How South Texas Youth Soccer Association Took Control of Weather Disruptions with Perry Weather
When hundreds of youth soccer teams show up to compete across dozens of fields in unpredictable Texas weather, it’s not just about goals, it’s about making the right call when everything’s on the line.
That’s the job Victoria Ojeda signed up for as Director of Competitions at South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA). And weather is the one variable that always threatens to unravel everything. That’s where Perry Weather comes in.
“You Just Never Know Where the Weather May Be Coming From.”
Texas weather doesn’t follow the playbook.
“In Central Texas, the weather will come from anywhere,” Victoria says. “We’ve had weather come northeast to southwest, east to west, even south to north. You just never know.”
Before Perry Weather, STYSA relied on free apps to track storms. But it wasn’t cutting it.
“We’d get a strike notification, pull up the map—and the lightning wouldn’t even be there,” she recalls. “We were constantly second-guessing.”
That uncertainty didn’t just disrupt operations. It made safety decisions harder to stand behind.
With thousands of families, coaches, and referees depending on their calls, Victoria and her team needed something they could trust.
Switching to Perry Weather, she says, was a no-brainer.
A Real-Time Lightning System That Speaks for Itself
During a major event last December, storms had already soaked the fields. The games began as planned—but by 8:40 AM, just 40 minutes in, Perry Weather issued a lightning alert.
They cleared the fields immediately.
“We knew we wouldn’t be able to continue the event as originally scheduled.”
With only one weekend left before the holidays and no time to reschedule, Victoria had to pivot fast. They triggered their contingency plan: straight to penalty kicks.
“It’s not something we love to do, but it allowed us to finish the games safely—with the ball at a player’s foot.”
Because Perry Weather gave them visibility and time, the shift wasn’t reactive—it was strategic. They made the call early, communicated clearly, and kept the event on track.
“The lightning detecting system and the quality of Perry Weather made it so much easier for us to make confident decisions,” she explains.
Perry Weather’s lightning countdown timer became a game-changer. Instead of answering the same questions over and over—“When can we go back on?” “How much longer?”—they let the platform speak for itself.
“The teams can look at it. The parents can look at it,” Victoria says. “It takes the burden off whoever is on-site managing those questions.”
Less stress. More transparency. Safer outcomes.
“Control the Controllables”: Managing Heat and Lightning Statewide
Lightning isn’t the only threat in Texas. Heat is a year-round concern—especially when STYSA spans everything from the humid Gulf Coast to the dry Rio Grande Valley and desert heat of El Paso.
That’s why they use Perry Weather for more than storms.
“Once our heat index readings through Perry Weather are hit, notifications go to our site coordinators,” Victoria explains. They have clear thresholds in place:
- 99°F+ Heat Index → Two water breaks per half
- 105°F Heat Index → Suspend play entirely
With Perry Weather’s hyperlocal forecasts, they can adjust schedules proactively, not reactively. That means clearer communication, safer athletes, and no last-minute chaos.
“It helps us make those decisions early—to communicate with teams, referees, and facilities with plenty of time,” she says.
A Reliable Partner for the Long Haul
“Being an outdoor sport, we have to have those preparations,” says Victoria. “For me and my staff, I always preach: control the controllables.”
For STYSA, the real value of Perry Weather goes beyond radar and alerts. It’s about clarity—for staff, players, and parents.
Instead of relying on scattered apps and uncertain data, they’ve got one reliable source. One platform. One process.
“Now, the countdown timer speaks for itself. Teams can look at it. Parents can see it. It stops the constant questions about when we can return to play.”
That visibility has taken the pressure off site coordinators. Instead of fielding a flood of texts and complaints, they let the system do the talking.
And behind the scenes, it’s given the operations team the thing they were missing most: confidence.
“Partnering with Perry Weather has been one of the best decisions I’ve made as a competitions director,” she says. “It gives us the ability to confidently work with the dozens of people we coordinate with on any given weekend.”
Want to Weatherproof Your Youth Sports Program?
Perry Weather helps organizations like STYSA make faster, smarter weather decisions across every game, site, and event. With real-time lightning detection, heat alerts, and automated communications, your team stays one step ahead—so your athletes stay safe.
Whether you’re running a club, district, or statewide operation, Perry Weather gives you the tools to protect athletes and keep your events running smoothly.
✅ On-site lightning detection
✅ Heat index alerts tied to your policy
✅ Automated notifications and countdown timers
✅ No more guesswork. Just confident calls.
Try Perry Weather for free and see why athletic programs nationwide are making the switch.
