SAFDA Extreme Weather Policy

1.0 Scope

This policy pertains to all SAFDA run Ultimate (athletic) events including, but not limited to Autumn and Spring State Leagues, City Social League (when run by a SAFDA representative) and all SAFDA run/organised tournaments. It is recommended, however, that all leagues and tournaments held in South Australia follow these guidelines.

The policy will remove the decision making power from the Tournament Director (TD).

Abbreviations: TD - Tournament Director (or any other event organiser) BOM - Bureau of Meteorology WBGT – Wet Bulb Global Temperature

2.0 Hot Weather

2.1 2.1.1 - 24 hours before start of event, if the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) is predicted to be above 30 at game on (as per 2.2), then the event will be cancelled.

2.1.2 - 24 hours before start of event, if the WBGT is predicted to be above 28 at game on (as per 2.2), then a post will be made in the SA Ultimate Facebook group and an email will be sent to all registered players for the given event advising them that games will be modified (in terms of extended time outs, extended breaks, length of games shortened, etc), and that there is a chance the event will be cancelled, but the games are still on. In the event that the prediction of WBGT changes to >30 degrees at any time within the 24 hour period, the event will be cancelled.

2.1.3 - Immediately prior to the start of play of the event, the TD will check the WBGT. If the temperature is >30 the event will be cancelled, or if the temperature is between 28-30, games will be modified.

2.1.4 - Game on can be delayed by up to 30 minutes in order to allow the WBGT to drop below the required threshold.

2.1.5 - If the event is a tournament, and the WBGT is >30 for any part of the event, games will cease until the WBGT falls below 30, but the whole event will not necessarily be cancelled. 2.2 The prediction of the WBGT will be based on the following parameters: 2.2.1 - Information on Air temperature (°C) and Relative humidity (%), which will be obtained from the BOM website: http://www.bom.gov.au/places/sa/adelaide/forecast/detailed/ No other sources of information are to be used.

2.2.2 - The graph below (combining the values for Air temperature (°C) and Relative humidity (%) to predict the WBGT)

3.0 Wind/Rain/Storm

3.1 If the BOM has forecast any of the following weather warnings for the area where the event will be held (likely the Adelaide Metropolitan Area) for the duration of an event, the event will be cancelled, as per 3.2. 3.1.1 - Severe weather warning, with:  Sustained winds of gale force (63 km/h) or more  Wind gusts of 90 km/h or more (100 km/h or more in Tasmania)  Very heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding Severe thunderstorm warning, with:  Large hail (2 cm in diameter or larger)  Damaging wind gusts (generally wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h)  Heavy rainfall which may cause flash flooding  Tornadoes Flood warning Catastrophic wind warning 3.2 – As soon as is practical after the weather warning is given, the community will be notified via Facebook post and email that the event may be cancelled. If at 2 hours prior to the start time of the event the weather warning is current, the event will be cancelled. However, an event can be cancelled at any time prior to this 2 hours.

3.3 – If a weather warning occurs within 2 hours of the start time, the event will still be cancelled.

4.0 Lightning

In the event of lightning, the TD will follow the AFDA weather policy for lightning, which is as follows: Play continues until the flash to bang time is less that 30 seconds.

The TD will inform all players about the possibility of cancellation prior to the event.

For all cases of extreme weather where this policy dictates a change to an Ultimate event (heat, wind/rain/storm, and lightning), the TD will determine whether games will be cancelled entirely, delayed, or rescheduled.