Game day safety
Weather & Field Safety Policy
Weather decisions are made to protect players, referees, spectators, field access, and the long-term health of the league.
Corridor Soccer Association does not control every field we play on. If a facility, field owner, City of Cedar Rapids, tournament host, complex staff, or other authorized operator closes a field or tells us play cannot continue, that decision controls.
- If the facility closes the fields, we do not play.
- If lightning is within 5 miles, play is suspended and everyone must leave the field area.
- The Director of Fields for the day monitors lightning using an active tracker app set to a 5-mile radius.
- Play may not resume until at least 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder concern, and only after the all-clear.
- Open shelters, tents, pavilions, trees, and dugout-style areas are not safe lightning shelters.
- A fully enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle is the preferred shelter.
Safe shelter means a fully enclosed, substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows closed.
Open pavilions, tents, canopies, trees, fence lines, dugout-style shelters, and areas near metal goals or poles are not safe during lightning.
Who decides if games are delayed, suspended, or canceled?
Weather and field decisions may come from several places. If the field owner, facility operator, City, Tuma staff, or another authorized facility representative closes the field or restricts play, Corridor Soccer Association follows that decision.
For league-controlled decisions, the Director of Fields for the day is the primary on-site weather and field-safety decision maker unless league leadership designates someone else.
- The field owner or facility operator
- Tuma Soccer Complex or City of Cedar Rapids staff
- Tournament or complex officials when applicable
- Corridor Soccer Association leadership
- The Director of Fields for the day
- The referee crew for match-specific safety concerns
Field conditions and closures
We may delay, move, shorten, or cancel games because of field conditions. We want to play whenever we reasonably can, but preserving field access matters.
Ignoring field restrictions or damaging rented fields can put future league access at risk.
- Standing water
- Saturated or unsafe grass
- Mud or turf damage risk
- Slippery playing surfaces
- Facility closure
- Severe weather watches or warnings
- Unsafe travel or parking conditions
- Instructions from Tuma, City staff, field owners, or facility operators
Lightning policy
Lightning is treated as an immediate safety issue. The Director of Fields for the day monitors an active lightning tracker app on their watch, set to a 5-mile radius.
If lightning is detected within 5 miles, or thunder or lightning is observed in a way that creates a safety concern, play is suspended.
- Games stop immediately.
- Players, referees, captains, and spectators must leave the field area.
- Everyone should move to a safe shelter.
- The delay clock resets with each additional lightning or thunder concern.
- Play may not resume until at least 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder concern.
- Play resumes only when the league, Director of Fields, or authorized on-site decision maker gives the all-clear.
When can games resume?
Games may resume only when all safety and facility conditions are satisfied. If conditions do not improve, the league may cancel the remaining games for the day.
- The field has not been closed by the facility, City, Tuma, or another authorized operator.
- The lightning delay period has cleared.
- The Director of Fields or authorized league or facility decision maker gives the all-clear.
- The field surface is still safe to play on.
- There is enough time and daylight to reasonably continue.
Referees and captains
Referees may stop or suspend a match for safety concerns. Captains are expected to help communicate instructions to their teams quickly.
If the league, facility, field director, or referee suspends play, captains should help get players off the field instead of debating the call.
Quick FAQ
Common weather questions
Do we play in rain?
Sometimes, yes. Soccer can be played in rain if the fields are open and the surface is safe. Rain alone does not always cancel games.
Who has the lightning tracker?
The Director of Fields for the day monitors an active lightning tracker app on their watch set to a 5-mile radius.
What happens if lightning is within 5 miles?
Play is suspended. Everyone must leave the field area and move to safe shelter. The delay clock resets with each new lightning or thunder concern.
Can I wait under a pavilion or tree?
No. Open shelters, tents, pavilions, and trees are not safe lightning shelters. Use a fully enclosed building or hard-topped vehicle.
When do we come back out?
Only after the required delay has cleared and the league, Director of Fields, or authorized on-site decision maker gives the all-clear.
What if Tuma or the City closes the fields?
Then we do not play. Facility and field-owner decisions override league preference.