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Old Mon Jul 07, 2003, 06:35pm
Esper Esper is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1
This thread caught my eye...not too long ago I was at a park where we had four games ended due to lightning.

The procedure I've been told (and only had to enforce twice) is as follows:

As soon as an umpire, coach, player, parent or executive sees a flash or hears thunder, the plate umpire of each game is notified, and play stops immediatly. Players and coachers are instructed to stay in the dugouts, umpires and executives return to the scoresheds, clubhouses or umpires' rooms (depending on the park). Parents are encouraged to return to their cars, or seek refuge in a dugout until play resumes.

If a sensible amount of time (usually 15 - 20 minutes) passes without another bolt, play resumes, but as soon as there is another flash or a hint of more stormy weather (we have, in one case, accepted cows running for cover as a sign of more lightning), the games are ended.

For reference, I umpire 7 - 12 year old Baseball and 7 - 17 year old Softball.
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