Weather Policy

Cold Weather Policy

Potomac Soccer Association shall follow the policy outlined below for teams that are scheduled to practice outdoors,

    1. Field Conditions must be safe and conducive for an effective and productive training session.
    2. For teams U13 and YOUNGER, the temperature shall not be lower than 32 degrees, and the wind chill/”feels like” shall not be lower than 27 degrees.
    3. For teams U14 and OLDER, the wind chill/”feels like” shall not be lower than 25.
    4. Practices may also be canceled due to rain, sleet, or other factors that may influence road conditions, or greatly affect the effectiveness and productivity of a training session.
    5. PLEASE NOTE THAT WEATHER CANCELATIONS ARE UNAVOIDABLE IN YOUTH SOCCER . In the event of cancellations or postponements due to acts of God, natural disasters, severe weather, or other force majeure events beyond the control of Potomac Soccer, no refunds will be issued. Every reasonable effort will be made to reschedule games or practices when possible.

Inclement Weather Information

For SoccerPlex fields, please use the weather hotline at 301-528-1497 or their website: http://www.mdsoccerplex.org/

For private school fields (Connelly School of the Holy Child, Barrie School, Landon School, Woods Academy, Norwood School, Bender JCC), it is open unless notified by the club.

For MCPS County fields, please go to this website: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/services/permits-rentals/apply/athletic-fields/

Please always remember that playing on a field under any of the conditions listed below can damage the field and make it unplayable, for everyone, for the rest of the season. All play on any park athletic field is prohibited whenever:

  • The field is closed for renovation or repair
  • Water is standing on the field
  • One half-inch of rain or more has fallen within the previous 24 hours
  • Soil is frozen
  • Soil is wet and “spongy”
  • The ground is muddy and soil clumps or clings to shoes
  • Steady rain is falling
  • A lightning/electrical storm is occurring
  • The field is deemed unplayable by Park staff or Park Police

If you’re unsure if a field is closed, please call your ballfield rainout number first: 301-579-5610! Rainout number recordings are updated by 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m. on weekends. Each recording applies to all parks listed under that number.

For decisions about the use of school fields refer to the appropriate rainout number on the field listing or call Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) at 240-777-2706, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For decisions about sports programs offered by the Montgomery County Recreation Department, call their update line at 240-777-6889.

https://rainoutline.com/search/dnis/3015795610

For County Turf fields, you should call the appropriate ballfield rainout number (as mentioned above).


Lightning Policy

  1. Coaches are required to download the FREE WeatherBug App and utilize it to ensure safety if storms are forecasted.
  2. If Thunder occurs, the APP should be used to by clicking the Spark tab at the bottom of the page to determine if there is lightning is detected within 10 miles of your location.  If lightning is detected within 10 miles of the location, all coaches and players are required to clear the field, benches, and stadium seats and seek shelter. STAY AWAY FROM METAL OR TREES.
  3. There is a required 30 minute wait period if there are no other lightning strikes, however, every new lightning strike within the 10 miles radius restarts the 30-minute timeclock.

What to do?

  1. All players, coaches, referees, parents must seek immediate shelter if there is a building close. If not, they should go to their cars.
  2. Training will be considered finished if there is less than 45 minutes remaining in training when lightning is detected.
  3. Parents should not drop off players if there is a weather delay.
  4. If there is threatening weather, parents should stay at the field until the conclusion of practice.
  5. Coaches are not permitted to leave players unattended. SAFETY IS THE PRIORITY.

LIGHTNING INFORMATION US Youth

Join Potomac Soccer

Please fill out the form below to join us for a free training session with a PSA team.

Medical Release

In my absence, I hereby give my consent for emergency medical treatment for my child as approved by his/her coach, team manager, or other adult escort. I understand that this is to prevent undue delay and ensure prompt treatment, and that only a licensed physician, dentist, or other such licensed technicians or nurses will be engaged for such emergency treatment. I agree to be responsible for any and all fees/charges for any such necessary emergency treatment.

Assumption of Risk; Waiver of Liability; Indemnification

A.

I freely acknowledge that I have or will voluntarily register (myself/my child) to participate in soccer Activities. I acknowledge that participation in the Activities entails both known and unanticipated risks that could result in serious and permanent physical and emotional injuries, death, damage to property, and injury to others including, without limitation, the risks of physical or emotional injury, sickness, death, property damage, falls, damage to persons or vehicles from moving objects such as soccer balls, collisions with people and stationary objects, the unavailability of emergency medical care, and/or the negligence and/or deliberate act of another person. I understand that such risks are inherent in the Activities and that even with precautions and safety measures they cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the Activities. I also understand and specifically acknowledge that participation in the Activities includes possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases including, but not limited to, MRSA, influenza, and COVID-19, which may result in serious illness and death. I understand that the Released Parties (hereafter defined) shall have no obligation to provide medical assistance in the event an injury or illness occurs during the Activities. Understanding such dangers and risks, I hereby knowingly and voluntarily choose to participate in the Activities, and if applicable I give my permission for my child to engage in the Activities described above, and (myself/my child) fully assume(s) the risk of the Activities, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES. I acknowledge that this Agreement applies, without limitation, to any other risks encountered before, during or after the Activities, whether or not the Participant knows or expects them to exist at the time of signing this Agreement, including, but not limited to, driving to or from the Activities, in parking lots or access areas, being present in any Facility at which the Activities are held, slips, falls, stairs, exits, entrances, fire and/or any other occurrence or event, known or unknown.

B.

I represent that (I/my child) is in good health and that no condition of (mine/my child's) would constrain (me/my child) from safely participating in the Activities. I understand that failure to provide information of any health condition that would constrain (me/my child) from participating could result in serious injuries or death to (me/my child). I agree to bear the costs of any injury or damages (I/my child) may suffer while participating in any Activities. I hereby authorize any Entity holding/sponsoring Activities, or representatives of any of said Entities, to call for medical care for (me/my child) if in the opinion of such personnel or (my/my child's) coach medical attention is needed.

C.

Participant hereby knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever discharges and covenants not to sue the Entities and/or the owners, lessees, managers or licensees of the Facility, their respective affiliates, employees, coaches, instructors, assistants, officers, directors, owners, members, managers, shareholders, sponsors, advertisers, and other representatives, and the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of all of them (collectively with the Entities, the "Released Parties") from (1) ANY AND ALL ACTS OF ACTIVE OR PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF ANY ONE OR ALL OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, and (2) any and all liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, controversies, judgments, demands, injuries, sickness, damages (consequential, incidental, punitive or otherwise), costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, and any other legal, equitable or administrative actions or proceedings whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, known or unknown, accrued or unaccrued, arising out of or related to the Activities, the Facility, the Participant, the Participant's use of the Facility, the Participant's involvement in the Activities, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, and any other matter or thing whatsoever arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation, those based on death, physical injury, emotional injury and/or property damage (collectively "Losses"). Participant hereby agrees and shall indemnify, defend (with counsel acceptable to the Entity or Entities subject to liability) and hold each and every one of the Released Parties, jointly and severally, harmless from and against any and all Losses, including, but not limited to, any challenge by the Participant to this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Publicity Release

Participant hereby irrevocably grants to the entities and those acting with their authority or permission, the unrestricted right to copyright and use, re-use, publish, republish and display photographic and video images and audio of the participant or in which the participant may be included in connection with any activities undertaken by any entity, in whole or in part, separately or in conjunction with other photographs or video or audio, in any medium now or hereafter known, and for any purpose whatsoever, including (but not by way of limitation) illustration, art, promotion, advertising, trade and/or any other purpose whatsoever, and to use the participant's name in connection therewith. Participant hereby further expressly releases and waives any demand, action, claim, license, royalty and/or any other right to any form of payment the participant may have based on claims as to the rights of privacy, publicity, notoriety and/or any other rights arising out of or relating to any use by any entity or those acting with their authority or permission of the undersigned's name, likeness or appearance.

General Terms

This Agreement shall be enforced and interpreted under the laws of the State of Maryland except for the conflicts of law provisions of Maryland. The Participant hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Maryland and venue for any action arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be in Montgomery County, Maryland. Should any clause or any part of any clause be determined to be illegal or unenforceable such clause shall be amended to the smallest degree necessary to render such clause valid and enforceable and the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected. The introductory statements are incorporated into this Agreement. The Participant hereby seals this Agreement as a specialty, that is, subject to a twelve (12) year statute of limitations.

PARTICIPANT EXPRESSLY AGREES THAT THE ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASES, WAIVERS, INDEMNIFICATION, AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE INTENDED TO BE COMPLETE, UNCONDITIONAL AND AS BROAD AND INCLUSIVE AS PERMITTED BY THE LAWS OF MARYLAND AND ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHOSE LAWS MAY APPLY TO THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT CANNOT BE AMENDED BY ANY ORAL STATEMENTS OR OTHER WRITINGS AND IS BINDING ON THE PARTICIPANT AND THE PARTICIPANT'S HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, GUARDIANS, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, AND ASSIGNS. A FAXED, SCANNED OR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE SHALL BE BINDING IN LIEU OF THE ORIGINAL. THIS AGREEMENT IS EFFECTIVE FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE AND APPLIES TO ALL ACTIVITIES OF THE ENTITIES THAT THE PARTICIPANT ATTENDS OR PARTICIPATES IN AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, AND SHALL SURVIVE FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE PARTICIPANT. HOWEVER, IF PARTICIPANT IS A MINOR, IT MUST BE RESUBMITTED (1) UPON THE PARTICIPANT TURNING 18, OR (2) IF THE GUARDIAN OF THE PARTICIPANT CHANGES. PARTICIPANT WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

For Participants of Minority Age (Who Will Be Under Age 18 at the Time of the Activity)

This is to certify that I, as parent/guardian, with legal responsibility for the Participant, have read and explained the provisions in this Agreement to my child/ward, including the risks of presence and participation in the Activities and his/her personal responsibilities for adhering to the rules and regulations for protection against communicable diseases. Furthermore, my child/ward understands and accepts these risks and responsibilities. I, for myself, my spouse, and child/ward do consent and agree to this Agreement, and myself, my spouse, and child/ward do release and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties for any and all Losses incidental to my minor child's/ward's presence or participation in the Activities as provided above, direct or indirect, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THEIR NEGLIGENCE, including, without limitation, any damage to person(s) or property to the fullest extent provided by law.

BY CHECKING THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT BOX ON THE REGISTRATION FORM, I, THE UNDERSIGNED, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY PARTICIPATING CHILDREN OR GUARDIANS, HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT.

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