Question Number: 20085

Law 18 - Common Sense 9/27/2008

RE: competive Other

Jose of Dorado, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico asks...

Law #1 When a game has to be stop during a rain? Asume no lighting....Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When it rains so heavily that you can't see play. Or when there is so much water on the field that it becomes too slippery, unsafe to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When the referee decides the rain has made it unsafe to continue play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

As an opinion held by the referee in regards to safety or if the groundskeeper or those in charge of the league have closed the fields.
In a match about 11 years ago a player fell on the iced over portion of a shaded field during the pregame after approaching the referee and stating the condition he felt we MUST play because it was a provincial playoff match that had to be played to get a result .They refused to play. Lucky for the team the regional technical referee director came by and fell on his butt . Chewed the referee out, resumed play later after the sun had hit the field in the afternoon and the ice ground was playable. Technically the referee makes the call but as player's safety was priority to accept it KNOWINGLY was not reasonable.
Muddy fields and standing water on a poorly drained field offer up the ankle and leg bones to the whims of fate!
Cheers