Weather Policy

COMMUNICATING CANCELLATIONS

  • If games are going ahead you will not be notified, so please assume all games are going ahead unless informed.
  • If games are being cancelled, you will be notified via email at the different timelines outlined below.
  • Please do not call the enquiry line as we will not make any formal weather calls except on email.

TIMELINES FOR WEATHER CALLS

Sometimes, despite our best intentions, the weather can take a turn between the times we make the decision to play at 4:00 pm and the start of scheduled games at 6:00 pm, so here is a timeline for weather calls leading up to your game time.

FIRST CALL 4:00 PM
  • We make a call depending on current weather conditions, as well as court and field conditions safety and closures.
  • If courts are too wet from rain earlier in the day, we will likely cancel and reschedule for your safety.
  • If fields are closed by our facility owners, we will cancel and reschedule.
SECOND CALL (15 MINS BEFORE START TIME)
  • If rain starts between the 4 pm call and game scheduled start times, our staff will make a final assessment of the conditions when they arrive at the venue.
THIRD CALL AKA ROLLING CALL (DURING GAMEPLAY)
  • If heavy rain appears during games, the Event Host will make an assessment based on safety and may stop play if they do not feel the conditions are safe for our members
  • If a game is cancelled during play, the remaining games will be cancelled
SUNDAY AFTERNOON LEAGUES
  • First call will be made at 12 pm
  • Final call will be made at 2:30 pm when our staff reach the venue.
  • After 3 pm a rolling call will be made by on-site staff

ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS

RAIN

Our staff assess weather conditions and playing surfaces before every league night. The decision to proceed in wet weather considers the amount and intensity of rain, the thunderstorm activity, the water level on the ground and the acceptable grip for players moving around. 

  • If outdoor courts are too wet from rain earlier in the day, we may remove puddles to make it safe.
  • If outdoor grass fields are open, games will continue, except for electric storms.
  • Outdoor all-weather pitches play on for all levels of rain, except electric storms.
  • During a game, if the rain is deemed too intense or heavy, the game can be paused or cancelled and will continue after the intensity of the rain has reduced. 
  • Indoor leagues will proceed irrespective of rain, as long as the playing surface is in acceptable condition. 
HAIL & LIGHTNING

Our staff assess weather conditions and playing surfaces before every league night. The decision to proceed with hail and lighting is determined by the below factors. 

  • We use the 30/30 rule where the time between when the lighting is seen and the last thunder is heard is 30 seconds or less. When the 30-second ratio has been reached this means that the lighting is deemed as a risk, and games will be paused or cancelled. Players should seek shelter or go home. 
  • After a lightning storm, the games can recommence after 30 minutes. 
  • The game will be cancelled if hail occurs during a game. The condition of the surface will determine if games can recommence.
  • Indoor leagues will proceed irrespective of hail and lighting as long as the playing surface is in acceptable condition. 
HEAT

Our staff assess weather conditions and playing surfaces before every league night. The decision to proceed in hot temperatures is determined by the following factors. Please note, that most leagues commence after 6 pm, and daytime temperatures will not affect our decision to proceed in hot weather. Temperatures will be assessed at the commencement of the game. 

  • If the weather is above 35 degrees at the commencement of the game, the staff will adjust the games to include more breaks. 
  • If the weather is above 37 degrees at the commencement of the game, the staff will cancel the games. 
  • Cancellation of games at lower temperatures may be necessary depending on factors such as humidity; local conditions including radiant heat from synthetic surfaces and lack of ventilation at indoor centres.
  • Our staff will do our best to monitor the well-being of players, but please ensure that you bring sufficient water to stay hydrated and always play within your limits. 

If Urban Rec decides that scheduled games are going ahead safely, and a team chooses not to play, that game will be considered a forfeit/default and will be subject to Urban Rec’s forfeit and default policy.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Your safety is paramount, and our staff will work to protect your safety to the best of their knowledge. If you feel unsafe or unwell, you do NOT need to continue to play. We'd like for you to take certain personal precautions to protect your welfare. 

RESCHEDULING CANCELLED GAMES

  • Where possible, cancelled games will be rescheduled for up to 2 weeks (1 week for short 6-week seasons), as a result, the season end date might be delayed and the season might be extended.
  • Whilst we do everything possible to have all your games played, sometimes with booking limitations this is not possible.
  • Sometimes this means we must create double-header games to ensure we complete the season in a nominated time.
  • Some extreme circumstances like venues without lights, mean some games cannot be replayed.
  • These games will not be refunded.
  • Each league will be managed on a case case-by-cases with the interest of member experience as our top priority.