Inclement Weather Policy – Indiana Interscholastic Cycling League

Policy Purpose and Scope

The Indiana Interscholastic Cycling League (IICL) recognizes that inclement weather experienced while out on the trail (including, but not limited to, lightning, extreme heat, and extreme cold) can affect the safety of its athletes, parents/guardians, coaches, and other volunteers. The league is committed to implementing safe practices to minimize such risks. As such, IICL has adopted this Inclement Weather Policy for Training, Practices, and Races with a heavy reliance on National Weather Service (NWS) alert systems and public safety information. Coaches and other IICL management personnel are to follow this policy when determining whether races, training, or practices should occur, be modified, or be canceled outright due to possible or actual extreme weather conditions. This policy applies to training, practice, and races, over which IICL management and coaches have governance authority. (Anyone attending IICL events is encouraged to notify the IICL official if lightning, thunder, or other inclement weather occurs in the area.)

Policy Overview

The safety of our athletes, parents, coaches, and other volunteers is paramount in any weather situation. This policy lays out clear guidance regarding alterations to or cancellations for IICL activities based on the following:

Potential or actual inclement weather conditions.
League-wide decisions made by IICL management.
Situations when a field has been closed by the field owner.

The policy relies heavily on NWS weather announcement-based recommendations. It follows the NWS recommendation that the public take action when thunder is heard rather than waiting for lightning or rain.

National Weather Service Announcements

The table below provides NWS announcements that apply to this policy. Coaches and other IICL management staff will use this table to determine when activities should be canceled due to weather. Assuming trail/field conditions are acceptable, activity may resume if a weather alert is lifted and it is still feasible to hold the activity.

National Weather Service Alert	IICL Policy
Winter Weather Announcements:	Minimum Temperature for any IICL practice or race is 40° F
Blizzard Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Freezing Rain Advisory	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Freeze Warning	N/A
Freeze Watch	N/A
Ice Storm Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Winter Storm Watch	N/A
Winter Storm Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Winter Weather Advisory	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Frost Advisory	N/A
Wind Chill Advisory	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Wind Chill Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Hot Weather Announcements
Heat Advisory	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Excessive Heat Watch	N/A
Excessive Heat Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Fog/Wind/Severe Weather Announcements
Dense Fog Advisory	N/A
High Wind Watch	N/A
High Wind Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Extreme Wind Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Wind Advisory	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Severe Thunderstorm Watch	Outdoor practices may proceed, however a parent/guardian or a person designated by the parent/guardian and communicated to the student athlete, must remain at the facility in case safe sheltering is required*. Refer to the Lightning and/or Thunder section of this policy for additional requirements.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Tornado Watch	Outdoor practices may proceed, however, a parent/guardian or a person designated by the parent/guardian and communicated to the student athlete, must remain at the field in case safe sheltering is required*. Refer to the Lightning and/or Thunder section of this policy for additional requirements
Tornado Warning	All outdoor practices and races canceled
Flooding Announcements
Flash Flood Watch	N/A
Flash Flood Warning	All outdoor activities cancelled
Flood Watch	N/A
Flood Warning	All outdoor activities cancelled

* The designated person must be at least 16 years old. Only student athletes at least 16 years old may act on their own behalf as the designee with their parent’s/guardian’s authorization.

Lightning and/or Thunder: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

According to the NWS, there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm. In consideration of this advice, IICL policy is as follows:

If a coach, manager, parent/guardian, athlete, or other individual sees lightning, or hears thunder, that person shall immediately notify the coach, and the coach shall:

1. suspend the outdoor activity;

2. direct all riders to seek safe shelter for at least 30 minutes from the last time lighting is seen or thunder is heard.

Coaches and league officials may choose to download the free www.weatherbug.com lightning detector app, which may help track when lighting might be near; however, use of this app does not supersede the coach’s requirement to follow the NWS announcement policies or lightning and/or thunder policies outlined above.

Safe Shelter

According to the NWS, safe shelter is either a substantial building (one with plumbing and wiring such as a home, school, church, office building, indoor concourse or recreation center) or a fully enclosed metal-topped vehicle such as a hard-topped car, minivan, bus, etc. Unfortunately, many of the facilities used by IICL do not have access to substantial buildings for safe shelter. Therefore, while IICL coaches, managers, and management have the best intentions for the safety of our riders, parents/guardians are reminded that they are ultimately responsible for ensuring riders have access to a safe vehicle during training, practice, or races. Parents / guardians should make arrangements to ensure that a responsible person with a safe vehicle remains at the field if/when there is a risk of severe weather forming.

Other Possible Reasons for Cancelation

At their discretion, IICL coaches and/or management may cancel practice including individual team trainings in the winter months. Any IICL league-wide decision about facility use supersedes any coach’s decision.

Some reasons coaches or IICL management might cancel training, practice, or races include, but are not limited to:

Frozen Surfaces

If the riding surface is frozen and/or contains blocks of snow and/or ice, IICL management shall cancel activities.

Wet Surfaces

If the riding surface is wet and athletes are leaving tire marks or damaging the riding surface, IICL management shall cancel activities.

Field Space Owner/Manager Policies

When IICL teams use Facilities managed and operated by a Municipal Parks system, a private school, or another private organization, the club shall follow the operating policies and procedures established by each institution with respect to inclement weather.

Continuing to utilize a field that has been closed by the field owner is strictly prohibited and is considered a violation of this policy.

Notifications and Communication

IICL coaches and management make best efforts to communicate all modifications and cancellations ninety (90) minutes in advance of the scheduled activity, in accordance with the above policies; however, management reserves the right to cancel activities, should weather conditions change and present safety risks to participants prior to or during scheduled .
IICL shall make best efforts to post information about activity cancellations
- On the league website
- All social media pages
- Send broadcast e-mails to all registered players, coaches, managers and teams.

Policy Enforcement

Any coach who does not follow the policies outlined in this Inclement Weather Policy for Trainings, Practices, and Races will be considered in violation of the NICA Rulebook and/or subject to disciplinary action by the IICL Board of Directors.

Any parent/guardian who does not adhere to this policy will be considered in violation of the NICA Rulebook and/or subject to disciplinary action.

Any student athlete who does not adhere to this policy will be in violation of the NICA Rulebook, which may result in disciplinary action.

Policy Resources

Links

Additional inclement weather resources are available at the links below:

Inclement Weather Training Tips

General:

Safety First: Always prioritize your safety. This means monitoring weather conditions and adapting your workout accordingly.
Listen to Your Body: Take frequent breaks, especially in extreme temperatures. Pay attention to signs of fatigue, dizziness, or discomfort.
Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after activity, regardless of the temperature.

Warm Weather:

Clothing: Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics to promote airflow and keep you cool.
Hydration: Increase fluid intake and consider electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration.
Heat Illness: Monitor for signs of heatstroke, heat exhaustion, or cramps. Seek shade or cool down immediately if needed.

Cold Weather:

Layering: Dress in layers with wicking fabrics closest to the skin for warmth and moisture management. Add or remove layers as needed.
Protect Extremities: Cover your head, ears, and hands to prevent heat loss. Wear warm, waterproof gloves and socks.
Energy & Hydration: Maintain energy levels with balanced meals and snacks. Hydrate even though thirst may be less noticeable.
Warm-up & Cool-down: Perform a thorough warm-up to prepare your body for exertion. Cool down gradually after exercise to avoid rapid temperature drops.
Buddy System: Never train alone in extreme cold. Having a partner allows for monitoring and assistance in case of emergencies.

Safe Shelter:

Lightning: Seek shelter in a sturdy, fully enclosed building. Stay away from windows, doors, and electrical equipment.
Unsafe Structures: Avoid carports, open garages, and shelters. These offer little protection from lightning strikes.
Safe Vehicles: A fully enclosed metal-topped car provides good protection. However, avoid using electronics or touching the metal frame during a storm.

Disclaimer: These tips are informational only.