GFLL Weather Policies
All schedule change decisions are made by local league personnel and available only on the web site. Do not call another league or county number for scheduling change information.
Managers are encouraged to arrange for team notification using voicemail, e-mail or calling "trees." The following procedures govern postponing games or cancelling practices. Note that Nike is treated separate from other fields, so read the below policies knowing whether your field is Nike or one of the others. Games at McLean facilities will be controlled by McLean procedures.
Nike Fields
Weekdays, if conditions CLEARLY are unplayable by 4 pm, the fields will be CLOSED. Sometimes it may be possible to allow a restricted practice in the outfield only. If conditions are too poor to allow use of the infields, but the outfields can sustain use, this condition will be reported on the website, and practices may be held at the manager's discretion. Under these circumstances ALL ACTIVITY MUST BE RESTRICTED TO THE OUTFIELDS. NO USE OF THE INFIELDS IN ANY WAY WILL BE ALLOWED. If either a CLOSED or OUTFIELD ONLY determination is made, this information will be available on the website by 4:15 PM. Weekends, initial postings will be on the website by 7:30 am Saturday or 11:00 am Sunday. If appropriate, this information will be updated during the day.
Other Fields
Practice/no practice decisions are made by the manager. The manager may rely on information on the website concerning the Nike Fields as a guide, but may decide differently based on his own observations of the conditions at the specific practice field if he chooses. The manager should not risk injury or illness; nor permit damage to the fields. The decision rests solely with the good judgment of the manager.
Lightning Policy
Appendix A of the Little League rule book provides policy guidance that each local league should use when they develop a Lightning Policy. This policy statement for the GFLL is based on and closely follows the guidance and recommendations contained in Appendix A. As such, the GFLL lightning policy statement does not repeat the background and other information contained in Appendix A.
It is the policy of the Great Falls Little League that the following requirements and procedures be followed with regard to ensuring the safety of everyone attending or participating in a GFLL baseball or softball game in the event of lightning:
| 1 |
Each league official (e.g., Board members), manager, coach, and umpire should read Appendix A of the Little League rulebook. This will help everyone understand the background information on this entire topic, including recent research and findings on lightning. |
| 2 |
PLAY WILL BE HALTED IMMEDIATELY BY THE UMPIRES IF:
Lightning is observed anywhere on the skyline
Thunder is heard
The sky above or in the immediate proximity to Nike Park looks threatening |
| 3 |
Once play is halted, all players, managers, coaches, umpires, and spectators will move to a place of safety. The Snack Shack will be immediately closed as well.THE DUGOUTS ARE NOT A PLACE OF SAFETY. AT NIKE PARK WE HAVE NO PERMANENT BUILDINGS OR ADEQUATE SHELTERS FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING.Therefore, the safest available place is inside a motor vehicle. |
| 4 |
All adults and umpires in attendance at Nike Park will proactively ensure that children and others in their care will remain in their vehicles until the umpires say that it is safe to resume playing. |
| 5 |
The game will not be resumed until 30 minutes have passed from the last time lightning was observed or thunder heard. At the 25 minute mark with no lightning observed or thunder heard, the umpires will allow the teams to leave their vehicles and return to the dugouts to make preparations to resume the game. |
| 6 |
NO CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO COMPLETING THE GAMEwhen making decisions regarding halting or resuming the game. The only factor that will be considered is the presence/absence of lightning/thunder/threatening skies. |
| 7 |
Upon resumption of game activities, each team, when they take the field defensively, will be allowed a small amount of extra time to warm up. |
Games
General Game Postponement Policy
We try to play all games as scheduled, and therefore most delay/cancellation decisions will be made at the field at game time. Generally games are not postponed for light rain or moderate cold; but heavy rain or unsafe and unplayable field conditions that can't be remedied will require postponement.
Weekday Games
If conditions CLEARLY are unplayable by 4 pm, the games will be postponed and this information made available on the website by 4:15 pm. If no postponement is announced by 4:15 pm, all team managers, coaches and players must report to the field. A go/no-go decision will be made at the field at game time.
Weekend Games
Unless the weather is extreme, games will be postponed only on a case-by-case (time slot-by-time slot) basis. Therefore managers, coaches and players must report to the field at game time unless the website contains a message that all games have been postponed for that day. NOTE: a game may be postponed early in the day and later games played. Updated postponement information will be made available on the website as soon as decisions are made.
Procedures
Play/No play decisions are in the hands of League Officials until a game is started. Once a game commences, halt/resume decisions are totally in the hands of the umpires.
Nike Fields
Whenever available, the League Commissioner, President or the Board Member in charge of fields will decide whether to start or postpone a game. If none of the three is available either in person or by phone, the decision rests with BOTH managers. Both managers must agree that conditions are acceptable for safe play. If either manager disagrees, the game will be delayed or postponed. Games will not be postponed for light rain or moderate cold, but heavy rain or unsafe and unplayable field conditions that can't be remedied will require postponement.
Other Fields
Play/No play decisions rest with both managers.If no information is posted about the field, the managers may rely on the information on the website concerning the Nike Fields as a guide, but they may decide differently based on their own observations of the conditions at the other field if they choose. The decision rests with BOTH managers. Both managers must agree that conditions are acceptable for safe play. If either manager disagrees, the game will be delayed or postponed. Games will not be postponed for light rain or moderate cold, but heavy rain or unsafe and unplayable field conditions that can't be remedied require postponement.
Rescheduling Postponed Games
Majors' and Minors' (AAA & AA) postponed games automatically will be re-scheduled for the immediate next Sunday by the League Commissioner. Managers, coaches, players and parents are on notice that any game postponed from Monday through Saturday will be played on the immediately following Sunday (assuming suitable weather and no conflicts with pre-established schedule breaks).