Association's Summer Lightning/Thunder Policy

[njdevs00cup]

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 had a similar occurance last year when an initial email was sent out regarding the fact that men's/college wood bat league does not have an automatic stop play lightning/thunder policy. A member of our association forwarded the email to a lawyer to look at regarding umpire liability. The feedback we received was that our NHFS and NJ State status requires that we stop a game in such instances.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

I had a similar occurance last year when an initial email was sent out regarding the fact that men's/college wood bat league does not have an automatic stop play lightning/thunder policy. A member of our association forwarded the email to a lawyer to look at regarding umpire liability. The feedback we received was that our NHFS and NJ State status requires that we stop a game in such instances.

ALMOST as embarassing as our UIC saying this is the fact that our elected officials in our local association have done nothing about it after repeated pleas and questions. I worry about other guys in our association following the 15 minute rule and getting in serious trouble.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Why would any reasonably intelligent adult follow such a ridiculous rule? And who would ring them up if they don't?

I live by the rules of the game, and the rules of my association. But good grief, I don't follow that rule, and if I get rung up, I don't remain a part of such an imbecilic organization.