TLDR: GAMES ARE ALWAYS ON UNLESS YOU HEAR OTHERWISE DIRECTLY FROM NYC FOOTY VIA THE CAPTAINS’ CHATS AND EMAIL TO YOUR LEAGUE/DIVISION. CANCELED GAMES WILL RESULT IN A RESCHEDULE PROTOCOL THAT MAY REQUIRE YOU TO PLAY ON A DIFFERENT DAY AND/OR TIME.

Weather is one of the biggest factors that can disrupt a game, but by participating in NYC Footy, you acknowledge that games may be played in inclement weather, including rain, snow, or unseasonably hot or cold conditions.

Our approach mirrors the way we played as kids, in high school, or at the amateur and professional levels—we play year-round in almost any weather. We’ll take precautions when needed (e.g., water breaks on hot days) and prioritize safety if conditions become dangerous (e.g., thunder or lightning).

It's important to note that weather decisions aren't as simple as reacting to a forecast, which often doesn’t play out as predicted. Additionally, since we schedule games for every available week of our permit (permitted field time must be used, or it risks being forfeited), there’s little room for makeups. For this reason, weather decisions are made on a field-by-field basis, depending on actual conditions at the time.

By registering for an NYC Footy league, all players acknowledge and accept our weather and rescheduling protocols. Please become familiar with our weather protocol below as well as our policy for scheduling make-up games:

NYC Footy Weather Policy: When Do We Play?

1. Mild conditions

2. Rain or shine. Even heavy rain.*

3. Snow and, often, on snow-covered fields.*✝

4. When it’s unseasonably cold (bundle up).

5. When it’s unseasonably hot (bring extra fluids).

*Exceptions may be made for games scheduled to take place on natural turf (i.e. grass) fields.

✝Exceptions are made if the snow is deemed unsafe (e.g. significant ice coverage preventing “soccer movements”).

Thunderstorm Policy: Why We Approach Thunderstorms Differently

Forecasts often call for thunderstorms that never materialize, leading to unnecessary cancellations. This has left players and staff disappointed while reducing the number of games in a season.

To ensure the best possible experience, we take a patient and intentional approach to weather-related cancellations. While we may not always make the perfect decision, our on-field weather protocol ensures games are played safely whenever possible.

Here’s the drill:

1. Forecast Monitoring:

   • We regularly check multiple weather apps to anticipate potential cancellations.

2. Before Kickoff:

   • If a neighborhood or field is not actively experiencing thunderstorms, games will proceed as scheduled.

   • If thunderstorms are present before kickoff, NYC Footy staff will cancel games only if storms are highly likely to continue during play.

3. During Gameplay:

   • Referees or on-field officials will suspend games if thunderstorms occur.

   • If the decision is to “delay-then-play,” all players will seek cover. Games may resume after 20 consecutive minutes of non-threatening weather.

   • If there is no safe cover, the game will be canceled outright.

4. Lightning Protocol:

   • If lightning is observed near a field or neighborhood, all games scheduled to start within the next two hours will be canceled.

   • For example, if lightning strikes at 5:30 PM in Battery Park, all games there between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM will be canceled.

Snow and Ice Policy: How We Handle Significant Snowfall and Ice

Significant snowfall and ice are unique challenges, and we take every precaution to ensure games can be played safely and enjoyably. Here’s how we handle these conditions:

Field Assessment Process:

1. Pre-Kickoff Field Inspections:

   • Our Field Ops team will do their best to evaluate field conditions several hours before kickoff and provide a field condition report that assesses the playability of the field (e.g. allowing for soccer movements).

   • Note: if snowfall begins just prior, at the start or during an active game, games are presumed on and, similar to our lightening protocol, the on-site referee will make a call on whether or not to continue playing.

2. Decision-Making Scenarios:

   1. Safe to Play:

      • The field is deemed safe for gameplay, even if covered in snow or light ice.

      • Key Consideration: Ice that is loose, thin, or breaks easily under weight is acceptable. Dangerous ice that causes consistent slipping and falling will result in cancellation. Anything in-between typically calls for the “Polar Protocol”.

   2. "Polar Protocol" – Player Preference [Updated February 14th, 2025]:

      • When fields are significantly impacted by snow and/or ice but not deemed unplayable, captains will be polled in advance​ in the Captains Chat by NYC Footy staff on whether or not they’d like to play (players must wait for the staff poll to vote on playing or not).

      • Games will be played only if both teams opt in.

      • If one or both opt out, the game will be rescheduled. Rescheduled games will follow our reschedule protocol (see below or in our FAQ).

   3. Unplayable Conditions – Game Cancellations:

      • If the field is deemed unsafe and/or the facility/park is closed, games are canceled.

      • NYC Footy will work to reschedule games using the rescheduling protocol.

Air Quality Policy: How We Handle Worsening Air Quality

1. Real-Time Monitoring:

   • We use apps like AirNow, IQAir, and Google to track air quality changes in real-time.

2. Decision Criteria:

   • Good, Moderate, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: Games will proceed as scheduled.

   • Unhealthy or Worse: Games will be canceled.

3. Timing of Decisions:

   • Similar to our weather protocol, we wait as long as possible to make informed decisions. Game cancellations are typically announced about 2 hours before kickoff.

Rescheduling Protocol: What Are Your Options

Rescheduling games is not guaranteed and is not as straightforward as simply moving the games to another day at the same time and place. We are constrained by permit availability and this informs our policy.

Rescheduling takes the following priority:

1. Extend the season by adding a rescheduled week (if permit time allows).

2. Add the game to an existing week with double-headers (if permit time allows).

3. Schedule the game at one of our dedicated "make-up" fields on a different day (usually Saturday or Sunday). Teams are expected to attend and will be subject to our forfeit policy.

4. No reschedule and the game is canceled entirely. This is an extremely rare scenario.*

   *Leagues with game cancelations and/or reschedules are not eligible for partial or complete refunds or credits. For more info, please review our refund policy.