Roaring Fork Valley World Series

Poor Air Quality & Wildfire Smoke Safety Policy
Outdoor Youth Baseball Tournament
Tournament Dates: July 7–13
Purpose: To protect players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, families, and spectators from unhealthy air conditions caused by wildfire smoke or other air-quality events.

1. Policy Statement
The tournament will monitor air quality before and during each day of play. When air quality reaches unsafe levels, tournament officials may modify, delay, relocate, suspend, or cancel games and activities. The safety of youth participants will take priority over game schedules, standings, or tournament completion.

2. Air Quality Monitoring
Tournament officials will monitor the Air Quality Index, or AQI, using reliable sources, including:

AirNow.gov
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment air-quality updates
Local emergency alerts or public health advisories
On-site conditions, including visible smoke, odor of smoke, ash, or reports of breathing irritation
Air quality will be checked:

The evening before each tournament day
At least 90 minutes before the first scheduled game
Every 2 hours during active play
Immediately if smoke conditions visibly worsen or a health advisory is issued
The Tournament Director or assigned Safety Officer will make the final decision regarding delays, modifications, suspension, or cancellation.

3. AQI Action Levels
AQI 0–50: Good — Green
Games and warmups may proceed as scheduled.

Actions:

Continue routine monitoring.
Encourage normal hydration and sunscreen use.
AQI 51–100: Moderate — Yellow
Games may proceed, but staff should monitor sensitive participants.

Actions:

Coaches should watch players with asthma, breathing issues, heart conditions, or smoke sensitivity.
Players may request additional rest without penalty.
Families are encouraged to self-identify any player who may need modified participation.
AQI 101–150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups — Orange
Games may continue with modifications.

Actions:

Reduce warmup intensity and length.
Limit running-heavy drills between innings.
Provide extended dugout/rest time when possible.
Sensitive players, including those with asthma or respiratory conditions, should reduce activity or sit out at parent/guardian discretion.
Coaches must not pressure any player to participate if they or their parent/guardian are concerned about air quality.
Umpires and tournament officials may add breaks as needed.
AQI 151–200: Unhealthy — Red
Outdoor play will be significantly restricted.

Actions:

No new games may begin while AQI remains in this range.
Games already in progress may be delayed or suspended at the next safe stopping point.
All warmups, practices, and nonessential outdoor activities will stop.
Players, coaches, umpires, and spectators should move to vehicles, indoor areas, or cleaner-air spaces when available.
Tournament officials will reassess conditions at least every 30–60 minutes.
Play may resume only if AQI improves below 151 and conditions are visibly safe.
AQI 201 or Higher: Very Unhealthy / Hazardous — Purple or Maroon
All outdoor tournament activity will stop.

Actions:

Games, warmups, practices, ceremonies, and outdoor team gatherings are suspended.
Participants should leave the fields or move to cleaner-air indoor spaces as soon as practical.
Play will not resume until AQI improves and tournament officials determine conditions are safe.
If poor conditions are expected to continue, games may be canceled, shortened, rescheduled, or moved if feasible.
4. Visible Smoke, Ash, or Health Symptoms
The tournament may delay or suspend play regardless of the posted AQI if any of the following are present:

Heavy visible smoke over the fields
Strong smoke odor
Falling ash
Players coughing, wheezing, complaining of chest tightness, dizziness, shortness of breath, eye/throat irritation, or unusual fatigue
Public health or emergency-management advisories recommending reduced outdoor activity
Any player, coach, umpire, or spectator showing breathing distress should stop activity immediately and seek medical attention if symptoms are serious or do not improve.

5. Player Health Protections
Parents and guardians are responsible for informing coaches of any asthma, respiratory condition, heart condition, or smoke sensitivity before the tournament begins.

Coaches must:

Allow players to sit out or reduce participation because of air-quality concerns.
Ensure players with inhalers or other prescribed medication have access to them.
Avoid using punishment running, extra conditioning, or high-exertion warmups during smoke conditions.
Report concerning symptoms to the Tournament Director or Safety Officer immediately.
No player will be penalized for sitting out due to poor air quality.

6. Game Modifications
Depending on conditions, tournament officials may use one or more of the following modifications:

Delay game start times
Shorten warmups
Add rest and hydration breaks
Reduce between-inning time spent outside the dugout
Shorten games, where tournament rules allow
Suspend games and resume later
Cancel games if conditions do not improve
Adjust brackets or standings if games cannot safely be completed
Tournament officials will make reasonable efforts to preserve competitive fairness, but health and safety decisions are final.

7. Communication Plan
Air-quality updates and schedule changes will be communicated through the tournament’s official communication channels, which may include email, text alerts, website updates, team-app notifications, coach communication, or public announcements at the fields.

Whenever possible, the tournament will provide:

Morning status update before the first game
Notice of any delay, suspension, cancellation, or schedule change
Estimated reassessment time when games are delayed
Instructions for teams, umpires, and spectators
Coaches are responsible for promptly sharing updates with their teams and families.

8. Return-to-Play Standard
Play may resume only when tournament officials determine that conditions have improved enough for safe participation.

Before resuming play, officials will consider:

Current AQI
Trend in AQI over the prior 30–60 minutes
Visibility and smoke odor at the fields
Local public health advisories
Player age and exertion level
Availability of rest areas and hydration