Phase 1 – 31° Celsius in Stadium

• All teams advised to increase fluid intake before and during the game.
• Game reduced to 18-minute halves.
• Two-minute drink break at 9-minute mark.

Phase 2 – 31-35° Celsius in Stadium

• Game reduced to 15-minute halves.
• Two-minute drink break at 7-minute mark.
• Five-minute half time break

Phase 3 – Over 35° Celsius in Stadium

• Teams given option to cancel or defer game.
• If one team wants to cancel/reschedule, the game will be called off.
• Cancelled games given as 3-3 draw.
• Rescheduled games will be played within 3 competition rounds if possible.

Kids call timeout on poor sideline behaviour

Parents all want their children to shine on the sports field. Yet there’s nothing that will dull a child’s sparkle more than having parents and spectators pressure them from the sidelines. It can be an easy trap to fall into as an adult. We go to adult sports events where the noise of the crowd masks all but the voices of those nearest us. We comment out loud at players’ performances, roar at mistakes, and vocally urge our favourites to do better and go harder. We call it atmosphere.

But at a child’s sports event, we are likely to be one of only a few dozen spectators. When we scream instructions or yell in disgust, our child and other children on the field can hear every comment, and they know where it comes from. What they hear can have a marked impact on them for the rest of their sporting lives. Some may rise above it. Many can’t.

Children’s comments about sideline abuse range from: “it makes me feel like I’m useless and can’t do anything”, to “sometimes it makes me sad, but sometimes it makes me feel angry at the same time”. One child pleads: “Would you please stop yelling at me on the court because it’s making me feel like I can’t do it anymore”.

The message being sent is clear: let kids have fun and do what they love. On the futsal court, let kids be kids.

Please click here for Important Season Dates.