lightning
 

was working 1-man today, big roll of thunder comes in so i call time and tell the coaches we gotta wait half an hour.

they think this is ridiculous and that rule is only for seeing lightning. i tell them it applies for hearing lightning, too, and it's gonna be a half hour. one pulls out the "i'm an ump too, and i never heard of that."

was i wrong?

JohnD.,

Well I've never actually "heard lightning" myself, but I do kind of like the phrase and plan to use it myself in the future.

I believe you were absolutely correct and did what I would do at any level I work.

JM

The "normal" human ear can hear thunder from up to 10.5 nautical miles away from the lightning. The national weather services gives out thunder storm warnings at 10 nautical miles. The problem is that lightning can strike further away from a storm than that. In this situation (IMO, and no documentation to back it up) but if you feel it is unsafe than call it. Better be safe than sorry. Personally, if it was an open area that I could see atleast 5 miles that is when I would call it.

I have a question to add onto this. Wouldn't this be covered in a League rule?

Let's see....where does thunder come from? Oh, yeah....LIGHTENING! If you hear thunder, there's lightening. Close.
Good call, ump!

JJ

NOAA refers to thunder as "the sound lightning makes." So, I'd guess I've heard lightning many times.

Good call. If you can hear it, it's too close to continue play.

Me: Not today.

should have mentioned: FED, freshmen game.

It's your butt on the line. You are liable if someone gets injured because of your negligence (ie not calling the game when you hear thunder or see lightning). You made the right call.

-Josh

FED guidelines specifically say that they apply when either lightning is seen or thunder is heard.

Right on. See p66 FED rule book.

Of course you have. Thunder is the sound made by lightning.