At Eastgate Soccer, the safety of players and participants is of utmost importance. Soccer fields can be a dangerous place during severe weather.

• You are in danger if you can see lightning.

• You are in danger from lightning if you can hear thunder.

• Lightning often travels sideways as far as 10 miles and can strike away from any rainfall even when skies are blue.

In event of a storm, games and/or practices must be stopped and suspended until the danger has passed using the following minimum criteria:

(1) The SIGHTING of a lightning flash OR the HEARING of the sound of thunder shall be reason enough to immediately stop and suspend a game or a practice session

• Do not wait until it rains

• Do not try to reach the end of a period or the end of a game.

(2) Coaches shall take their players to a safe location upon suspension of a game and/or a practice session

(3) Following suspension of a game, the referees shall promptly leave the field to a safe location

(4) Play and/or practice shall not be resumed prior to 30-minutes after the last sighting of lightning or the last sound of thunder heard.