League Sports • Athletic Field Use Guidelines

We are all committed to provide high quality, safe playing surfaces for our multi-use athletic facilities, but we need the help and consideration of all user groups in protecting the turf from excessive danger due to game and practice activities. The turf grass is the safety surface for the athletic fields.

If any of the following conditions occur, scheduled games and practices must be canceled or postponed.

1. Standing water on the field of play.
   The Wheaton Park District requests coaches and parents to please cancel and reschedule practice/games if the turf is too wet.
   
   
2. Soil Saturation:
   • Walking on turf causes water to surface.
   • Walking on turf on heels causes indentations.
   • One (1) inch or more of rain 48 hours prior to scheduled game or practice accompanied by steady rain on game or practice day.
   • Steady downpour of rain on game or practice day which could cause damage to turf or injury to participants.
   
   
3. Extreme drought conditions where 50% of the playing surface has turned dormant.
   
   
4. Audible thunder or visible lighting.
   Wheaton Park District Storm Policy: in the event of lightning or thunder, all games and practices must be held up until safe conditions are apparent (it is recommended that you wait 30 minutes after the last sighting of lightning). Treat thunder like lightning. Thunder is the "explosive sound emitted as a result of the electrical discharge of lightning."
   
   
5. Visibility (darkness).

Common sense must prevail…if the fields are unplayable practices and games should be canceled.
All coaches, referees and umpires are responsible for insuring the safety of field playing conditions at all times during scheduled play. Safety implies protection of the resource and the participants.