Weather Policy at the Midwest Youth Cup
All Midwest Youth Cup fields are artificial turf, so weather rarely cancels matches. Lightning, thunder, and extreme conditions can stop play. Communications run through GotSport.
Weather Policy at the Midwest Youth Cup
The Midwest Youth Cup weather policy is aligned with U.S. Soccer Federation recommendations and with local league standards including YSSL and IWSL. All decisions about weather and schedule adjustments are made at the discretion of the tournament director.
Rain: no cancellations
Every field at the Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex is state-of-the-art artificial turf. The Cup does not cancel matches for rain. Bring layers and rain gear; the schedule continues.
Lightning and thunder
Per U.S. Soccer guidelines:
- At first lightning detection or thunder, play stops immediately.
- Players, coaches, and spectators clear the field and shelter.
- Play resumes 30 minutes after the last detection.
- If schedule constraints prevent full resumption, the match may be shortened, terminated at the score at suspension, or moved.
Extreme temperatures
For unusually hot or cold conditions, the tournament director may modify match length, adjust half-time water breaks, or move kick-offs.
Communications
All weather updates are pushed through GotSport email and SMS. Coaches and team managers should:
- Confirm GotSport contact info is current for the head coach and team manager.
- Add the tournament director's email to safe-sender lists.
- Monitor the tournament site for posted updates.
- Bring a charged phone to the complex.
Decision authority
The tournament director's weather and schedule decisions are final. Decisions are not subject to protest. Where decisions affect a specific match, the affected coaches are notified before the next match in the schedule.