Inclement_Weather_Policy.docx
updated: March 2021
Peterborough Hockey Association (PHA) believes the safety of our membership is of the utmost importance. PHA does not want to put any Player, Coach, or Caregiver in a situation in which they do not feel safe.
1. Decisions to drive during inclement weather are the responsibility of the individual driver. If the driver does not feel safe to drive, then they should not drive.
2. In the event that a player is not going to attend a game or practice due to inclement weather, the Player, or their Guardian shall notify either the Team Manager or Coach as soon as reasonable possible after making the decision not to attend.
3. No player shall face discipline as a result of not attending a game and/ or practice during inclement weather.
4. PHA has the authority to cancel all games (home or away) and practices based on their understanding of the risks associated with the weather system at that time. Cancellations shall be determined by a vote between the President (or designate), VP of Rep (or designate), and VP of House League (or designate) with a majority required (ie 2 out of 3) to cancel games and/ or practices Association-wide.
5. In the event that the President, VP of Rep, or VP of House League have a planned absence in which they will not be available, they shall designate an alternate to act on their behalf in the event of a vote related to cancellations during inclement weather.
6. In the event that game and/ or practice cancellations are Association-wide for a specified period of time (eg. one day) due to inclement weather, the following shall apply:
a) the VP of Rep (or designate) and VP of House League (or designate) shall notify the Coaches and/ or Team Managers in their respective departments of the cancellations;
b) Coaches and/ or Team Managers shall inform their team(s) of the cancellations;
c) Coaches and/ or Team Managers may inform the opponent's Coach and/ or Team Manager of the cancellations out of courtesy, however there is no obligation to do so;
d) Coaches and/ or Team Managers shall NOT contact the opposing Association's Scheduler (or designate);
e) if possible, a message indicating the cancellation(s) shall be posted on the PHA website, and on the Team's calendar;
f) the Scheduler (or designate) shall attempt to reschedule the game as soon as reasonably possible;
g) Parents shall not contact the Scheduler (or designate) directly to inquire about potential cancellations.
7. In the event that PHA indicates that games and/ or practices are cancelled Association-wide, no coach shall have the authority to override that decision (ie direct their team to play in spite of the cancellation). Any Team found to have violated this shall face disciplinary action (ie Coach suspension).
8. Home games and/ or practices shall not be cancelled due to inclement weather unless the following occurs:
a) the arena is closed;
b) roads to the arena are closed;
c) a team from another association has contacted the PHA Scheduler (or designate) to indicate that they are not attending.
i. The Coach shall have the authority to allocate the ice time as a practice;
d) as otherwise determined by a majority vote between the President, VP of Rep, and VP of House League based on their understanding of the risks associated with the weather system at that time.
9. In the event that PHA does not cancel all games, Coaches shall have the authority to cancel their team's away games within a specified period of time (eg. one day) based on their understanding of the risks associated with the weather system at that time. If a Coach decides to cancel a game due to safety concerns associated with inclement weather, the PHA shall not override this decision.
10. In the event that a Coach decides to cancel an away game, the following shall apply:
a) the decision shall be made between one (1) and two (2) hours prior to anticipated team departure;
b) the Coach shall notify their departmental VP (ie Rep or House League) (or designate), and Scheduler (or designate) of the cancellation, opponent, time, and location;
c) the Scheduler (or designate) shall notify the opponent's Scheduler (or designate) of the cancellation;
d) the Team Manager or Coach may inform the opponent's Team Manager and/ or Coach out of courtesy, however there is no obligation to do so;
e) if possible, a message indicating the cancellation(s) shall be posted on the PHA website, and on the Team's calendar;
f) the Scheduler (or designate) shall attempt to reschedule the game as soon as reasonably possible.
11. In the event of a game cancellation by another Association due to inclement weather, the following shall apply:
a) the Scheduler (or designate) shall contact the Team Manager and/ or Coach of the affected team(s);
b) Coaches and/ or Managers shall inform their team(s) of the cancellations;
c) if the opponent's Coach and/ or Team Manager contact a PHA Coach with respect to a cancellation, the PHA Coach and/ or Team Manager shall inform the Scheduler (or designate);
d) if possible, a message indicating the cancellation(s) shall be posted on the PHA website, and on the Team's calendar;
e) the Scheduler (or designate) shall attempt to reschedule the game as soon as reasonably possible;
f) Parents shall not contact the Scheduler (or designate) directly to inquire about potential cancellations.