Sussex Flag Football Documents

The safety of our players, coaches, officials, and spectators is our highest priority. While flag football is typically played in rain, weather conditions will be monitored closely before and during all games.

Weather Notifications

The league will make every reasonable effort to evaluate field and weather conditions prior to game time. If games are canceled before teams arrive at the field due to weather, field conditions, or other safety concerns, the league will notify:

• Coaches by phone call and/or text message.
• Players and families by email using the contact information provided during registration.

Whenever possible, notification of cancellations will be made as early as practical to allow families adequate time to adjust their schedules. However, weather conditions can change rapidly, and game status may be updated closer to the scheduled start time if necessary.

If no cancellation notification has been issued, families should assume games are proceeding as scheduled and continue to monitor league communications for updates.

Playing in the Rain

Games will generally be played as scheduled during rain. Rain alone is not typically a reason for cancellation. Players and families should come prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment for wet conditions.

League leadership reserves the right to delay, suspend, or cancel games if field conditions become unsafe due to excessive rain, standing water, poor visibility, or other hazardous conditions.

Thunderstorms and Lightning

Any sighting of lightning or sound of thunder in the area will result in an immediate suspension of play. All players, coaches, officials, and spectators must seek appropriate shelter immediately.

Games may resume only after at least 30 minutes have passed since the last observed lightning strike or clap of thunder. If lightning or thunder occurs again during that waiting period, the 30-minute clock will restart.

For divisions with assigned game officials, the officials, in consultation with league leadership when available, will make the final determination regarding game delays, suspensions, or cancellations due to weather conditions.

For the 1st/2nd Grade Division, where games are coach-managed and no league officials are assigned, the head coaches from both teams will jointly determine whether conditions are safe to begin, continue, delay, or suspend play. Coaches are expected to follow this weather policy and always prioritize the safety of players, families, and spectators. In the event of a disagreement, league leadership will be consulted whenever possible, and the more cautious approach will be followed.

Reporting Unsafe Weather Conditions

Player safety is everyone's responsibility. Coaches, parents, spectators, and officials who observe potentially unsafe weather conditions are encouraged to immediately notify a coach, game official, or league representative.