Climate Policy

INTRODUCTION

The EDJBA recognises the importance of both education and game procedures relating to extreme heat and associated dangers to minimise risks to all participants.

EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

The EDJBA will prepare an education manual for distribution to its Member Clubs. Clubs would be expected, in turn to distribute these manuals to appropriate personnel such as venue supervisors, senior referees, referee coaches and pertinent sections to coaches. Manuals would include information on:

• Hydration levels and practices.
• Symptoms of heat stress/stroke and appropriate treatment of thereof.
• The importance of availability of appropriate resources including facilities for hydration and cooling.
• The availability of first aid equipment.
• Specific Clubs would add information concerning relevant emergency service phone numbers and locations and location of emergency exits and evacuation procedures.

A summary of these matters and of the appropriate timing regulations should be available on score-benches.

It is the responsibility of each venue to have a publicly visible thermometer and the records must be taken at the start of each game, on hot days, when games are in progress.

HIGH FIRE RISK

On Code Red days, all games shall be cancelled.

On days of extreme fire danger, the EDJBA and Clubs in high fire risk areas shall have the right to specify venues which shall have all games cancelled. Teams from these areas with away games shall have the right to cancel games without penalty, provided notification is given, a minimum of three hours before the scheduled game.

Clubs are advised in the value of providing venue supervisors training in the use of fire extinguishers, first aid relevant to heat, and evacuation procedures.

DISCRETIONARY CANCELLATION OF ALL GAMES

After consideration of weather forecasts and other warnings issued on Friday 4:30pm, the EDJBA may cancel all games for the next day, if the temperature is to exceed 40 degrees, but apart from Code Red days, the EDJBA is not required to do so.

The decision shall be made by an appointed sub-committee of four people who shall include the President and Manager if available. They shall take into account: maximum predicted temperature, the time at which that will be reached, the prediction of any change, the temperature of preceding days, humidity and any other relevant factors. Communication to the Member Clubs and public will be made by 5:30pm on Friday.

TIMING REGULATIONS IF TEMPERATURE IS 30 DEGREES PLUS BUT LESS THAN 35 DEGREES INSIDE A VENUE

At this range of temperature, inside a venue, the following rules shall be applied:

In each half, the clock shall be set for 9 minutes at which time, on the buzzer, there will be a 1 minute break for rest and hydration. The clock shall then be re-set for a further 9 minutes. Both teams shall be entitled to their 2 time-outs per half.

There is no discretion in the rule, the application of which shall be made by the venue supervisor, or if no venue supervisor, the most senior referee at the venue, whether officiating or not.

TIMING REGULATIONS IF TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN 35 DEGREES AND 39.9 DEGREES INSIDE A VENUE

At this range of temperature, inside a venue, the following rules shall be applied:

In each half, the clock shall be set for 8 minutes, but at the first whistle or score after the 4 minute mark the bench shall signal a time-out and the clock shall stop. After 1 minute the game shall resume until the buzzer sounds indicating the conclusion of the 8 minutes. There will then be a 1 minute break and the clock will re-set at 8 minutes. The same break shall occur again at the first whistle or score after the 4 minute mark. All these breaks shall be considered referee time-outs. Teams shall still be entitled to their 2 time-outs per half and the foul count shall remain for the second 8 minute block. The clock will stop as normal in the last 2 minutes of the game.

There is no discretion in the rule, the application of which shall be made by the venue supervisor, or if no venue supervisor, the most senior referee at the venue, whether officiating or not.

CANCELLATION OF GAMES IF INDOOR TEMPERATURE REACHES 40 DEGREES

Without discretion, if the indoor temperature at a venue reaches 40 degrees, the game shall be abandoned. Any game cancelled prior to the beginning of the game, or abandoned during the first half, shall be declared a nil-all draw. Any game abandoned at half time or in the second half shall be declared a nil-all draw unless the margin is ten points or greater, in which case the team leading by ten points or more shall be declared the winner, and the score shall stand.

The Club responsible for the venue shall be responsible for informing the EDJBA. Once games are abandoned at a venue, they are abandoned for a minimum of four games. All other games are presumed to be played. Any further cancellation of games requires a three game notification to the EDJBA. On days where the indoor temperature may exceed 40 degrees at some venues, the EDJBA shall keep a log of cancelled venues and times cancelled, on the EDJBA web site.

ADVICE TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

The EDJBA recognises participants vary in their susceptibility to heat and stress. The EDJBA encourages all parents / guardians to seek medical advice when it seems relevant and to act on this advice regarding participation or non-participation, without implicating the rights of others to make different decisions.

Climate policy

Climate Policy Excerpt for Finals