lightning

[SAump]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

Thanks DG, that's more of what I was looking for.

So I assume there is no rule on how long you wait?

Read OBR 4.10 and 4.12 here, http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y20...nding_game.pdf.
If wet field conditions become hazardous, then call the game during the rain delay and go home. Now if wet field conditions are not hazardous, usually a coach who is least likely to want to be there in those conditions would request that you call the game. Call it using league ground rules {curfew, time limits, darkness, weather} because the league will likely reschedule the game.

If that isn't a choice and you're in for a long night, consult with local law enforcement personnel w/access to local weather forecast/live radar. Of course most people I know would call the game, themselves, asap and then say that "they were told by the powers that be" that conditions for resuming the game were not favorable {No lie, }.

This is one of many radar loops. Click on your state for close-up of local weather radar conditions.
http://www.intellicast.com/National/...x?animate=true
Same info is available for local forecast conditions, if needed.

[canadaump6]

I had a game where we were in the bottom of the last inning, with runners on base and the home team trailing by a bit. A couple streaks of lightning went off in centre field, but I let the game continue and the game was finished after a couple more minutes. Should I have called everyone off the field immediately after seeing the lightning?

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

... Should I have called everyone off the field immediately after seeing the lightning?

canadaump6,

Yes, I believe you should have - that's certainly what I would have done.

Sometimes it's an unpopular call, but it's the right one.

JM

[Delaware Blue]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

A couple streaks of lightning went off in centre field, but I let the game continue and the game was finished after a couple more minutes. Should I have called everyone off the field immediately after seeing the lightning?

Words to live by: Never mess with lightning.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining. That's about the distance you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are within potential striking distance.

Also, lightning has been known to travel more than 25 miles from its associated thunderstorm. No game is worth the risk. I suggest you look at:

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
and
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/bolt_blue.htm

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I had a game where we were in the bottom of the last inning, with runners on base and the home team trailing by a bit. A couple streaks of lightning went off in centre field, but I let the game continue and the game was finished after a couple more minutes. Should I have called everyone off the field immediately after seeing the lightning?

Anyone so ignorant of the hazzard of lightning as to place players in harm's way by continuing a game ,when the field the game is being played on is stuck by lightning, should not be umpiring.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I had a game where we were in the bottom of the last inning, with runners on base and the home team trailing by a bit. A couple streaks of lightning went off in centre field, but I let the game continue and the game was finished after a couple more minutes. Should I have called everyone off the field immediately after seeing the lightning?

You really saw a "couple" of "streaks" and thought it was safe??? Streaks, like bolts? Yikes.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I had a game where we were in the bottom of the last inning, with runners on base and the home team trailing by a bit. A couple streaks of lightning went off in centre field, but I let the game continue and the game was finished after a couple more minutes. Should I have called everyone off the field immediately after seeing the lightning?

How many times have we been through this? It is bad enough to let the game continue when you hear thunder clap after thunder clap (lightning causes thunder, remember?) but you saw the lightning and didn't stop the game?

[danreeves1973]

http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/...ng_safety.html

Texas UIL policy for all outdoor sports is the thirty second rule on flash to bang. Most local leagues I know off use a similar rule and no lightning seen for 30 minutes minimum before restarting.

Lightning is something I would never mess with. There was a situation in Grapeland, TX in 2004 where an entire football team, 40+ people, was hit by one strike, one player killed. Everything I've ever read about the case indicated there was no previous lightning seen by anyone, no warning.

[canadaump6]

Thank you to those of you who provided insight on the dangers of lightning. The comment that I shouldn't be umpiring because I didn't call this game was just plain unthinking.

[danreeves1973]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Thank you to those of you who provided insight on the dangers of lightning. The comment that I shouldn't be umpiring because I didn't call this game was just plain unthinking.

No, it was an opinion.

IMO, player safety at ANY level should always be somewhere in the front of your mind. Not thinking safety puts players at risk and in the case of lightning, your own self, and can unfortunately in our litigious times, put you at risk for a lawsuit.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Thank you to those of you who provided insight on the dangers of lightning. The comment that I shouldn't be umpiring because I didn't call this game was just plain unthinking.

Well, let's put it this way: Now that you know what a danger lightning truly is, and not just a really cool, pretty light display in the sky , if you ever put players at risk like this again, then we certainly don't think that you should ever umpire again.

But we don't have to worry about that, do we, since you won't ever let that happen again, right?

[SAump]

There was a situation in Grapeland, TX in 2004 where an entire football team, 40+ people, was hit by one strike, one player killed. Everything I've ever read about the case indicated there was no previous lightning seen by anyone, no warning.

The bottom line is no one can predict when or where lightning will strike. However, everyone will know when and where after a lightning strike because of the inherent danger involved. If you're too close, your vision turns ghostly white and if your so lucky, you're left feeling thunderous reverberations for a short time. No doubt, people nearby will leave with the feeling that they could have been killed. The inconvenience of waiting 30 minutes pales in comparison to the possible danger. Clear the field, dugouts, stands, trees, etc., and seek shelter inside a building or car.

http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx
Every weather service provider tracks lightning to ground strikes over the US. You may be surprised by the high number of occurences (1000's) during relatively clear days. There is much better lightning data (10's of 1000's) available during major TS events. One may be surprised by the high number of strikes over large areas in very short time periods {lightning strikes 100's of mile away sec after sec in every direction}. Should a lightning bolt cause any harm at a sporting event, one can easily request this data for litigation.

Remember, 300-mile long thunderstorm lines are moving 30-mph or faster, with TS cells within them moving 60-mph or faster and regenerating as much electricity in mere seconds as many water powered turbines generate in days. It would be much wiser to follow the 30/30 recommendation above. Although lightning may happen w/out warning and this occurence happens relatively often; those concerned w/the possible danger of a lightning strike will raise the question, "How did you know that?"

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Thank you to those of you who provided insight on the dangers of lightning. The comment that I shouldn't be umpiring because I didn't call this game was just plain unthinking.

It was not "unthinking." It came after considerable thought. And it was not directed at you, personally, it was directed, as I stated to ANYONE who is so ignorant of lightning that they would put players safety and lives in jeopardy.

I stand by that. This serous business, not a mindless attack. Lightning kills people every year. To allow a game to continue when lightning sruck less that 200 feet from players is inexcusable.

[waltjp]

canadaump6 - please clarify, how far away was the lightning you witnessed?

[Tim C]

"My guess is high."

I call your bluff.

In my area of Oregon (a "hot bed" of thunder shower activity in March and April) there are ZERO systems.

Maybe in your "area" (Texas) has this covered. Sadly, we leave it to the umpire.

(And I hope Canada never EVER umpires in the spring in this area.)

Regards,