JLYSL AQI POLICY (FALL 2021)
In light of the recent fires, and the start of Fall Season, the JLYSL Board would like to communicate our Air Quality Policy, what tools we use to evaluate it, and how we determine when games will proceed or be cancelled.
The JLYSL Administrator will make all final decisions related to air quality and the safety of playing soccer outdoors. Using the guidance and resources provided by our governing organizations, we understand that conditions are fluctuating, so we will wait until the early morning of the game, if possible, to make any cancellations.
If the average AQI for Oakland, Alameda, or Piedmont and adjacent JLYSL field locations reaches 101 or higher, then games shall be cancelled for the safety and welfare of our players and coaches.
No teams will participate in games when this threshold level is reached. JLYSL will be using https://airnow.gov/ as the official tool to assess the forecast for the given game day. We will do our best to assess the trends and forecast for the smoke, fire, and winds in order to make the best judgement call for our community.
In order to communicate the cancellation, the League Administrator will update the SportLynx Announcement Homepage at 7:00am, the morning of each game day. This will be the JLYSL Official Field Closure Protocol. Please log onto the website the morning of your game to see if it has been cancelled.
We will not send any announcements when we have deemed that the AQI forecast for the given game day is good to play! Of course, air quality can change quickly! We understand if a Club or Team (Host or Opponent) uses their own judgement when deciding what is best for the health of their players. We ask that you contact the following individuals immediately so they can make the proper cancellations in the system to avoid cancellation fees:
Referee assignors: refereeassignor@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
Referee coordinators: refereecoordinator@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
NorCal (Competitive) Match Secretaries: norcalcompmatchsecretary@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
Rec Match Secretaries: recmatchsecretary@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
Referees, also, reserve the right to cancel a game if conditions change for the worse.
We will not be monitoring the AQI throughout the day, as conditions do fluctuate. There may be a chance that conditions do get better. HOWEVER, we will not reverse the field closure announcement.
Regarding NorCal Competitive Teams:
If it is decided that the game has been cancelled, NorCal Competitive Teams must contact their opponents ASAP. No need to reach out to the JLYSL Ref Assignors or Match Secretaries, if the cancellation came from the Official Field Closure Protocol.
If you are having trouble reaching opponents through the chat in GotSport, please check the NorCal Premier competition page.
- You’ll click on the Schedule/Standings that is posted in the left menu of your league.
- You’ll find your age group and division bracket.
- You’ll click on the name of your opponent, and this will take you to their league schedule.
- There is a hyperlink to “View Team Contact Information” which will provide you with the team officials’ phone numbers.
Upon cancellation, you can begin the reschedule process with your opponents, if possible. After confirming a reschedule date and time with your opponent, you will then resubmit your Home Field Request Form. Due to field and team availability, there is a possibility that a request may be declined, and a reschedule may not happen.
The JLYSL Administrator will make all final decisions related to air quality and the safety of playing soccer outdoors. Using the guidance and resources provided by our governing organizations, we understand that conditions are fluctuating, so we will wait until the early morning of the game, if possible, to make any cancellations.
If the average AQI for Oakland, Alameda, or Piedmont and adjacent JLYSL field locations reaches 101 or higher, then games shall be cancelled for the safety and welfare of our players and coaches.
No teams will participate in games when this threshold level is reached. JLYSL will be using https://airnow.gov/ as the official tool to assess the forecast for the given game day. We will do our best to assess the trends and forecast for the smoke, fire, and winds in order to make the best judgement call for our community.
In order to communicate the cancellation, the League Administrator will update the SportLynx Announcement Homepage at 7:00am, the morning of each game day. This will be the JLYSL Official Field Closure Protocol. Please log onto the website the morning of your game to see if it has been cancelled.
We will not send any announcements when we have deemed that the AQI forecast for the given game day is good to play! Of course, air quality can change quickly! We understand if a Club or Team (Host or Opponent) uses their own judgement when deciding what is best for the health of their players. We ask that you contact the following individuals immediately so they can make the proper cancellations in the system to avoid cancellation fees:
Referee assignors: refereeassignor@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
Referee coordinators: refereecoordinator@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
NorCal (Competitive) Match Secretaries: norcalcompmatchsecretary@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
Rec Match Secretaries: recmatchsecretary@jlyssl.sportlynx.com
Referees, also, reserve the right to cancel a game if conditions change for the worse.
We will not be monitoring the AQI throughout the day, as conditions do fluctuate. There may be a chance that conditions do get better. HOWEVER, we will not reverse the field closure announcement.
Regarding NorCal Competitive Teams:
If it is decided that the game has been cancelled, NorCal Competitive Teams must contact their opponents ASAP. No need to reach out to the JLYSL Ref Assignors or Match Secretaries, if the cancellation came from the Official Field Closure Protocol.
If you are having trouble reaching opponents through the chat in GotSport, please check the NorCal Premier competition page.
- You’ll click on the Schedule/Standings that is posted in the left menu of your league.
- You’ll find your age group and division bracket.
- You’ll click on the name of your opponent, and this will take you to their league schedule.
- There is a hyperlink to “View Team Contact Information” which will provide you with the team officials’ phone numbers.
Upon cancellation, you can begin the reschedule process with your opponents, if possible. After confirming a reschedule date and time with your opponent, you will then resubmit your Home Field Request Form. Due to field and team availability, there is a possibility that a request may be declined, and a reschedule may not happen.
Rain Out Cancellation Policy
The OFFICIAL rain out notification will be posted on the JLYSL and SportLynx Landing Pages no later than 6:30am on game days. Depending on the grass field conditions, the rain out announcement can be for the entire weekend or on a day by day basis.
*Turf Fields usually will remain open and scheduled games will play on rain or shine. In the event of severe weather conditions or changes to the turf field conditions that may pose a safety concern, referees will make the final call for cancellation prior or during the game*.
To also help with getting the information out more quickly, JLYSL will be emailing CLUB OFFICIALS to assist in getting the word out to their club teams and referees.
Depending on the weather forecast and duration of a “storm”, we may be able to shift grass games onto turf ahead of time. If that does happen, an email will be sent out to teams along with the system notification regarding the game update. Club Officials will also be copied in these emails. Please remind teams to double check their schedule so they have the correct game information.
As Club Officials, please DO NOT jump the gun and notify teams of cancellations until the official rain out notification has been posted and JL has contacted you! You may give your teams a head up reminder of what the rain out policy and procedures are so they have it on their radar as to what the next steps are.
As Team Officials, please DO NOT jump the gun and arrange a reschedule/cancellation with your opponent. The possibility of rain is not an acceptable reason to submit a cancellation request prior to the Official Rain Out Notification. If your opponent is refusing to play due to rain, they automatically will FORFEIT the game, a reschedule will not be made, and a Fine will occur.
So, what if JLYSL calls a Rain Out Cancellation of your game, what do you do?
Regarding NorCal Competitive Teams:
NorCal Competitive Teams must contact their opponents ASAP. If you are having trouble reaching opponents through the chat in GotSport, please check the NorCal Premier competition page for their phone numbers.
You’ll click on the Schedule/Standings that is posted in the left menu of your league.
You’ll find your age group and division bracket.
You’ll click on the name of your opponent, and this will take you to their league schedule. There is a hyperlink to “View Team Contact Information” which will provide you with the team officials’ phone numbers.
Upon cancellation, you can begin the reschedule process with your opponents via chat. After confirming a reschedule date and time with your opponent, you will then resubmit your Home Field Request Form.
Due to field and team availability, there is a possibility that a request may be declined, and a reschedule may not happen.
Regarding Recreational Teams:
Recreational teams will not need to connect with their opponents as they will all receive the same announcement from their club officials. Unfortunately, a reschedule may not be available. But, the REC Match Schedulers will try their best to see what we can accommodate.
*Turf Fields usually will remain open and scheduled games will play on rain or shine. In the event of severe weather conditions or changes to the turf field conditions that may pose a safety concern, referees will make the final call for cancellation prior or during the game*.
To also help with getting the information out more quickly, JLYSL will be emailing CLUB OFFICIALS to assist in getting the word out to their club teams and referees.
Depending on the weather forecast and duration of a “storm”, we may be able to shift grass games onto turf ahead of time. If that does happen, an email will be sent out to teams along with the system notification regarding the game update. Club Officials will also be copied in these emails. Please remind teams to double check their schedule so they have the correct game information.
As Club Officials, please DO NOT jump the gun and notify teams of cancellations until the official rain out notification has been posted and JL has contacted you! You may give your teams a head up reminder of what the rain out policy and procedures are so they have it on their radar as to what the next steps are.
As Team Officials, please DO NOT jump the gun and arrange a reschedule/cancellation with your opponent. The possibility of rain is not an acceptable reason to submit a cancellation request prior to the Official Rain Out Notification. If your opponent is refusing to play due to rain, they automatically will FORFEIT the game, a reschedule will not be made, and a Fine will occur.
So, what if JLYSL calls a Rain Out Cancellation of your game, what do you do?
Regarding NorCal Competitive Teams:
NorCal Competitive Teams must contact their opponents ASAP. If you are having trouble reaching opponents through the chat in GotSport, please check the NorCal Premier competition page for their phone numbers.
You’ll click on the Schedule/Standings that is posted in the left menu of your league.
You’ll find your age group and division bracket.
You’ll click on the name of your opponent, and this will take you to their league schedule. There is a hyperlink to “View Team Contact Information” which will provide you with the team officials’ phone numbers.
Upon cancellation, you can begin the reschedule process with your opponents via chat. After confirming a reschedule date and time with your opponent, you will then resubmit your Home Field Request Form.
Due to field and team availability, there is a possibility that a request may be declined, and a reschedule may not happen.
Regarding Recreational Teams:
Recreational teams will not need to connect with their opponents as they will all receive the same announcement from their club officials. Unfortunately, a reschedule may not be available. But, the REC Match Schedulers will try their best to see what we can accommodate.
Field Closures
The fields are inspected to ensure that the conditions are safe. The collective decision of JLYSSL Field Coordinators to close fields is binding on all members of the league, coaches, referees, visiting coaches, parents, and players.
Any field closure notifications will be posted on the landing page of the JLYSSL website and SportLynx by 6:30am the morning of each game day. Updated announcements will be made as more information is provided.
Club Admins will also be notified so they can assist in getting this information out to their club teams quickly.
If a closure notification was not made, teams will PLAY ON! Teams must show up to their games. If AQI or rain changes the field conditions or it becomes a safety concern, referees will make the final call this the game proceeds or not. If the worsening conditions affect the larger community, the league will decide to cancel the remainder of games on the given day.
Field Closures are not taken lightly. Once the League has sent out an Official Closure Notification, it cannot be reversed, even if the conditions start to improve later in the day. We ask that you be patient and attentive during the possibility of rain and AQI closures.
Any field closure notifications will be posted on the landing page of the JLYSSL website and SportLynx by 6:30am the morning of each game day. Updated announcements will be made as more information is provided.
Club Admins will also be notified so they can assist in getting this information out to their club teams quickly.
If a closure notification was not made, teams will PLAY ON! Teams must show up to their games. If AQI or rain changes the field conditions or it becomes a safety concern, referees will make the final call this the game proceeds or not. If the worsening conditions affect the larger community, the league will decide to cancel the remainder of games on the given day.
Field Closures are not taken lightly. Once the League has sent out an Official Closure Notification, it cannot be reversed, even if the conditions start to improve later in the day. We ask that you be patient and attentive during the possibility of rain and AQI closures.
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