Cancellation Policy

TripleEDGE Weather Cancellation Policy and Procedure

Please read this ENTIRE page for important information about cancellation/postponement notification, field closure policies and procedures, and make-up games.

Our goal is to play as many games as possible with ultimate respect for player safety and not damaging fields.

TripleEDGE leagues play at several different locations throughout Fairfax County. Weather can very sporadic, isolated, vary in severity, and changes very quickly. There may be a storm at one game location and another location may be clear. If a storm moves through specific game location we may be forced to cancel all games. If a storm moves through quickly without a lot of rain some games may be canceled with later games being played.

In addition, fields may be closed by Fairfax County Dept of Recreation the day following rain storms the previous day based on field conditions even though the weather is clear on game day.

On weekends we have authority to make a "judgement call" to play games if we feel field conditions will allow us to play all or some of scheduled games. Most days we are playing as many as nine games at a specific game location. We will NEVER play on closed or unplayable fields and risk damaging a field and jeopardize losing our Fairfax County field permits.

Notification of game postponement and/or cancellation

Our main office number also serves as the weather HOTLINE

703-392-6177

The message will be updated ONLY if there is a cancellation/postponement information

Call the HOTLINE one hour prior to your game time for current game status.

We make every effort to make cancellation decisions one hour prior to a game start time. This is NOT always possible with rapidly changing weather and field conditions. The HOTLINE is updated with the most current field conditions and game cancellation information. Updates are made by staff from the various game locations.

If there is an early field closure/cancellation the first daily update will be made at 7:00AM and throughout the day. If there is no game cancellation update on the hotline -- ALL games will be played as scheduled.

Website and Emails

We cannot update the website or send emails to players in "REAL TIME". We will make every effort to update the website as quickly as possible.

We will ONLY update the HOME page of the website and send emails to the players if we know several hours in advance that fields are closed and games are canceled.

Field Closure Policies/Procedure

Field evaluation procedure

TripleEDGE Field Staff arrive at each game site at least an hour prior to the first game to assess the following:

1) Field conditions at the specific game location.

2) Actual weather conditions at the specific game site.

3) Weather forecasts (which are not always reliable).

Lightning

If lightning strikes at any game location ALL players and spectators MUST evacuate the field premises and take cover. Play will be delayed until THIRTY MINUTES following the LAST lightning strike. Games will be shortened by any lightning delay.

County / City Park and School Fields

NATURAL GRASS FIELDS - are regulated by the county or city Department of Recreation and/or Park Authority

VIRGINIA: Frost MS, Herndon MS, Oak Marr Rec Center, Sidney Lanier MARYLAND: Forest Oak MS, Kingsview MS

The Dept of Recreation or Park Authority posts field closure information on their websites and on their phone hotline when fields are closed usually by 3:30pm on weekdays. However, the weather and field conditions may change between their posting and our game times. They also send field monitors to evaluate specific fields and post "FIELDS CLOSED" signs on appropriate fields. We MUST adhere to any signs indicating that a field is closed. Field closed signs take precedence over earlier field status. For example, if a field is shown as open and the sign on the field indicates that the field is closed to play, the field is closed.

Furthermore, if there is ANY standing water anywhere on a County or City field at game time, we are not permitted to use the field and MUST cancel games.

We risk the loss of current and future field use permits if we damage county fields -- a risk we are NOT willing to take.

SYNTHETIC GRASS FIELDS - are regulated by the county/city Department of Recreation and/or Park Authority, or the private owners or management group.

Virginia: Braddock Park, EC Lawrence, Word of Grace (Old Redskins Park) Maryland: MD Soccer Plex

Regardless of rain on game day or the day before, ALL games will be played unless there is lightning in the area at game time.

MAKE_UP GAMES

A game is considered a "complete" game if at least on half has been played. We will make every effort to make up all canceled games. Make-up games will be scheduled based on field availability; games will be scheduled where and when we have field permits/contracts. In the final make-up schedules game dates, times, and locations may change from the original scheduled. Teams may play multiple games on the same day. Ultimately, the ability to make-up games is beyond the control of TripleEDGE Lacrosse.

This page was last updated: July 13, 2010