Club Secretaries / Umpires / Side Managers

Extreme Weather – Heat (Refer Conditions of Play Section 9 and Extreme Weather Policy)

A hot summer has been forecast. Club officials should be alert to the likelihood of the conduct of Pennant games being affected by extreme heat.

Duty of care

In all circumstances Member Clubs are urged to ensure a duty of care of participants by exercising caution and regularly monitoring the temperature and any potential Extreme Weather Policy weather conditions before commencing, continuing, or terminating Pennant games.

If the forecast maximum temperature is 35 degrees or more (or 32 degrees for Thursday competition) it is the responsibility of Member Clubs to monitor, at regular intervals of no longer than 30 minutes, the temperature during all practice and Pennant play.

Players also have a personal responsibility to ensure that they apply sound self-management practices to minimise any likely effects of heat on their safety and well-being. Any player who considers that the effects of prolonged heat or the forecast temperature for the day of play will have an adverse effect on their safety and well-being can withdraw from the game without penalty to the player.

Games played (or continued) during the evening of days of extreme heat

There are currently no specific rules concerning the conduct of games played (or continued) during the evening of days of extreme heat (forecast maximum temperature of 35 degrees or more (or 32 degrees for Thursday competition).

The following guidelines should be followed for night games being conducted during the evening of days of extreme heat:

• Play cannot begin/continue unless or until the temperature as measured by the procedures referred to in the Conditions of Play indicates a temperature of less than 38 degrees (36 degrees if it is a Thursday competition game)
• Play must pause if the temperature as measured by the procedures referred to in the Conditions of Play indicates a temperature of 38 degrees or above (36 degrees or above if it is a Thursday competition game) and only be resumed with the permission of the Umpire of the Day
• Play must cease at 10.30pm (Refer Rule 5.8)
• Incomplete games – refer to Rules 5.9.& 5.10

If there are any questions regarding the above or further clarification required, please contact MBA Match & Program committee (MBAmatchcommittee@metrobowls.com.au)

Steve Franks

Chair, MBA Match & Program Committee