Dear State Cup Participants,
As we start our Cup competitions this weekend it is important for each team to be aware of some guidelines related to weather issues and field conditions. These are especially important given the forecast for this weekend. Please take a minute to review these and do your best to apply them to your games this weekend.
Weather Issues – each weekend of cup play the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Socceroffice and the Cup committee will evaluate the weather conditions and if there is a widespread issue we will make a decision on whether to postpone cup play for that day. We will typically make this decision by 9am on a game day and post an announcement on the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer web site. Please note that Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer encompasses a very large geographic area so it is likely that we could have rain in one part of the state while other areas are dry allowing play to continue. Given this it is rare when we cancel the entire days play. If we do not cancel play for a day then the decision on whether conditions are appropriate for a game to be played becomes a local club or field owner’s decision and then ultimately a referee’s decision.
Field Conditions – the determination of whether a field is playable starts with the club and/or the owner of the field and ends with the referee.
Here are the guidelines for the three most likely situations:
-If a possibility exists that a field is unplayable we ask that the decision be made as soon as practical. If we know before game day we can work to move the game to another suitable field and have adequate time to notify the opposing team and referees. The sooner a decision can be made the better for all parties involved.
-If a field may have an issue but the decision will be made on game day both teams have some extra responsibilities.
1. Home Team – notify your opponent a day or two before the game (or game day if things change) that there may be a field issue and find out their travel time. The goal is to make a decision on the field and the game before they leave. The decisions can be that the field is playable, that it is unplayable and the game will need to be rescheduled or there is an alternate field and here are the directions.
2. Home Team – if you move the game you must have someone at the original field to direct referees and any players to the new field.
3. Visiting Team – check the weather – if it looks like there will be or has been rain call your opponent and confirm that the field is playable before you leave. It is good practice to always call before the game to confirm the field location, its playability, and to confirm a game day contact in the event that questions or unforeseen issues arise.
4. These situations can be a bit tense so please do your best to work together to find a solution that works for everyone.
If the decision by the club is that a field is open and playable then the referees take control of the final decision when they arrive at the field. They will evaluate all of the factors at game time and during the game on whether a field is safe for play and whatever they decide is final. If they close a field the game will be rescheduled.
In all situations where the game has to be rescheduled the Cup Committee and the State Office will review the situations and schedule the game accordingly. If both teams agree on a rescheduled game date/time/location please let us know and if it fits with the overall schedule we will do our best to accommodate that agreed to plan.
Our goal is to ensure safe play for all of our games and to also work so that all decisions are made in a cooperative and timely manner to avoid unnecessary travel for teams and referees.
If you have any issues or problems on game day feel free to contact the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Cup Chairperson, Dave Ash 215-932-4347 or Frank Olszewski, Director of Operations, at 484-241-0985.
Good luck to all teams!