In the event of weather or other outside impact, a match may be shortened to allow for completion during the originally scheduled match dates. A game is considered complete if one full half is played, and will not be rescheduled. If a match doesn't begin, or must be halted in the first half, and isn't resumed, it will be rescheduled.
Shortening a Match
To make every effort to play the match, referees will use the below timeline to determine when to enter a delay or to cancel the match for the evening. The match will be delayed 30 minutes from the last visible lightning or audible thunderclap, with the latest possible restart being defined as the time when the equivalent of one half of the game time could be played.
Timeline
11v11 Matches
An 11v11 match consists of 80 minutes of game play, thus 40 minutes are required to play (2 20 minute halves, plus a 5 minute halftime). Below are the delay/cancellation guidelines based on schedule match start time:
- 8pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 815pm. Must be able to begin play by 845pm.
- 830pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 845pm. Must be able to begin play by 915pm.
- 9pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 915pm. Must be able to begin play by 915pm.
- 930pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 945pm. Must be able to begin play by 1015pm.
8v8 Matches
An 8v8 match consists of 60 minutes of game play, thus 30 minutes are required to play (2 15 minute halves, plus a 5 minute halftime).
- 8pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 810pm. Must be able to begin play by 845pm.
- 830pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 835pm. Must be able to begin play by 905pm.
- 920pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 925pm. Must be able to begin play by 955pm.
- 940pm - cancelled if lightning/thunder after 950pm. Must be able to begin play by 1020pm.