What are your policies regarding inclement weather?
The vast majority of the USA Sport Group programming consists of outdoor activities. Registration for any program should come with the understanding that a portion of a camp/class may be impacted or canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
To find out the status of your upcoming Session, please check the Program Details Page for your specific program. You can locate this page in one of two ways:
- Click the link to "Today's Sessions", search for your program and click the blue "view program details" button.
- Log into your User Account, select Active Programs and click on the desired program link.
If your class is not listed as canceled, please attend your session as scheduled, where coaches will make a decision based on current weather and field conditions. Please dress appropriately for the weather and playing conditions.
If your child is on site and weather conditions deteriorate, please check the Program Details Page for your camp/class (see above for how to locate this page). The program will continue in the event of light rain or passing showers. If weather conditions become unplayable and shelter cannot be provided, the program may be canceled for the remainder of the day and you may be required to collect your child.
What happens in the event of thunderstorms?
In the event of thunderstorms, the program will be suspended until the storm passes. Lightning storms are unpredictable, so a 30/30 rule is enforced. 30 minutes will be counted from when the last clap of thunder was heard. If the storm passes, play will continue, however, if the storm continues, the program may be canceled and you will be required to collect your child.
How early do you decide if a class is canceled?
We strive to make informed decisions for all classes by checking the weather forecasts and radar frequently. In light of this, decisions are typically made 1 hour before a session is scheduled to take place. Due to the nature of the wide geographical area in which we run our programs, sometimes you may be asked to report to the field where the final decision will be made by the coaches present as they will be more equipped to make the correct decision. The coach's decision will be based on the current weather and field conditions. If conditions deteriorate after a program has started you may be required to collect your child. When dropping your child at a program coaches will try to inform parents if adverse weather conditions are expected. Please ensure coaches are given the best contact phone number to reach you on in this situation.
It is raining, why is my class not canceled?
We strive to ensure the best decisions are made for each individual program by checking the weather forecasts and radar frequently. However, sometimes this technology is not truly accurate, in such instances our office staff members rely on our on-field staff to relay the actual weather condition once they have arrived on location. If your program is not listed we ask parents to attend the session as scheduled, where coaches will make a decision based on current weather and field conditions.
It has been raining all night/day. Will my class be canceled?
All decisions are made based on the forecast for the time of your scheduled class. Please check the Parent Information Page to find out if your class is canceled or moved to an indoor location. Parents should dress their child appropriately for the weather conditions, as the session will go ahead regardless of damp weather if the coach deems the playing area safe to continue. For Tennis programs, coaches will make every effort to clear surface water caused by any recent rainfall; the session will go ahead provided the area can be made safe for play.
If your child is on a day camp the start time of your class may be postponed until the bad weather passes. Please check the Parent Information Page for up-to-date information.
It is a clear day and my class is canceled, why?
In cases where rainfall has been heavy the previous day or night, Township Recreation Departments will often close their playing fields to protect the playing surfaces. In this event, the decision is out of our hands and programs must be canceled.
Why are only some classes listed as canceled?
We offer a wide range of sports programs across the North East. All weather-related decisions are based on the forecast for each individual town. It is also possible that one town may close its fields while another does not.
Why do I have to go to the field for the coaches to make a decision?
We rely heavily upon the weather forecast and the radar to make our decisions, however, it is impossible to know the exact weather conditions at each location until our coaches arrive and weather conditions often change quickly. Therefore, there are times when due to the nature of scattered storms/showers you may be asked to report to the field where the decision will be made by the coach. The coach's decision will be based on the weather and field conditions at the time.
What happens in cases of extreme heat?
During the summer, at locations where there is no shade or shelter, we will provide canopies for cover, to allow children to sit and cool down during snack breaks. On hot days water breaks are essential and are typically every 10 to 15 minutes. To avoid dehydration it is vital that participants bring:
- Plenty of water, we suggest at least 1 gallon
- Hats or Caps that protect the face and head from the sun
- Sunscreen. Please note for safety and child protection reasons our staff is NOT permitted to apply sunscreen to any participant. If participants bring sunscreen, our staff will remind them, at various intervals throughout the session, to apply their own sunscreen. To maximize playing time we also request that the participant arrives at their session with sunscreen already applied.