To ensure the health and safety of all participants, the Edmonton Rugby Union (ERU) has established an Air Aware Policy based on the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). For the most accurate and up-to-date air quality information, please see Alberta’s Air Quality Map below.
Decision-Making Guidelines
AQHI Rating 3 or Below
Games and training will continue as normal.
AQHI Ratings 4 to 6
Games and training should proceed with reduced intensity and duration where possible. Additional testing periods may be introduced, such as:
- Playing in quarters
- Incorporating walking training sessions
- Considering rescheduling matches in consultation with the ERU
AQHI Rating 7 or Above
Training should be rescheduled or moved indoors. For Junior and Senior league games, matches may continue as scheduled but will be reviewed at kickoff if the AQHI is 7 or higher as of 1 PM on game day. Match officials and coaches should arrive prepared and check the latest AQHI rating prior to kickoff.
If play continues:
- 70-min & 80-min matches will be reduced to 60 minutes, played in 15-minute quarters.
- 50-min & 60-min matches will be reduced to 40 minutes, played in 10-minute quarters.
- 30-min & 40-min matches will be reduced to 20 minutes, played in 10-minute halves.
- 20-min matches will be reduced to 14 minutes, played in 7-minute halves.
- 14-min matches will be reduced to 10 minutes, played in 5-minute halves.
- Mini Festivals (U5 – U11): All matches will be cut to half their normal length (e.g., 15-minute single games reduced to 7.5 minutes; 20-minute matches of 2×10 minutes reduced to 10-minute matches of 2×5 minutes).
AQHI Rating 8 or Above
Junior and Senior league games will be canceled if the AQHI is 8 or higher, 60 minutes prior to kickoff.
Important Notifications:
- On weekdays, decisions regarding cancellations or postponements will be made and communicated via live updates on the ERU website at least 60 minutes before kickoff.
- For weekend events, decisions should be communicated by 3 PM on the day prior whenever possible with live updates posted on the ERU website.
If teams prefer to reschedule matches instead of waiting for the AQ rating at kickoff, please contact us at info@edmontonrugby.com as early as possible. Include all relevant teams and the match official in the email chain to ensure effective communication.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our rugby community safe and healthy! If you have questions or concerns regarding our Air Aware Policies or guidelines, please contact us.
