Environmental factors may affect the playing of Australian Football. This is a scenario that we consistently face throughout the TIO Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) season.
On some occasions, extreme weather conditions (for example, heat, humidity, lightning) may lead to changes to playing conditions, or the implementation of other measures to ensure the safety of Players and Football Officials.
In the case of extreme heat, the NTFL will monitor and assess the heat stress risk by regularly reviewing weather information provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Accounting for the advice provided, the NTFL ensure the scheduling of matches including the breaks and venue facilities are deemed safe for players, umpires, coaches and spectators.
The NTFL has heat mitigation processes already in place, however, when acting on advice provided by the BOM, AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) may introduce further changes.
The NTFL may undertake further precautions including the increase of water carriers, length of intervals, and reducing the length of quarters, or the rescheduling or postponement of matches.
Clubs are responsible for providing cooling techniques that can be found via the Club Hub. Players must make sure that they are to provide adequate fluid intake prior to and during matches, other cooling strategies, and being sun smart.
EXAMPLES:
The BOM has issued a heatwave warning to most of the Top End including Darwin and Palmerston areas. However, a match taking place at Jabiru Oval has not been included within the warning area.
The match will not be affected by the severe weather ruling, however, AFLNT will continue to monitor if the area might be included at a later time. If the BOM changes their advice, AFLNT will implement further heat mitigation strategies with their club.
In the event of lighting during the match, if no weather radar, lightning detection system, or specialised warning device is available, the NTFL and relevant Club(s) should follow the 30/30 Safety Guideline when lightning poses a threat to a match or training session.
This guideline includes the following key steps:
Heightened Awareness: The first flash of lightning or clap of thunder, no matter how far away, signals the need for heightened awareness of lightning risk. The severity depends on your location relative to the storm.
Estimating Distance: To estimate the storm's distance, count the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. For every 3 seconds, the storm is approximately 1 km away. Since light travels faster than sound, this provides a rough distance.
Safe Distance: A storm within 10 km is considered a threat. When the time between lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, all individuals in exposed areas should seek shelter.
Wait Time: After the last flash of lightning or thunder, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming activities. This accounts for the average movement of storms at 40 km/h, ensuring the storm is safely 20 km away.
The NTFL employs technology to closely monitor and track lightning within the allocated area of venues in use during the NTFL season.
If lightning is predicted within 10km of a Match venue at the scheduled starting time, that match may be delayed or suspended by AFLNT or the umpire(s).
A decision to resume playing in respect to a match, which has been delayed or suspended due to lightning, will be made by the NTFL based on information obtained from the BOM and in consultation with the relevant Clubs.
It is recommended that at least 30 minutes have elapsed since the last sight of lightning or sound of thunder.
Five sirens/whistles will indicate the use of the lightning rule.
If the match has been abandoned prior to halftime, the match will be recorded as a draw, with both sides awarded two points. If the match has been abandoned after halftime, the result will be the score is at the time of stoppage.
EXAMPLES:
Team A leads Team B by 13 points with 3 minutes left in the second quarter. Lightning was recorded within 10km of the venue and the players and umpires were evacuated from the field.
The match has been delayed for over 30 minutes and lightning continues to strike within 10km of the venue with not enough evidence to suggest that the storm is moving away. The match manager deemed it to be too unsafe to continue and has been recorded as a draw.
Team B leads Team A by 7 points at the start of the fourth quarter, a storm could be seen moving towards the venue, but lightning remained a safe distance away for majority of the match until the start of the fourth.
With the match heavily in the balance, players are eager to keep playing, however, five sirens have already been activated. The storm is looking to pass with blue skies appearing and conversations are happening about a possible restart.
Though, lightning was still present after 30 minutes and the match was called off. Team B has been awarded the win by 7 points.
Should the skies clear, and the lightning move away from the ground at a steady pace to meet the 10km guidelines, the match will resume from the point of stoppage.
These rules are accurate as of December 2024.