruption to games will be slight, but being prepared will help.
