private ArrayList<String> rainedOn = new ArrayList<String>();
    private HashMap<String, Integer> tids = new HashMap<String, Integer>();

    public void itemRain(final Player player, Material material)
    {
        //they are already being rained on
        if(rainedOn.contains(player.getName()))
        {
            return;
        }

        //get their world
        final World world = player.getWorld();

        //create the itemstack
        final ItemStack is = new ItemStack(material, 1);

        //create the location, one/two blocks above player
        final Location location = player.getLocation().add(0,3,0);

        rainedOn.add(player.getName());

        tids.put(player.getName(),
                plugin.getServer().getScheduler().scheduleSyncRepeatingTask(plugin, new Runnable()
                {

                    public void run()
                    {
                        //cancel them if they are no longer being rained on
                        if (!rainedOn.contains(player.getName()))
                        {
                            plugin.getServer().getScheduler().cancelTask(tids.get(player.getName()));
                            tids.remove(player.getName());
                        }

                        final Item i = world.dropItemNaturally(location, is);
                        i.setPickupDelay(Integer.MAX_VALUE);

                        plugin.getServer().getScheduler().scheduleSyncDelayedTask(plugin, new Runnable()
                        {
                            @Override
                            public void run()
                            {
                                i.remove();
                            }

                        }, 20L);
                    }

                }, 0L, 10L));

    }

    public void stopItemRain(Player player)
    {
        rainedOn.remove(player.getName());
    }