Pitch Inspection Guidelines and Procedures 

General points. 

The Committee will aim to communicate to Managers on Friday afternoons if all, some or none of the pitches at St Greggs are playable at that moment in time. 

Should the weather worsen overnight or continue, they will notify Managers of a venue closure by 8 am the following day. 

In all other circumstances, once deemed playable on Friday afternoon, the responsibility lies with managers to check whether pitch/weather conditions are suitable/safe for players/spectators for their pitch. 

Referees also have the final decision on a pitch on the day. 

Please consider the longevity of your pitch. If you start a match and completely ruin it, you won’t be able to use it for weeks, and it will cost a lot of money to repair; if you feel this could be the case, then do not play the match. 

Make sure you arrive in enough time to carry out a thorough pitch inspection whilst also considering the travelling time for the away team. 

Finally, if your game is called off, please notify the away team, your team, the club (put a message in the chat group), and the referee and update Full Time.

Pitch & Weather Conditions

Frozen and/or Rutted Pitch: dangerous for players' safety. If it is frosty, does the ball bounce too high? Is there a case of the surface just being too hard? Are there ruts or divots that will cause a problem for players’ control and cause potential danger? In the case of frost, is the temperature due to rise? If not, is there any chance of the pitch thawing out? Are parts of the ground sheltered and covered from sunlight, leaving pitch sections hard and unplayable? 

Waterlogged Pitch: players' safety and making the game a farce – the movement of a ball stuck in puddles. Have a ball with you and run the ball on the surface. If there is a lot of water and the ball stops in puddles, you might have a problem. Is more rain forecast and, if so, how heavy will it be? Will the existing water be able to drain away? Is there potential for footwear to cut up the pitches quite considerably? 

Snow Covered Pitch: pitch markings and match balls need to be seen, and thick snow makes a farce of the game.

Fog: can you see both goals from the centre circle or the Assistant Referees from across the pitch to judge offsides and the ball being played from the other half? 

In Game Weather Conditions: In youth football, please ensure the conditions are suitable for your players to enjoy the game. Players should always be kept moving, and ensure you advise about appropriate clothing.