KLSA Weather Policy and Protocol

The safety of our players, families, and coaches comes first. Because Florida weather can change quickly, KLSA monitors weather conditions and radar throughout the day and throughout every outdoor activity.

HOW WE HANDLE WEATHER IN THE FORECAST

KLSA does not make decisions based solely on what the weather looks like several hours before an activity.

Throughout the day, we monitor the radar and forecast to identify a safe, playable window for each scheduled activity.

If radar shows a reasonable window of playable weather during the scheduled activity time, we will plan to keep the activity on as scheduled. This means that seeing rain or storms in the forecast earlier in the day does not automatically mean an activity will be cancelled.

However, Florida weather can change quickly. A forecast or radar showing a playable window is not a guarantee that conditions will remain safe once the activity begins.

If conditions change, KLSA will follow the Green / Yellow / Red Lightning Protocol below.

🟢 GREEN — SAFE TO PLAY

When conditions are safe and there is no lightning within our safety threshold, activities may continue as scheduled.

• If radar shows a safe window during the scheduled activity time, we will make every reasonable effort to use that window.

• Conditions can change quickly, so an activity may move from Green to Yellow or Red at any time.

  
  

🟡 YELLOW — WEATHER WATCH

When weather is approaching or conditions are becoming questionable, KLSA will place the activity on weather watch.

• Coaches and staff will monitor conditions closely.

• Activities may be shortened, paused, or modified.

• Families should remain alert and be prepared for a possible weather suspension.

• If lightning is detected within 10 miles, activities will stop immediately and everyone will move to a safe location.
  

🔴 RED — LIGHTNING / WEATHER SUSPENSION

When lightning is detected within 10 miles, all outdoor activities will immediately stop.

Everyone must move to a substantial, fully enclosed building or hard-topped vehicle for shelter.

Players should not remain on the field, under trees, in tents, or in other open-sided structures.

The 30-Minute Rule

Once lightning is detected, KLSA will wait at least 30 minutes after the last detected lightning strike or audible thunder before outdoor activities can resume.

If another lightning strike or thunder is detected during that waiting period, the 30-minute clock resets.

This means that even if an activity began with a clear or playable forecast, we must stop if conditions change and the lightning threshold is reached.

WEATHER MAKEUP POLICY

If weather or lightning forces us to end an activity early:

• If at least 50% of the scheduled activity has been completed, there will be no makeup.

• If less than 50% of the scheduled activity has been completed, KLSA will provide a makeup opportunity when possible.

• If an entire session is cancelled due to weather, KLSA will make a reasonable effort to provide a makeup session. If a makeup cannot reasonably be scheduled within the current season, KLSA may provide a credit toward a future KLSA program instead.

This policy allows KLSA to provide a consistent standard for weather cancellations while recognizing that weather can interrupt an activity after players have already received a meaningful portion of their scheduled training or game time.

Our goal is always to use safe, playable weather windows when they are available while never compromising player safety when conditions change.

⚠️ SAFETY COMES FIRST

Weather decisions are based on current conditions, radar, lightning activity, and the safety of the players and staff.

A forecast showing good weather does not override the lightning protocol, and a forecast showing storms earlier in the day does not automatically mean an activity must be cancelled.

When conditions change, we stop. When conditions are safe, we play. Safety always comes first.