New Lightning Policy

[SC Ump]

I'm all for the additional safety and agree we need to follow guidelines closely. I also think the respective organizations would have better results putting this in the hands of the school.

With today's hand held lightning meters, web sites that show up to the minute lightning strikes and other technologies out there, I believe this would be better monitored by personnel off the field that would have access to electronic assistance.

Heck, I bet there are services that monitor and if the lightning is close, they will send electronic alerts.

[Ed Hickland]

Thunder and lightning are connected. You can have thunder and not see lightning and see lightning and not hear thunder. Just know with either there is a potential for a lightning strike. Remember, lightning moves faster than thunder because light travels faster than sound.

There was a player killed here a few years ago struck by lightning. It was not raining, there had been some thunder in the distance when the player was struck in the outfield.

When there is a potential I appoint someone in game management to watch for lightning or better still if they have instruments that can detect lightning to immediately signal me upon detection. To protect yourself have two officials witness that appointment.