Quote:
Originally posted by PeteBooth
Originally posted by Rog
re: "In Denver, we have been get lightning storms about every night. If we stopped for every storm that was close, we would never get a game in. I think, unfortunately, there is some risk in playing baseball in a state where lightning is commonplace. However, I do my best to get everyone off when I think there is real danger. Unfortunately, its hard to tell when to keep on playing or not."
You asked a very legitimate question; which, numerous people all gave you the same basic answer = get the he!! off the field and into a protected area!!!!!
Rog I'm not going to play Mr. Spock out there and try and figure out how close the lighting is and at what point it becomes dangerous. All of a sudeden the lightening could be traveling at WARP speed.
Bottom Line in all this is: get the kids off the field. Now as you mentioned some live in states where you have that thunderstorm period , so perhaps a written policy should be in place for those states to protect one from liability.
Unfortunately, no matter how safe you think it is, it only takes one accident and IMO a baseball game isn't worth the risk.
Pete Booth
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I think Pete's advice on a written policy is quite sound. I know on Long Island there was a Connie Mack level player killed by a lightening strike on the field about 15 years ago. Our Association requires us to stop the game for at least 20 minutes if there is any "visible" lightening. In situations where the weather forecast or the weather itself indicates that possibility I will mention it in the pre-game. "Coach, if we see lightening, we will stop this game as required by our Association for the safety of all participants". That might not be the exact words but that is the message. If the lightening after 20 minutes clearance recurs we will usually end the game. Jim/NYC