The protection of TVYSA participants and spectators is of paramount importance.  Every one  should recognize the danger presented by lightning, tornados and other hazardous weather. The following  items represent generally accepted principles regarding the dangers involved with lightning and tornados.    

LIGHTNING: 

• All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous.   
• Lightning often strikes as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. You are in danger from lightning  if you can hear thunder. You are in danger if you can see lightning.    
• Lightning  injuries  can  lead  to  permanent disabilities  or death. Look for dark  cloud  bases  and  increasing wind.    
• Lightning can travel sideways for up to 10 miles and strike when skies are blue.   
• Soccer  fields  are  a  dangerous place  to  be  during  a  lightning  storm.  When  lightning  is  seen  or  thunder is heard, or when dark threatening clouds are observed, quickly suspend the game and/or  practice and move to a safe location.    
• Avoid standing in an open area, near soccer goals, under a tent, near trees or in water. The safest  place during a thunderstorm with or without visible lightning is in a car, but not a convertible.   

TORNADOS:   

• Watch for rapidly darkening skies.  
• The sound of an approaching tornado is often described as that of an approaching train.    
• The funnel of a tornado does not have to touch down to cause extensive damage and injuries.     
• Tornados can produce winds of 300 miles per hour or more.    
• Most people who are hurt during a tornado are hurt when they are struck by flying debris.   
• Seek safety in a solid structure, preferably in a basement or in an interior room.  If no building is  available, lay down in a ditch.    

GAME SUSPENSION REQUIREMENTS:   

In any of the circumstances outlined below occurs, the referee should immediately suspend the game.   

1. If thunder is heard, the game should be suspended and the fields cleared. Everyone should immediately  go to a safe shelter.    
2. If lightning is seen, the game should be suspended and the fields cleared. Everyone should immediately  go to a safe shelter.    
3. If a thunderstorm is heard or seen coming or your hair stands on end, the game should be suspended  and the fields cleared. Everyone should immediately go to a safe shelter. Do not wait until it rains.    

If  the  game  official  does  not  immediately suspend the game when  any one of the points above have occurred, the head coach from each team can agree that one of the three criteria listed above have occurred  they are to withdraw their teams from the field.

No one should retake the field or re-start the game until all of the lightning and thunder or other hazardous  weather hasleft the area.

Specifically, no one should retake the filed for a minimum of 30 minutes after the last lightning is seen or thunder is heard, or the dangerously high winds have passed.