Association's Summer Lightning/Thunder Policy

[cbfoulds]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

This year, our UIC sent out an email to our umpires indicating our association was adopting a new "summertime baseball" lighting/thunder policy. The new policy is we are to wait 15 minutes instead of the NCAA/NFHS 30 minute from the last lightning/thunder occurrence. Although it has never been said, its quite obvious their intention is to have a shorter wait time to get more games in, make more money, ect. Myself and other members of our association have spoken up and voiced our objections to no avail. We have determined that we are not going to follow the 15 minute policy and instead will use the 30 minute rule. We feel the UIC is putting the members in a difficult and potentially dangerous situation (both for the safety of the players and legally). What do you all think?

I think your UIC is insane.
You might advise him that the only time I am aware of that an umpire has been judicially held liable for injury to a game participant was lightning-related.
Just f'ing nuts.

[Forest Ump]

Forward this story to the UIC.

Lightning Kills Spotsylvania County Boy as Violent Storms Move Through Area - washingtonpost.com

[rookieblue]

Utter.

Madness.

Perhaps an attorney can tell us where negligence ends and depraved indifference begins?

[DG]

Originally Posted by rookieblue

Utter.

Madness.

Perhaps an attorney can tell us where negligence ends and depraved indifference begins?

Attorneys advise. Juries decide. I would have to walk, no run, from this association.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by rookieblue

Perhaps an attorney can tell us where negligence ends and depraved indifference begins?

I'm no attorney, but how about this: the seventh figure?

[jdmara]

In no circumstance can safety rules be modified unless they are made to be more stringent. As others have said, no way would I only wait 15 minutes.

-Josh