Lighning & Thunder Storms

[oreillywv]

Treat lightning & thunderstorms the same. At first sound or sight clear the playing fields. Direct coaches to use secure shelter.Wait 15 minutes after the last thunder or lightning to bring teams back on the field. Forget the many myths about lightning & thunder. Be firm in dealing with coaches and others who want to assert that "it is far away" or "I will take responsibility for injuries". Yes, those orresponsible things are routinely stated to officials and many are intimidated into going along. My experiences with lightning & thunderstorms has been devestating. I haven't been struck, but my exposures have really shook me. So much so that I started to research the subjects. SO far results are frightening..... and it's not just the lightning. Ignorance about the disastrous consequences of lightning indicate many lives will be lost, injuries sustained, and psyches distorted before we come to grips with it on playing & practice fields. Across 4 outdoor sports, I find officials taking a casual attitude about lightning. NF shares blame for the ignorance level of officials. Few or no references in rule books and manuals. No points of emphasis. No statements at our state rules clinics (WV). No test questions on Part II Exams.
I need help with incident reports to continue the following study:
Unsafe Playing Conditions, Specifically Lightning and Thunder Storms, In Outdoor Sports.
A Review of available references on lightning and thunder storms from: encyclopedia; technical journals; incident reports; newspaper and media reports; website reports; electrical engineer opinions; rule book references, case book references, officials manuals, NFHS, and WVSSAC bulletins. Recommendations outlined as specific steps and procedures for the management of games where lightning and thunderstorms are an imminent threat .
By Pat O’Reilly, Sports Official, Sports Researcher, Freelance Writer July 26, 2003
copies availabel by request from [email protected] (304) 727-7955 NO CHARGE.

[AndrewMcCarthy]

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm

This article was discussed at our association meetings last year. We are instructed to follow the 30/30 rule- not returning to the field until 30 minutes following the last sound of thunder.

More thunder? Reset the clock to 30.

[TXMike]

Appendix C from the NCAA Football Rule Book

The purpose of this appendix is to provide information to those responsible for making decisions about suspending and restarting games based on the presence of lightning.
1. The current recommendation of the National Severe Storms
Laboratory (NSSL) is to consider terminating play when the lightning is six miles away (flash-to-bang time of 30 seconds or less). All individuals
should have left the game site and reached a safe structure or location. This recommendation was developed as a practical way to make a judgment in situations where other resources such as technology and instrumentation are not available. In addition, a smaller, but still real, risk exists with the presence of lightning at greater distances. Unfortunately, current science cannot predict where within the radius the next strike will occur.

2. The existence of blue sky and the absence of rain are not protection from lightning. Lightning can, and does, strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain shaft. It does not have to be raining for lightning to strike.

3. When considering resumption of a game, NSSL staff recommends that everyone ideally should wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before returning to the field of activity.

4. If available, electronic detection devices should be used as additional tools to determine the severity of the weather. However, such devicesshould not be used as the sole source when considering terminating play.

[oreillywv]

Originally posted by TXMike
Appendix C from the NCAA Football Rule Book

The purpose of this appendix is to provide information to those responsible for making decisions about suspending and restarting games based on the presence of lightning.
1. The current recommendation of the National Severe Storms
Laboratory (NSSL) is to consider terminating play when the lightning is six miles away (flash-to-bang time of 30 seconds or less). All individuals
should have left the game site and reached a safe structure or location. This recommendation was developed as a practical way to make a judgment in situations where other resources such as technology and instrumentation are not available. In addition, a smaller, but still real, risk exists with the presence of lightning at greater distances. Unfortunately, current science cannot predict where within the radius the next strike will occur.

2. The existence of blue sky and the absence of rain are not protection from lightning. Lightning can, and does, strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain shaft. It does not have to be raining for lightning to strike.

3. When considering resumption of a game, NSSL staff recommends that everyone ideally should wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before returning to the field of activity.

4. If available, electronic detection devices should be used as additional tools to determine the severity of the weather. However, such devicesshould not be used as the sole source when considering terminating play.

Thank you for the information. The NSSL DIRECTIVES SURPRISE ME, regarding 6 miles. wE HAVE DOCUMENT TWO CASES WHERE LIGHTNING WAS ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY. One case resulted in death; The other had 9 severe injuries. Pat O"Reilly