With potential amber and red weather warnings in place for the weekend of 27-28 June, BAFA have issued advice and guidance to clubs across its National Competitions.
If there are RED weather warnings in place, games will not go ahead. Games will be cancelled and BAFA will work together with teams to ensure that playoff implications are managed.
If there are AMBER weather warnings, games can continue as scheduled but provisions must be in place.
Health and safety of players, coaches and supporters takes priority. In a weekend with many games carrying post-season implications, competitiveness should not come at the expense of wellbeing.
Managing playing in the heat:
With extreme sun and heat expected over the weekend, clubs are encouraging to consider the following:
- Ensuring that teams are making the most of available shade on gameday
- Hydrating regularly and monitoring all taking part; players, coaches, officials, and spectators
- Use ice, cold towels, and hats when off of the field, as well as making sure skin is covered where possible.
- Consider gazebos on sidelines (at a safe distance from the field of play) to provide shade to players and staff not on the field.
Find wider guidance below:
- Heat Guidelines – https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/training-and-competing-in-the-heat/
- Resources from Sunguarding Sport – https://melanoma-fund.co.uk/sunguarding-sport/american-football/
When conditions prove challenging, we encourage clubs to schedule opportunities for hydration, including changes of possession, natural breaks in the game and whenever it feels necessary. The referee can stop the game for players to take on water where needed.
LIGHTNING GUIDANCE:
There are currently some forecasts for Lightning around the UK this weekend. We encourage clubs to remind themselves of league policy on lightning – this MUST be followed.
The following specific lightning safety guidelines have been developed with the assistance of lightning safety experts. Design your lightning safety plan to consider local safety needs, weather patterns and thunderstorm types:
As a minimum, lightning safety experts strongly recommend that by the time the monitor observes 30 seconds between seeing the lightning flash and hearing its associated thunder, all individuals should have left the athletics site and reached a safer structure or location.
Please note that thunder may be hard to hear if there is an athletics event going on, particularly in stadiums with large crowds. Implement your lightning safety plan accordingly.
The existence of blue sky and the absence of rain are not guarantees that lightning will not strike. At least 10 percent of lightning occurs when there is no rainfall and when blue sky is often visible somewhere in the sky, especially with summer thunderstorms. Lightning can, and does, strike as far as 10 (or more) miles away from the rain shaft.
Avoid using landline telephones, except in emergency situations. Cellular or cordless phones are safe alternatives to a landline phone, particularly if the person and the antenna are located within a safer structure or location, and if all other precautions are followed.
To resume athletics activities, lightning safety experts recommend waiting 30 minutes after both the last sound of thunder and last flash of lightning. If lightning is seen without hearing thunder, lightning may be out of range and therefore less likely to be a significant threat. At night, be aware that lightning can be visible at a much greater distance than during the day as clouds are being lit from the inside by lightning. This greater distance may mean that the lightning is no longer a significant threat. At night, use both the sound of thunder and seeing the lightning channel itself to decide on resetting the 30-minute return-to-play clock before resuming outdoor athletics activities.
People who have been struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge. Therefore, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is safe for the responder. If possible, an injured person should be moved to a safer location before starting CPR. Lightning-strike victims who show signs of cardiac or respiratory arrest need prompt emergency help. Call 999 for assistance. Prompt, aggressive CPR has been highly effective for the survival of victims of lightning strikes.